Imperial Valley press and the Imperial press., 1906-11-24
FLOW INCREASING
Amount of Water Passing Through HanIOn Gate Proving Adequate
 For Valley Needs.

DelnS maQe ln uSSpShilis ahu S'l0ib ing the canal that leads from the con- crete or Hanlon gate to the big chan nel that was cut by the floods that flowed through the Mexican intake. Since the intake was closed the bank of the channel at the place where the canal reaches 1t Is found to be twelve feet deeper than the bottom of the canal at that point. This makes 1t possible to dig the canal twelve feet deeper and gives a splendid opportuni- ty for the use of dynamite and rapid work in making 1t cut back deep channel. This work is being done and the channel is being rapidly cut back from the lower end Meantime the old dredger Is in the canal below the Hanlon gate and is digging away down stream toward the work that is being done with dynamite. The length of the canal to be enlarged was four miles but great deal of it has already been deepened and is ready to carry all wat CT that may be required. Above the concrete gate and between 1t and the river is the worst situa ion of all. Here the canal is only as deep, as it was dug with scraper teams by Scotty Rus sells men and the water passing through it is only two or three feet deep. Should the old channel of the river below the Mexican intake sluce out sufficiently to lower the water level in the river at the Hanlon intake 1t would necessarily decrease the volume of water coming to the Valley. This is not being done to any appreclable extent however. and the volume of water coming into the Hanlon intake is holding its own if not increasing. Should there be sluic- ing out of the river and fall in the water level be threatened the dredger now at work below the Hanlon gate could be taken up to the scene of the trouble In a few days and the channel cut out and the difficulty remedied. .h-t present there is plenty of water for irrigation for all the water companies that are In shape to use if. About the only people who are not supplied with all the water they need Is the Holton Power Go. They are only supplied with enough to run their power plant at Holtville about four hours In every "A and then only to furnish electric lights. Should there be any real shortage, of water they will undoubtedly be cut off entirely and the water ali de- voted to irrigation.
 The California Development com pany has sent out notices to the farm CTS to be prepared for possible water shortage and 1t Is good advice. too. for the water might suddenly fall to such an extent as to seriously affect the supply entering the Hanlon intake. But the odds are very largely against such a contingency for a month or more. Meantime the work of deepen ing the channel will be completed and the intake above the Hanlon gate dug out till It will divert the entire river If necessary. The fact that the bottom of the Hanlon gate Is Is feet below the normal stage of the river makes It certain that we will be able to get all the water we will ever need through that gate just as soon as the canal Is made deep enough and wide enough to carry ii. The latest report from the big dredger that was built during the past summer and fall at Yuma Is to the fact that 1t Is laborlously dredg-