Imperial Valley press and the Imperial press., 1906-12-22
THE RIGHT SOLUTION

As all eyes are HOW on Wash ington and every items concern- ing the actions of the big men who are handling the Colorado river problem is of profound in- terest to our readers we forego any editorial this week and de- vote the space to the latest solu- ton to be proposed, as set forth in the Times of December 20th:
 Members of the California delegation are seriously considering the acquis ton of part of Lower California by the United States. Senator Flint has been in favor of it for some time, on the theory that the country is no good to Mexico and is much more closely al lied to the United States through the ownership of property by Americans. etc.
 Representative Smith to-doy declar- ed himself In favor of obtaining pos session of at least that part of Lower California bounded on the south by a straight line running west from the h. ternational boundary on the east side of the Colorado river. He said he had discussed the matter with Senator Perkins and that the latter thought it a good idea. Smiths primary reason is that he thinks regulation of the Cobra da river and distribution of its waters for irrigation can never be properly ac- compIished unless the United States owns the territory, at lea as far south as the break in the rivers bank is; otherwise trouble is bound to result, he says, when the United States govern ment takes over the irrigation system of the California Development com pany as 1t will inevitably do in the end.
 Mexico now has the right to one half of the water taken from the Colo rado river by the company" said Mir. Smith, and don't believe our people will want to see the United States irrl- gating Mexican land The only way to settle ihe irrigation question in Southern California is for the govern ment to take entire charge
 "Unless this is done soon 1t Is feared the Alamo river will go dry and that will mean that irrigation of most of Im- perial Valley must stop"
 Smith called at the White House to-day and urged the president to take some action to relieve the settlers in the Imperial Valley. The president intimated that the United States gov. ernment will be something to stop the break In the Colorado banks unless Hartman and Sou hern Pacific do. He said he was waiting to hear from Hartman on that point. He added that Secretary Root is working on the international features of the case. in view of the rivers break being In Mex leo, but that no solution of lhe prob lem had been reached.
 Under the laws of Mexico 1t is trea- son for any official of that republic to propose, consider or consent to any measure giving up foot of Mexican soil; to overcome this difficulty the United States has proposed ceding to Mexico a strip of land along the Rio G'ande, in ] exas much desred by our s1urLerr neighbor in excaa0ge for ttat part Of Lover Calhornla now un- der discussion for acquisition by this country Under this arrangement Mexico would lose no land, as that It slres along the Rio Grande river Is equivalent in area to that part of Low CT California north of straight line running west from the International boundary on the east side of the Colo Tado river.
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