The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-21
HARTMAN TOLD
TO CLOSE BREAK
President TGIGgraphs Colorado
Floods Calls for Quick Action
SOUTHERN PACIFIC ACTS
Mexico Is Willing to HeIp-Uness the
Break in River Is Closed Promptly
the Loss in imperial Valley
viii Reach $13,o0o,ooo.

Washington. December 2O-President
Roosevelt is exertng his efforts to have
the break in the Colorado river in Mex
leo repaired SOON as possible by the
California Development company, which
he declares is ultimately responsible for
1t. With this end in view he today ad-
dressed a telegram To +. II. Hartman at
New York reeiting the conditions as they
now exist, and inability to secure action
by Congress because of the adjournment
for the Christmas holidays. The President
told Mr.. Hartman that it is incumbent
upon him to close the break again. and
that action should be taken without an
hours delay.
Mr. Hartman replied, saying that the
Southern Pacific had no control over the
California Development company. but he
would authorize the Southern Pacific off,
GERS to try to repair the break. trust
ing Congress TO take action later to as
sist with the burden. The President gave
assurance that he would make recon-
mendations to Congress to this end.
1t has been repeatedly asserted that IN
less the break IN the river Is promptly
repaired. the losses in the Imperial valley,
already enormous, would at a conserYa-
tive estimate. reach a total loss of sl3,-
100000. The President felt that longer
delay was not justified in the case.
The President in his telegram to Mr.
Hartman said:
Telegraphs Hartman.
1T is incumbent ON you to close the
break again. Questions of future MAIN
tenance can then be taken up. Reclama-
tion service engineers are available for
consultation. This is all the aid that there
is in the power of the government to
render. The dangers are ultimately due
only to the action of that company in the
past in making beading, completed IN 0c-
tober a. in Mexican territory. The present
crisis can at this moment only be met
by the action of the company which IS
ultimately responsible for 1t. and that ac-
tion should be taken without an hours
delay. Through the department of state
I am endeavorlng to secure action by the
Mexican government. as will enable itself
in turn to act, but at present Congress
cannot do anything without such action
by the Mexican government. This is
matter of such vital Importance that |
wish to repeat that there is not the slight
est excuse for the California Development
company waiting hour for the action
of the government"
Mr.. Hartman responded:
Hartman Replies.
''You seem to be under the impression
that the California Development company
is a Southern Pacific enterprise. This Is
erroneous. We are not interested in its
stock, and in no way control it. What
the Southern Pacific company has done
was for the protection of the settlers as
we'll as of its tracks, but We have de-
termined to move the tracks onto higher
ground anyway. However. I'm view of
your message, [ am giving authority To
the Southern Pacific officers in the west
to proceed at once with the efforts to re-
pair the break. trusting that the govern
ment as soon as Il can procure the neces-
sary congressional legislation will assist
us with the burden
The President answered as follows:
President Is Delighted.
"Am delighted to receive your telegram.
Have at once directed the reclamation
service to get into touch with you so
that as soon as Congress re-assembles 1
can recommend legislation which Will pro-
vide against repetition of the disaster
and make provision for the equitable dis
trbuton of the burden"
In a note to Director Walcott the Pres
ident says:
Mexico has behaved admirably and has
expressed the willingness sto do anything
within reason that we desire in the Col
orado river break matter. OF course Mex
leo is not to do the work. The immediate
work must be done by Mr.. Harrmans
as | pointed out in my tele-
gram to him. But we should be prepared
to put a definite request before Congress
Immediately upon its reassembling. To
do that I must of course know Just what
separate or joint responsibilities there
should be as regards this country and
the California Development company.
Please formulate a plan at the earliest
possible moment, submitting 1t to tho
state department so that Mexico can be
fully informed"