Imperial Valley press and the Imperial press., 1906-12-29
AN IMPORTANT
 COMMUNICATION
The Following is From An AuthOra-
 tive Source at Washington

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.--In response to inquiry MT. F. H. Newell chief en- gineer of the reclamation service stat ed that as far as he was aware no of- ficlal action was under consideration with reference to the situation on the lower Colorado river. It Is assumed that the California Development com pany with the assistance of the South ern Pacific railway, will repair the re- cent break and that with the experi- ence had 1t would be possible to put the river back in its proper channel with little delay and relatively less ex- pense than before. The equipment Is on the ground and the men and mater ials are presumably available.
 As regards the future permanence of the work this Is a point which Is ser ious, but 1t is believed by the engineers on the spot that the dikes can be built in such manner as to be secure. On the opposite side of the river from the broken dikes the reclamation service has built similar dikes which have stood recent floods and which with oc- casional repairs give promise of being fairly secure.
 On being asked whether the govern ment would not immediately go to the aid of the threatened settlers MT. New ell stated that he did not see how this could be done without an act of con- gress and an especial appropriation of some $2,OOO,OOO. The work must be done on Mexican territory and some form of convention or treaty must of flcially be had before government of- ficials could cross the line. On the other hand the employees of the railroad or of the canal company could do SO without further formalites.
 As to the probability of obtaining an appropriation or authority from con- gress this seems very remote. The members of congress who have taken most interest in the matter express doubt of the probability of congress making an appropriation and in fact ap- pear to hesitate to introdvce any bill to this effect, believing that even the in- troducton of bill might serve to com plicate matters by forming an excuse for the present owners 10 throw up their hands. If it could be said that the government might undertake the work the responsible parties would un- questlonably take refuge behind such a statement.
 Mir. Newell further stated that the reclamation service had nothing to do with the matter and beyond expressing deep sympathy was poWerless, as 1t had no available funds and no authorl- ty. The government officials are watching the developments and assume that the owners of the canals will get together within few days and pre- sumably with the backing of the South ern Pacific railroad, push forward the repair of the break in the river bank. The railroad has such great interest at stake, not only in the preservation of Its maln. line, but in the business from the Imperial Valley, that 1t obviously cannot afford to see millions of dollars of property and securities go to loss.
 Prompt action must be taken in or der to clese the break before the regu- lar spring rise. There Is no time for delay and even If con ress should act promptly, which 1t probably will not, 1t would be impracticable to proceed ex- ceptlng with the equipment already be- lNn1ipo, kO the railsoaI L.