Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-10
Colorado River Leaves
Its Channel
Again
Rising Waters Cut New
Bed Around the
Hind Dam
Millions of Acreage Involved and the
Southern Pacflc's Main Line
May Have to Be Moved
Higher
BY Associated Press.

By Associated Press
YUMA, Ariz Dec. 9.-Once more the
entire Colorado river is flowing into the
Salton sink
The Imperitl and Coachella valleys
are once more menaced by rising water.
The main line of the Southern Pacific
must once more be moved to higher
ground.
Unless the water be brought under
definite control 1000 people in Salton
basin must lose their homes, includ-
ing a quarter of a million acres of
farming land, the Southern Pacific
must build 200 miles of new main line.
irrigation about Yuma must be aban-
doned and the government Lagana dam
irrigation project about Yuma will be-
come impossible. A conservative esti-
mate is that not less than $4,000 900
at present values are at stake on the
success of closure.
Closed Month Ago
After two years of experimental work
the Southern Pacific, by immense eff
month ago after an inland sea had
formed in Salton basin covering 3b0
square miles.
What is known as the Hind dam was
thrown across the new channel, being
mainly of rock. An earth dixie was
built up parallel to ME river for ten
miles, mainly in Mexico. On the Ari-
zona side of the river is the govern
ment dixie. Three days ago water found
its way through both dikes, flooding
large areas. This was thought to be
serious, but not considered critical until
last night, when the water developed a
distinct channel, and this morning the
fact was disclosed that the entire river
found its way around the Hind dam
into the channel
With the equipment at hand and
with the experience of previous efforts
General Manager H. T. Cory feels
confident of his ability to effect
another closure in seventy-five days
but the mott serious aspect of the sit
uation he declares to be the necessity
for an infallible dike-something never
yet built. This experience has demon
strated the futility of depending on or
Ginary earth work to hold water. The
next structural work will be on a plan
not yet formulated but which will be
framed eventually. 1t may be possible
that the United States government may
be appealed to for help to bear the
burden of the expense, even though the
actual structure is on Mexican soil
American citizens and territory being
chiefly interested
Steamer Stranded
When water was turned into the
new channel lasts night the steamer
Search Light on the Colorado below
the break, stranded two miles from
water.
1t is believed here that the Southern
Pacific will Immediately order con.
struction of fifty miles of road around
Salton sea about fifty feet above the
grade. The material for this road is
on hand and possibly it can be finished
before the slowly rising water of the
sea compelS abandonment of the pres.
ent track.
In all the rise of Salton sea only ont
and few or none can be reached by
water within year, though consider.
able damage has been done by water
rushing to the sea. This water has
cut out channel below the intake o.
two irrigation canals, leaving a mum.
Der of farms dry. 1t is only a question
OF time when the same work will drair
other canals unless the break is closed
but it is not believed that the result
Will come before closure can be eff.
fected.
Farming operations will proceed un.
interruptedly in the Imperial valley un.
less this unexpected contingency arises