New-York tribune., 1907-01-13

has cost double or treble what It would have
cost had prompt action been taken. 1t Is proba-
BILE now that with an expenditure OF s2,00O.oo0,
the river be restored to its former channel
and held there indefinitely but IL this action is
not taken Immediately several times this sum
may be required to restore It. and possibly 1t
cannot be restored unless enormous sums are
expended.
At the present moment there appears to be
only one agency equal to the task Of controlling
the river. namely. the Southern Paeihc Com
pany with it's transportation facilities, It's
equipment and control Of the California Deye-
opment Company and subsidiary companies
The need of railroad facilities and equipment
and the internal complications are such that
the officers OF the United States, even with un-
limited funds. could not carry on the work
with the celebrity required. It is only the fact
that the officers of the Southern Pacific Com
pany acting also officers OF the California
Development Company. have been able to apply
all it's resources for transportation. motive
power and the operation Of the road that has
MADE it possible TO control the situation to the
extent to which they have already done. The
Southern Pacific Company Is reported to
be working strenuously to fill the break through
which the Colorado River Is flowing westward
to the Saton Sec and in repairing and building
levees to keep out the high water due next
March. This work will be more or less of q
temporary character. Further construction Is
necessary, and all temporary works must be re
placed by permanent structures: 1t is estimated
that for this additional work S2OOOoV0 should
be available. The question as to what sum- II
any should be paid to the Southern Pacific
Company for work done since the break or NO
vember A. 1905, Is one for future consideration;
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be admitted.
But one practicable course IS now open for
consideration The Southern Pacific Company
must continue its work to close the break and
restore the river 10 it's proper channel Tne
United States can then take charge. making the
protective works permanent ana prov1dlng Ior
their maintenance
ACTION BY THE UNITED STATES.
1t is not believed that free gift OF this money
should be made, as by its investment the staoii,
ity of property Of great value will be secured
and the increase in land values throughout the
Imperial Valley will be sufficient to justify the
provision that this money should be returned 10
the government
The Reclamation service should be authorized
to take steps at once for the construction of an
irrigation project under the terms of the Recla-
nation act, for the lands in the Imperial Valley
and in the lower Colorado River Valley. The
service should be in position to proceed actively
with the organization of the project ana the
construction of the works as soon as the conoi-
tions in regard to the protection OF the valley
against overflow will Justify expenditures for
this purpose.
To accomplish this. the United States should
acquire the rights of the California Development
Company and its subsidiary corporations In the
United States and Mexico upon such reasonable
terms as shall protect the interests OF the gov
ernment and of the water users
The United States should obtain by convention
with Mexico the right to carry water through
that country upon reasonable conditions.
Most of the land in the Imperial Valley has
been entered under the terms OF the Desert
Land act or the Homestead laws. and title has
not passed out OF the United States.
The construction work required would be: The
main canal, some sixty miles In length. from
Laguna Dam into the Imperial Valley; the re-
pair and partial reconstruction Of the present
distribution system in the valley and its extern
sion to other lands mainly public: diversion