The Washington herald., 1907-01-09
MESSAGE
President May Write on Col
OradO River Break.
TO HOLD SOUTHERN PACIFIC
Road said To Completely Control the
Development Companies, Notwith-
standing Harrfman's Statement
That 1t Is Only Interested to the
Extent OF Holding stock for Loans.

President Roosevelt is expected to send
to Congress within the next week a mes
sage dealing with conditions in Southern
California, as result of the break in
the Colorado River at a point along that
stream where an intake feeds the canal
Of the California Development Company,
which is engaged in the business of sup
plying water to settlers in the Imperial
Valley, on the American side of the bor-
der.
About the middle Of December the Pres-
ident wired Z. II. Hartman to the ef-
feet that great distress had been caused
among settlers in Southern California
due 10 another break in the Colorado. The
President proceeded upon the theory that
the California Development Company was
Il Southern Pacific enterprise and that
as such Hartman exercised a controlling
influence in its affairs Hartman advised
the President that the California Devel-
opment Company was not a Southern
Pacific concern; that the Southern Pa
cihc was interested in It only to the ex-
tent Of holding stock for loans advanced.
Upon this representation, President
Roosevelt informed Hartman that he
would recommend to Congress that the
government assume a part Of the cost
necessary 10 repair the break.
May See Things differently.
II a report circulated yesterday is
correct. the President has changed his
programme. It Is understood that in his
message TO Congress he win present the
facts as he now sees them.
II is known that information has been
received here showing that the Southern
Pacific controls 81 per cent Of the stock
Of the California Development Company
and that this enterprise is willing to let
the government pay half the expenses Of
an undertaking that it must enter upon
Itself in order 10 maintain It's existence
The Southern Pacific took over the stock
Of the California Development Company
tn return for a loan that was advanced
10 the latter 20 repair the break to the
river which was dangerous. not only 10
the settlers, but which, if not repaired.
would have required the Southern Pacific
TO again remove it's tracks at an
enormous expenditure.
Officials here say that IL is evident that
the development companies must repair
the break OF go out Of business. They
are willing, however. that Congress shall
make appropriations defraying the cost
OF part Of the work As the develop
ment companies are said 10 be bankrupt
there is no way Of getting al them except
through the Southern Pacific. and Off
cials here expect that when fun pub
hcity is given to the facts the relation
Of the Southern Pacific Company 10 the
development companies viii be revealed.
May Force Companies to suspend.
The chances are that Congress will re-
fuse to authorize the government to en-
bark upon the work Of repairing the
break In the Colorado River in co-opera-
ton with private companies. II the de-
velopment companies or the Southern
Pacific refuse to so It alone they will
probably be put out Of business by the
action Of Mexico in Withdrawing their
charter.
In that contingency the United States
viii repair the break in the river and set
tiers in Southern California viii be sup
piled with water taken from works that
are now being constructed by the govern
ment at point on the river above Yuma,
in Arizona.
This subject was considered at a con-
ference held at the White House yester-
day. Information concerning the matter
in the possession Of the United States
Geological Survey was submitted to the
President by Director Walcott.