The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-13
Sends Message TO COngaeSs
On Colorado River Break
IMPERIAL VALLEY FLOODS
Southern Pacific Co. Only General
Equal to Task of Controlling River.
Delay Means lrreparable Loss.
Reviews the Situation.

Washington. January 12.-The President
today sent TO Congress a message urging
| some action by Congress toward remedy
ing the situation caused by the break
in the Colorado river, four miles below
the international boundary line i'll Mexico,
and which threatens the property in
terests in the Imperial valley of Cali
fornla.
To the Senate and House or Representa-
tives
THE governor of the state of California
and individuals and communities in
Southern California have made urgent
appeals to me to take steps to save
the lands and sediments in the sink or
depression known as the Imperial valley
or salton Sink, region from threatened
destruction by the overflow of the Colo
RADIO river. The situation which appears
so serious and urgent that I now refer
the matter TO Congress for its consldera-
tion, together with my recommendations
on the subject.
Briefly stated, the conditions are
these:
The Imperial valley, so-caled, in San
Diego county, California, includes large
tract of country below sea level South
east of the valley ond considerably above
its level is the Colorado river which flows
on a broad. slightly elevated plane, on
which the river pursues tortuous course,
finally entering the Gulf of California.
The lands In Imperial valley 200 feet
or more below the level of the Colorado
river. Down as far as the international
border, they are protected from innunda-
ton by low lying hills. South of the
boundary, in the republic of Mexieo the
hills cease abruptly and only the broad,
low mud-banks of the river protect tile
valley from being converted into al
inland or lake. In order to get any
water to this vast tract of fertile but
desert land. or on the other hand to
protect 1t from too much waters works
of supply or of protection must be built
in Mexico. even though they may tap
the river In the United States
Must Go on Foreign Soil.
The United States can neither aid nor
protect the interests OF its citizens with
out going on foreign soil
This condition has been long known
and through many years schemes have
been discussed either to convert the Salt
on Sink area into lake, or to irrigate
the desert lands below sea level by MAX
ing a cut in Mexico through the west
| DHnk OF the 2DloiHuO river lHdii9. dtAti
many plans had been tentatively tried,
the California Development company,
New Jersey corporation, actively under
took the work. TO insure the safety Of
Imperial valley the head of the canal
on the river was first placed on United
States territory, near where the river was
bounded by hills The canal then swung
southwest and west from the river,
! through Mexican territory to connect with
natural depressions leading TO the val
ley and back into the United States. Tile
| organizers of this company, in order 10
carry on the work in Mexico, caused to
be created a subsidiary company In Mex
leo. under Mexican laws. Concessions
were granted to this company by the
| Mexican government and provision was
made for the employment of Mexican
engineer to be designated by that gov
ernment I'm order to see that the work
was properly carried out The dangerous
character of the attempt was thus recog-
nized in this concession.
California Development Co.
"The California Development company
began its work by making representa-
tons to possible settlers of the great bene-
fits to be derived by them in taking up
their land. A large amount of money
which might have been used In needed
works was expended In advertising and
in promoting the enterprise. The claims
were not on extravagant but in many
cases ii appears that wilful misrepresen-
tation was made Many of the operations
Of this company and its subsidiary organ
| izatlons tended to mislead uniformed set
tiers At first the success of the company
was great and 1t disposed of water rights
to settlers at prices sufficiently large to
obtain a fair revenue either In cash or in
! securities of value.
"The money thus obtained from settlers
was not used in permanent development,
but apparently disappeared either in
profits to the principal promoters or In
the numerous subsidiary companies which
| to a certain extent feed on the parent
company The history of these deals Is so
complicated that 1t would require careful
research. extending through many months
to unrayel the devious ways by which
money and valuable securities have dis
appeared In brief, 1t is sufficient to state
that the valuable considerations which
were received for water rights were OBJ
vlously not used in providing necessary
and permanent works furnishing water to
the settlers.
'eThe whole enterprise and the spirit
of those promoting, as we'll as OF the
numerous spectators attracted to the
subsidiary organizations, were of the most
| visionary character.
"The company entere< on its construc-
ton work with large plans, but with in
ADEQUATE capital All of Its structures for
were temporary In character. Through
the efforts thus made a large amount OF
land was brough under cultivation, and
at one time it was reported that over 10o
900 acres We're being more or less irri-
gated
Criminal Negligence.
"The first heading of the canal of the
California Development company was in
the United States, Immediately north OF
the Mexican border. 1t was found, how
ever after a time that the heading on,
the United States side of the line did noc
give grade to furnish sufficient flow of
water. and a cut In the river bank was
made four miles father south in Mexican
territory. This gave the water shorter
and sleeper course toward the valley. The
making of this cut in a bank, composed
OF light alluvial soil above a depression
such as this. without controlling devices.
was criminal negligence. This short cut
on Mexican soil was made In the fall of
1904 1t was gradually eroded by the pas