Amador ledger., 1907-01-25

! w "S NOAhS hOalAily Sldu L06y
have looked over the ground where
the greatest of all the worlds work Is
now under way, as they are thereby
convinced that the construction of
the canal will from this time forth be
pushed with increasing vigor. They
speak OF the great but necessary work
OF sanitation which has been perform
ed, thereby rendering the canal zone
habitable by whites, and making it
unnecessary to rely for labor upon
Jamaica negroes or Chinese. In
their opinion the labor problem has
peen solved by the Importation of
sturdy laborers from LSpain, some of
whom have been at work year. thus
giving ample time to determine their
ability to work on the Isthmus, and
their efficiency. How great this is.
Is seen In the fact that they are paid
Twice the wages given negroes from
Jamaica. 1t is probable that the
Chlnese question will not again be
raised in connection with the Panama
canal, for the canal commission is
sure it will be able to secure all the
laborers needed from Spain. gand
their efficiency has been already
tested.
Ihe break in the Colorado river
and the danger impending to the
Imperial valley region is again
attracting the attention of the authori
ties in Washington. The efforts of
E. Ii. Hartman of the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company to close
the break in Mexico do not seem TO
nave been so successful as was ex-
pected, the work being of magnitude
surprising expectation. At any rate.
the Mexican government has apparent
ly been unable to see an Immediate
prospect that the break will be closed.
and 1t is understood that it has
notified the California Development
Company, organized under Mexican
laws to control that part of the canal
In Mexican territory, that If the
Colorado is not bought under control
within ten days the franchise will be
cancelled. As the bonds of the whole
irrigation scheme are based in part
on this Mexican franchise, Its re-
vocation will work serious injury to
the California Development Com
paDy. The question is mootod anew
OF extending national aid in closing
the break, But this action is not
thought to be probable in the face of
the assertion that the Southern
Pacific Company controls the Cali
fornia Development Company, which
would mean that an appropriation by
congress would be a gift to the rail |
road for the improvement of Its pri- |
vate property. 1t is realized on all |
sides that the situation Is a serious |
one indeed, but the difficulties sur
rounding 1t are too many for congress
to jump blindly into the breach with
millions of dollars. If the develop
ment companies should Withdraw
from the field and the Southern
Pacific Company retire from the 1e-
clamatlon business, there might be a
chance for the government to take
over the whole plan and carry it out
In accordance with the reclamation
and irrigation laws. This, perhaps,
is what will eventually occur, but in
the meanwhile great many inter-
national and other difficulties must
be swept out of the way. The direct
or of the Geological Survey states
that should the government take the
Imperial valley project under its
control, the scheme would REQUIRE
sl5O, 600, 600; but he thinks the land
could we'll stand it, as it would create
lien of not over $50 an acre, where
as, 1T is really worth, with a perfect
water supply, $500 an acre Iand over.
The president is preparing another
message on the Colorado break which
will be illustrated after the manner
OF his message on the Panama canal.
All the data available from govern
ment and. other sources has been |
placed in his hands. But what his
attitude regarding the pending ques,
tlons will be, or what rscommenua-
tlon he Will make, there has been no
hint at this time. 1t Is known, how
ever, that president Hartman of the |
Southern Pacific Company has pro-
missed to close the break, and large
force is now at work night and day to |
complete the wo. X. Whatever action |
may be taken by the government will
doubtless depend on the ability of |
the railroad to control the river.
Even If it does, it may possibly be
that movement will be inaugurated |
to have the government take charge
of this great irrigation scheme and |
take it entirely out of the hands of
the railroad and development COM
panies.
Last week congressman w. F. |
Englebright representing the First |
Congressional District of California,
was appointed by speaker Cannon |
member of the very important COM
mittee on mines and mining. 1t is
not only great compliment to con-
gresham Englebright, but piece of
good fortune for California that the