The Washington herald., 1907-01-06
BACKEDBYHARRIMAN
Concern Responsible for Sal
ton Sea His Enterprise.
HAD DENIED IT TO PRESIDENT
California Development Company II
Operated by Southern Pacific Rail
road-No Work Done to stop Break
in Colorado River in Expectation
That Congress Would Act.

Documentary proof is I'm the hands Of
government authorities that the Caiif0r-
MIA Development Company, which is held
responsible for the break in the Colorado
River that has resulted at various times
in submerging a large area of land in
Southern California, is "a Southern Pacific
Railroad enterprise
The significance OF this is that the
Southern Pacific. which has undertaken
so repair the break, seemingly as a great
favor 60 the government expects to be
remunerated by the government I'm part,
at least for it's expense. This viii re-
lieve the California Development Com
pany Of eNpending any money for repair
ing damage done through a break in its
own works.
Hartman Denies Interest.
About the middle Of December President
/ Roosevelt sent "a message 70 Mr. Harri-
man, saying that break had again
occurred in the Colorado River which
I threatened 10 inundate hundreds Of square
miles Of territory in Southern California.
and 20 create a permanent lake, covering
+ a large and valuable area. The President
further told Mr. Hartman that it was
incumbent upon him to close the break,
+ that the crisis could only be met by the
company that was responsible for II. and
that action should be taken without an
hours delay. In his reply To the Presi-
dent. Mr. Hartman said that the impres-
| sion that the California Development
Company was "A Southern Pacific enter
/ prise was erroneous. that we are not
/ interested in its stock, and no way control
/ il; We have lent 1t some money 90 assist
/ in dealing with the Situation"
/ The statement was made here yesterday
4 in "a responsible quarter that iuforma-
/ ton has just been received in Washing
/ ton giving in detail the exact condition OF
/ the affairs Of the California Development
/ Company. showing the amount of its ir-
/ debtedness and how the Southern Pacific
/ controls, and how it came 20 control It,
/ Company Run by Southern Pacific.
/ It is asserted also that the Develop
ment Company is managed and directed
/ by officers OF the Southern Pacific. and
/ its policy completely dominated by the
/ officers Of that railroad. and that Epes
Randolph, president of the California De
/ veIopment Company. is the general super
+ intendent of the Southern Pacific al Tue
son. Ariz., and president OF the Harri-
man railroads now being built in Sonora.
. Mexico. The Hartman interests. il is
said. is expending $500J0009 In the work
of extending its system in Mexico.
! Reports are received here that despite
Mr.. Harrimau's promise that the South
ern Pacific officers in the West would
/ proceed at once 90 repair the break little
I or no work has been done by them. The
I government at this time is powerless to
( act. for the reason that the moneys ap-
1 propriated for the maintenance OF the
+ reclamation service cannot be used in
} the emergency and because the break in
/ the river is on Mexican soil. Il was sug-
gested on one occasion that under the
authority, of the irrigation act. works
might be constructed with a view TO pre-
/ venting the continued submergence of the
. lands IN Southern California. Doubt is
now expressed that Congress has the au-
. thority to take any action in rle matter.
indsmuch as the damage 10 be repaired
. IS on foreign soil
Mexican Government Acts.
/ The suggestion was recently made that
( the government might be- able to induce
Mexico to cede the strip of land where all
/ the trouble has occurred. This was dis
/ posed OF as imDracticable when attention
was directed t. a provision i'm the consti-
tuition of Mexico which makes it an act
/ Of treason for any one I'm that republic 10
( propose 20 cede an inch OF Mexicos soil.
In his telegraphic correspondence with
Mr. Hartman the President intimated
that Immediately upon the converting OF
/ Congress after the holiday recess he
/ would send in a message urging that Il
sufficient appropriation be made TO repair
the damage. This programme has not
/ been followed. for the reason. it is an
derstood. that the President has been
informed Of the intimate relationship
that exists between the Southern Pacific
and the California Development Com
: pany. The indications are that this con-
Germ. which is a twin OF another deyel-
/ ODment company just across the border.
will soon be brought to terms 10y Presi-
( dent Diaz.
Developments, it is said, viii shortly
SHOW that Hartman is the backeT and
owner Of the Mexican, as we'll as of the
/ California, development company.