The San Francisco call., 1907-06-30
IMPERIAL IS SECURE
FROM GOLORADO'S FLOOD
Dams and Levees Withstand
Severe Test of High
Water in River
SETTLERS FLOCK IN
Assurance of Safety Causes
Rapid Laying Out of
Farms
SETTLERS FLOCK IN
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL
YUMA, Ariz., June 2e-For more
than three weeks the dams and levee
built by Colonel Epes Randolph, Harri-
mans personal representative in Ari-
zons- have been subjected to the great
est June food on record and there has
not been the slightest sign of weak
ness. The Imperial valley. in which
year ago whole settlements were being
swept away, their inhabitants fleeing
10 higher ground for their very lives,
IS absolutely safe.
The battle to check the mighty Col
orado river and protect the fertile I'm
perial country from another invasion
Of the runaway stream has been fought
and won. It took millions in money
and thousands Of men TO do it, but so
well were the artificial protecting
banks constructed that the settlers are
now secure and the work of develop
ing and improving that fertile district,
which lies below the level of the sea
and is as rich as any land along the
Nile, VIII now go on without Interrupt
ton.
Already new settlers are pouring
into the valley; new ranch houses are
springing UP in a section which few
years ago was only a dreary waste. A
new county out Of the section of San
Diego county that borders on the river
II the present prosperous conditions
continue the population of the valley
viii be thrice what it is now within
three years.
After the narrowing experience of a
year ago, when hardy pioneers of the
valley saw their growing crops en-
gulfed and their ranch houses swept
away. the fear that this years June
food would repeat that work of de-
strution caused an almost total sus-
pension Of development and improve
ment Of the Imperial country. But
this year the Colorado reached a stage
never before known and sent down
from the mountains OF the north a
vastly greater volukte Of water than
ever before within the period that
white people have inhabited the coun
try. If the dams and Ievee were swept
away il meant ruin; if they stood 1t
meant fortunes for many of the per-
sons who had acquired ranches behind
them. They stood; there was not even
the expected leakage; in fact the levee
is stronger as a result or the flood be-
cause Of the vast quantity of silt de-
posted by the stream.
The builders Of the protective works
never had any fear that the river
would carry them away or make
that the great flood might go around
the end Of the levee and attack the
canal in the rear, but the Colorado
itself has averted that possible danger
by deepening its old channel and
swim ging il over to the Arizona side.
II was as II the yellow monster ad-
mitted itself bafled in its attempt TO.
devour the Imperial valley and rush on
10 the SaIton sea. It is working of
its wrathful energy in a headlong rush
10 the Gulf of California The old
channel which shoaled rapidly and
nearly filed with silt while the river
was running to Salton. has been secured
tremendously by this years flood. That
this deepening Of its own course viii
continue is considered certain because
there is now no other outlet for the
water.
The absolute safety of the Randolph
levee is shown by the fact that its
lowest point has been seven feet above
the highest water in a season of un-
precedented food of the Colorado, and
that not stroke Of work was required
to strengthen, repair or protect the
bank From the headgate TO the end
OF the Randolph levee a railroad has
been laid upon the top-not a make
shift construction track, but thor
oughly built, well ballasted railway,
fit for the heaviest traffic A telephone
line runs the entire length, with sta
tions a mile apart
When the water is high men patrol
the levee on gasoline track velocipedes,
and If danger threatens they can tele-
phone to the heading. where train
load Of rock stands ready to be rushed
to the breach. Heavy gravel trains
passing frequently over the line have
helped greatly in making the levee
solid The work is absolutely secure,
but tI.e builders have taken no chances
durii e the food season In few days
the cam, will be broken and the small
army Of men VIII be moved to some
other point on the line, leaving only a
few men to patrol and watch the levee.
Water is stiIl flowing into Salton sea
by way of New river. 1t goes down
the Paradones from the Colorado to
Volcano lake and thence a part flows
rorthward through New river and a
mart southwark toward the gulf. The
inflow 70 Salton sea is now about 1,500
second feet, and apparently it is suffi-
cient 10 compensate for the enormous
evaporation, as there is no perceptible
Subsidence of Salton sea- The inflow
does no injury 70 Imperial valley, how
ever.
Salton sea probably is a permanent
institution; at least IL can be kept at
about its present level or preferably
a little lower for safety of the railway,
. with little trouble and no harm, and
II surely tempers the desert wind to
the settler and to the traveller. The
water Is full OF fish and the shores OF
the sea are haunted by hosts of aquatic
birds. Some day there will be winter
resorts on the sea, along its western
shore. under the shelter OF the noun
tafns. in the finest winter climate in
the world, and steamboats, will ply
from abroad TO hotel landings