Imperial Valley press., 1908-05-16

and engineers of the California Devel- opment Company will be authorized this year to expend for extension, bet. torment and protection of the irriga- tion system in Imperial Valley has not been determined by the big chiefs of the Southern Pacific, without whose sanction nothing can be done, but it IS virtually a certainty that it will not be a million, and the engineers will be pleased if quarter of that sum shall be allowed. The published reports that the Southern Pacific has decided to spend million and build high line canal on the east side of the val ley are hot-air balloons, and they were not sent up by Epes Randolph
 The California Development Coln- pany has no money to spend on ex- tensions, and the Southern Paciflc's present policy is to supply that corr pany only with funds absolutely re- squired to keep the canal system in working order and prevent deteriora- tion or damage. The engineers would like to carry out all their plans for perfection of the system and construc tion of permanent works, but the financial condition of the c. D. Co. for bids for the present, and they must be content to do only what is absolute ly necessary. There will be no cana building boom this year, no large forces of men engaged in structural work" consuming prodigious quanti ties of farm products and boosting property values to the moon.
 Possible Improvements.
 It is possible that MT. Hartman may be persuaded to authorize begin ming of work on new system of ce- ment gates and controlling works O., the Alamo to replace the temporary structure at Sharp's heading, which is none too secure. The cost of that work completed, is estimated at S20O,- 900 to $25O,000. The new gates will be located several mile; above Sharps heading and will be head works for the east side high line the power canal, number ones main the Encina and west side and the Mexican systems, and will include a lock foJ the dredger and waste-Way dis charging into New River instead ol the Alamo.
 Another piece of work deemed i'm mediately necessary by the engineers is the building of cement structure at the boundary crossing to replace the present ten-foot drop. The, cos would be about $20,000.
 Volcano Lake Levee.
 But the only new work the C.. D Go. is absolutely sure of at present i' the lcr'ee at Volcano lake to diver overf < wat from New River anC send 1t down the Hardy Contractor Sherer is busy on that job with abou 300 head of stock and 200 men, 7anC hopes to have the levee completed from the Black Butte to the higl ground on the Paredones by June 1 The overflow is already covering th' delta lands of the Pescadero and flow ing in the numerous channels leading to Volcano lake, and there is som' overpour at the break of the Abejos Cutting back is not progressing raI idly, but an early rise of the Colorad would increase the oyerpour am cause the channel of the Abeios t recede toward the river, The cost O the levee cannot be estimated exact ly, but it will be somewhere betweel $75,OOO and $10O,O0O.
 Millions not Available.
 Complete plans for substantial il rigation system, covering Imperia Valley from Old Beach to the Pare dones in Mexico, and from the mes on the east to about sealevel contou on the west, call for the expendltur of $3,OOO,OOO, but no such sum is avai