Imperial Valley press., 1909-10-09
GRININALLY RECKLESS ASSAULT
 UPON IMPERIAL VALLEY INTERESTS
Anonymous Government Official and Irresponsible COrreSpon- dent ConcOCt Amazing Mass of False Statements and San Francisco Paper Shrieks That Valley Settlers are in Danger of Destruction By Water Famine

The problem that might be presented by failure of the river to silt up to the normal bed plane was discussed informally at Spokane last summer by engineers of the Reclamation Ser vice and engineers of the valley canal system, and the government engineers agreed to aid in it's solution py se- curing certain data relating to the slope of the river from Yuma to the headgate. At one time the slope was so steep that there seemed to be doubt of the deposit of silt enough to raise the bed to the desired level, and the possibility of necessity of going to Laguna dam for water was consid- cred. It was agreed by the engineers that canal from Laguna dam to the headgate could be constructed in thiiz ty days.
 In September, however, conditions changed, the channel silted up, the slope returned to normal and the Rec lamation Service engineers reported that the danger of cutting back of the channel had passed. In the mean time, the c. D. engineers had the dredgers at work cleaning out the in take and removing accumulations of silt in the main canal below the head gate. That is the work the machines are now doing. Should the river reach very low water stage this winter there might be a shortage of water for irrigation for a brief period, but there is not the slightest danger that the people of the valley or their cat tie would perish of thirst.
 r It is probable that some discussion of all these problems and contingencies by officers of the Reclamation Ser vice was heard in Washington by an official or clerk, who knew nothing what the engineers said. It would be quite possible for one entirely unac- quainted with the physical facts to get the impression that there was inn minent danger of disaster, and to mis- interpret the request of the canal en- gineers for professional cooperation as an appeal for government aid The transformation and erroneous conclu- sions of an ignorant official, poured into the ears of a correspondent eager for sensations and for a chance to bat Ballinger, might easily get twist ed into the amazing mess of stuff published by the Call.
 Maleficent stupidity and criminal recklessness account for the injurious falsehoods spread broadcast by the Washington correspondent of the San Francisco Call. It is not necessary to seek for malignant motive or Machiavellian intrigue in a govern ment bureau. The attempt to cast blame upon Secretary Ballinger for alleged inaction of the government is mere puerile politics of reporter In Washington. No appeal for aid has been made, and no aid is neeGeC.
 It is the conviction of those who understand the situation in it's broad CT aspects that the government should undertake permanent work 10 control the Colorado river and that the Im- pelial Valley irrigation system must eventually be connected with Iaguna 'dam, but there is no situation of af- fairs on the river demanding immc- diate action in either direction. Should the emergency arrive, it would be met promptly and effectively.