Imperial Valley press., 1910-10-22
Presidents Engineer Advises Government Protective
 Work on River
State Department Seeking Mexieo's Permission to do Work Substantially As Suggested By Valley Representa-, lives to President Taft. Freight Rates May increase Cost.

Engineer Ockerson went back to l Washington about two weeks ago with his final report to the President on the condition of the Colorado river and it's relation to the valley, and with estimates of cost of work re- quired to return the river to it's old channel and keep it there. MT. Ock- erson was assisted in his investiga-, tions by Engineer c. K. Clarke, whose experience in closing the break of the river in 1907 peculiarly qualified him to estimate the probable cost of the work that is to be undertaken by the government for the protection of irri- gation systems dependent upon the. Colorado.
 MT. OckersoRs investigations in the delta and observations of the siltipg- l up of Volcano lake and the over 1 flowed region in that vicinity con- vinced him that the next flood in the Colorado unless it be confined to the old channel, would overtop the Pare dones and Volcano levees and fill the 1 New River gorge as the flood of | 1905-6 did, and put the valley canal l system out of business. His report, l judging for brief synopsis wired from Washington, supports the repre- sentations made to President Taft last July by Col. Holabird and Capt. ] Kelly. In response to the Presidents i questions, the latter expressed the opinion, based upon personal obser- vation on the ground, that it would require twenty-five miles of levee, extending from the old closure levee to piece of high ground south of the Pescador breaks, to retain the river in it's old bed and send it's flood waters southward by way of the liar dy and various drainage channels.
 A dispatch of Oct. 19 from Wash ington to the Los Angeles Times is as follows:
 "A partial extension of the restrain ing levee for "a distance of twenty five miles is the solution of the Colo rado river problem arrived at by the engineers of the Interior Department. The plans have been completed and are now in the hands of the State Department, which will ask permission from the Mexican government to carry on the work.
 (" We believe that the twenty five mile extension of the levee, which will restore the river to it's old channel, will permanently put an end to the menace that confronts the Imperial Valley said Asst. Atty ten. Lawler today. The stream will then be car ried to point where the natural slope of the land serves to control it. The leyee will prevent overflow and at the same time keep the stream at level with the intake of the Imperial canal system
 There is still question whether the $1,000000 appropriated on the last day of Congress in June as a result of special message from President Taft, will be sufficient.
 There is serious difficulty in getting men to work in the adverse conditions, which may necessitate another ap- peal to Congress"
 There would be no question of the sufficiency of the million dollars if the work were to be done by private enterprise, If the charges for trans portation of material were not put up to the limit and if rights of way in Mexico are obtained on reasonable terms. There is no difficulty, serious or triyal, in getting men to work in the delta from now until next June. The engineers and MT. Lawler were in the delta in the middle of summer, and they may fancy that conditions are as bad throughout the year as during that season, but as matter of fact the winter climate of the delta is perfect and there is no hardship in out of door work in that region during the period of proposed con struction of protective works.
 If another appeal to Congress for more money becomes necessary, it will not be because of adverse working conditions, but 1t will be due to the operation of the Inter State Com.