The Arizona sentinel., 1910-11-10
Protecting the
 Imperial Valley
Colorado River Levees

some QlHlCulClGS ana rlQQoQ over others which stood in his way,
 has given directions to proceed
 with the work of protecting the Imperial valley from further damage by flood waters from the Colorado.
 Matters were finally arranged
 today at a conference in which Assistant Attorney General Os- car Lawler, Civil Engineer J. A. Ockerson and others took part. The President asked what was the attitude of the Colorado Land Company and was assured by Lawler that Gen. Otis, the pres ident of the company, had ex- pressed wish that whatever was for the best interests of the whole Imperial valley should be done regardless of his own per- sonal interest. The President expressed much satisfaction at thls statement and said that he should like to have it fully un- derstood.
 President Taft met with two serious obstacles in trying to plan a cure for the river trOub ble. First, there was Mexico, which owns the territory on which the work must be done. The Presi- dent instructed the state depart ment to have a conference with the Mexican ambassador, and as a result the President felt war ranted in assuming that the mat ter would be arranged satisfac- torily with the government of Mexico. Another difficulty oc- cured with the Southern Pacific railroad. The officials in Cali. fofnia had shown little desire to assist in the work. The govern ment was entirely at the mercy of the railroad for equipment and transportation, but the rates were deemed excessive, especial ly as piece of railroad must be constructed by the government to carry materials to the site of the proposed works. President Taft sent Lawler to see Presi- dent Lovett of the Southern Pacific, and as @ result Lovett and Max Evarts, attorney for the company, came to Washing ton and on seeing the President, agreed to give all equipment and transportation, as we'll as gravel and rock, on the most advantage ous terms.
 In view of the failure of con- gress to repay the company for work previously doue in the same localities to stop very disas- trous break in the bank of the river, which work was dcne at the urgent request of Colonel Roosevelt, then President, this action by Lovett is considered magnanimous.
 Engineer Ockerson lost no time, but left Washington to- night. He will tarry only long enough at his home to vote and will hasten on to Los Angeles to prepare for the big task before him. One problem to be faced is where to get enough men to do the work.
 The plan for the work, devised by Ockerson and approved by the President, contemplates the construction of a levee along the river bank for a distance of 25 miles for the control of flood water. This is to be all in Mex ico. Second will be the closing of the break and restoring the flow to the bed of the river by a dam which will turn the water 1 back to the original course. This will take about 100000 tons of Seven miles of rail- road must be constructed to haul the rock and other material for the dam. Finally, the channel must be excavated down the old river bed, involving the removal of 2O,O00 yards of dirt. If the which congress appro- priated at the earnest request of Senator. Flint and Congressman Smith is not enough for this task, then congress will have to piVp more