Imperial Valley press., 1913-12-22
Holabird Tells
His Side of Story

Receiver Holabird gives his version
of the local water situation in an in
terview in the Los Angeles Times,
which, as a matter of fairness, the
Press reprints:
An interesting account of the de-
velopment of irrigation in the lmpe
rial valley was given yesterday by
Colonel Holabird, who was appointed
receiver for the California Develop
ment Company just four years ago.
This corporation was organized Tor
the purpose of taking water from the
Colorado river and carrying 1T into
the Imperial valley for irrigation pur-
poses, but in 1909 became practically
bankrupt, had defaulted in the pay
ment of the interest on S447 900 OF
bonds, and was running at an expense
of approximately $4,000 month In
excess of its income.
1t was under these conditions that
Colonel Holabird was appointed re-
ceiver four years ago yesterday. Dur
ing the interval since then the canal
system has grown greatly in eff
cheney, the net delivery of water hav-
ing increased more than 100 per cent.
The receipts for water delivered dur
ing the four years up to November
l, last, amounted to S2,319,656.7l, ano
the expenditures during the same pc
riod were S1,409,296.13. The receiv-
er's liabilities consist of S315,OOO OF
receivers certificates sold during the
first six months of the receivership.
The receiver has paid attorneys, in
cluding the attorneys for the trus-
tees for the bonds, the sum of $39, ,25O
The gross deliveries of water by the
receiver from December Is, 1909, to
November /, 1913, aggregated the
enormous quantity of 3,057 7,635.4S acre
feet, or 99,626 6,569, 1925, ,5S2.40 gallons.
The cost of the water is approx
mately l 1-3 cents per million gallons.
The water is measured by the latest
and most scientific means. The total
expenditures from December 13, 1909.
to November, 1918, have been distrib-
uted as follows: In California, $780,
O7S.72; in Mexico, $459,217.41 (gold).
The receiver now has 100000 on hand
in cash and bills receivable due from
the mutual water companies.
At the present time there are 1880
miles of main canals, 104.85 miles be-
ing in Mexico and 60.75 in California.
During the four-year period the fol-
lowing expenditures in betterment:
were made: Seven-foot drop, 1000;
laterals in connection Herewith,
SS25O; side checks, ETC., $4,000; Rositas
wasteway, $4,000; protective levee in
Mexico, S71,313; distributing system
No. 6, S9440; flume across central
main, S9532; Brier canal structure.
S11,244; reconstruction Sharp's head
ing, S15,17O; East Side heading to re-
place brush weir, S2S,654; two Az
foot drops at Rositas wasteway, S19,-
382; Allison heading, S22,292; Fox
glove heading, S4634; Stoney gate at
Hanlon's heading, $57,595; making
total of $341,306.
These items of expenditures are
properly chargeable to capital account.
as they will not require replacement
for many years. In addition to them
is splendid equipment of dredges ac-
quired since the receivers appoint
ment. The hydraulic dredge Impe-
rial cost S55,000; the Ell Centre, $780,
900: and three clam shell portable
dredges, $4,000.
"All this shows" said Holabird yes
terday, "a big business we'll handled
Asked as to when the receivership will
end, Holabird said:
"No one knows. The decree of
Judge Bordwell is on appeal to the
supreme court. 1t would be for the
best interests of all parties if the suit
were settled for all time. The parties
to the case are having bitter fight
in the courts, while am the executive
or administrative officer of the court,
subject to all the abuse and criticism
that usually attends cases of this kind.
l try, however, to act impartially and
am Indifferent to criticism, so long
as l know that / have faithfully per-
formed the trust imposed upon me-"