Imperial Valley press., 1913-05-13

| vi COURSE t1e ldIlO was WlCn-
drawn, they were taking a
chance, but they had faith in
the government, as all patriotic
citizens should have, and they
thought they would get a square
deal. Has any one more equit-
able claim than they? These men
have spent time and money and
energy. They sought in every
possible way for the past five
years to get water to fully re-
claim the land, and to them in
a large measure is due the fact
that the land is now being put
under water. Who cares to
shoulder the responsibility of
Irobbing these people of their well
earned prize? Respectfully
yours, c. F. KAMM.
It is evident Mr.. Kamm is
working to the same end the
Press aims to reach: The best
interests of the valley and the
greatest good to the settlers in
the valley, with the least injus-
tice to any individual.
To that end it is desirable that
we understand the facts as we'll
as possible. 1t is the understand
ing Of the Press that the land
referred to was withdrawn from
settlement because locators were
placing settlers upon it with the
statement that the reclamation
service was to build canals to
cover it, and on this account the
reclamation service asked that it
be withdrawn, which was done.
The government has two
forms of withdrawal, No. l and
No. 2. The latter form permits
people to enter on the land and
await reopening to perfect filing,
but No. l is absolute withdrawal,
and that is the form which was
used in this valley.
In spite of this withdrawal,
however, there are those who
have gone upon the land, put
water on it and improved it, and
in a few cases showing of i'm
provement has been made to the
secretary of the interior that in
duced him to reopen those indi-
vidual pieces of land and give
patents.
1t is probably to be said that
this is a recognition of rights
obtained by those who have i'm
proved their property, in spite of
the withdrawal. Any legislation
looking to reopening of the land
might with propriety recognize
the prior rights of those who
have in good faith improved the
land to the extent that it has
been irrigated, at least within
the limit of the land allotted.
But Mr.. Kamm's letter relates
to- but one class of claimants, and
r. H. Satterwhite, who is study
ing the situation for the govern
ment, says there are five classes
of claimants, and very much of
the land withdrawn, where no
work has been done, will have
two or more contesting claim
ants.
There are many persons in the
valley who have selected quarter
sections and half sections, but
who have not developed the land
in any degree. There is bound
to be much disappointment in the
end, for there is not enough land
to meet all these ambitious hopes.
If the land is let out in small
parcels all can share in it, and
even those who have made some
Improvement to the land will find
ample recompense in the smaller
area.
The Press has believed that
twe1ty-acre parcels would be
most desirable. Others have ia
vored small tracts, but have
thought forty acres more desira-
BILE. To this the Press would not
object.
Probably a compromise that
would be most desirable and that
would fully recompense every
body would be provision for
the reopening of the land to filing
in allotments of forty acres, with
the provision that those who
have in good faith gone upon the
land and planted and irrigated it
could have what they have thus
developed up to an area Of eighty
acres.
This would recognize and