Imperial Valley press., 1913-01-16

/ PdSS'i d blli l'tllllilllllS tllt
district holding the stock of a foreign
| corporation. TO cover this situation.
"Under the decision rendered by
Judge Bordwcll, the bonds take precc-
dence in claims against the California
development company, the Salt Works
! judgment comes next. then the South
/ ern Pacific claims and finally the Jones
! Judgment.
Judge BOrdweIl had granted a tenn
| porary injunction against the sale of
| the Mexican property and from that
an appeal had been taken to the su-
premc court, in which case decision
! has not vet been rendered, and Judge
BOrdWell was obliged to render a de
! ciSiOn before receiving the decision
| from the supreme court. where the
issue between the interests is now
lined up.
THE whole thing is in such shape
! that the most careful negotiation is
necessary to make certain that when
| the people act they will acquire the
| whole plant, with no complications 10
| follow
I'VE rely on the negotiations which
Mr.. Melton had with the state depart
mrnt at WASHINGTON to fortify our po-
/ SitiOn. This was an agreement on the
part OF the department that if the dis
/ lIItI Slltull ttIllllt tlitt Slbth vi lllt
| Mexican company owning the system
the department would stand behind The
ownership to protect the rights of HE
people 10y such arrangements with the
Mexican government aS might be nrceS-
| Sary.
"The district has been able to do
much good already for the farmers,
| having been instrumental in preventing
| what was a menace to the water sup
ply for districts ) and :. by taking up
with the state department lasl sum
! mCr Interruptions to the service in
! Mexico.
"a treaty is now pending between
| this country and MeXicO with regard
| to the water of the Colorado. ana The
! state department showed its good Of
! fees 10y changing it~ protocol to per
nit the completion of irrigation SYs-
! TENS under construction after il had
! taken steps to prevent any further di-
version nf water from the river. there
! hy making pusshIc the big Develop
mrni being carried out II this time IN
Mater Company M. ).
! "Thr most important hing now i,
! for the pruplc nf the valley to @cI
wafer on thr Hand and lhuS enter into
vested rights Io the WjIcr which will
constitute their best protection.
'lt j. fortunate lnal all the Interests,
are nuW brought together through lie
courts. und - far AZ the courts M,
concerned they can =iNr.jtle to the ir-
ri"atIum system, hut that title may not
| be recognized hN the Mexican govern
mrnl. and for that reason there j. The
| greatest need for care. THE people of
! this valley are too Intelligent 10 vote
| for the acquisition Of the system un-
/ less They know tllry are getting il COM
| plrt". IL make this sure we will need
| all the ability ana all thc patience we
! can rummand.'
At thi, point Mr.. Melton joined i'll
( the conversation. He said:
"Whrn had this matter up in
Washinytnn with the state department.
i va, Informed the department coulu
then not ~ anything. A. il was a, mat
! ter between American citizens and a.
such was in m" rourtS. but the de
parlmrnt rrcommendrd'hi=hly that The
p,upl" of the district secure control
! of ihr Mexican property. and pledged
/ if That We're done il would project the
1 vested rights thu- acquired through
any necessary negotiations with McXi-
~ The department recommended that
! any negotiations with Tie Southern Pa
| cilic company should be on the basis
/ of tn" company securing the consent ut
| the Mexican government 10 such Trans
J Ter. dllU II NdN on lIliN lid>lS lIdl ltl''
negotiations with the railroad Were car
| ricd on.
The department held that il woulI
hr mpu-SihIc for the people to acquire
| IN independent right of way for a canal
system through Mexico. for the reason
That such a request had been made of
Mexico 10y private interests and the de
partmrnt had protested against it be
in- granted. and t" follow the prccc-
dent would hr obliged to oppose future
request, Of tile same character. But
was given to understand that if thc
people of the valley acquire The own
crShp to existing canals the depart
ment Will give all needed help and sup
port.
senator Works has taken a great
interest in what has been done for the
valley. and was in full accord with the
recommendation Of the state depart
ncnt. He Went further and declared
the valley could never gain the coloni-
ZatiOn impetus il deserves until the
people have acquired the interests Of