Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-23
nor ENGINEER, C. r. LOCKWOOD.

The Press is pleased to learn that it is possible for
the irrigation district the services of c. R. Rock
wood as chief engineer and is believed people familiar
with the affairs of the valley will agree that this is most
desirable.
Mr. lockwood is not an applicant for the position,
taking the ground when approached that the people of
the valley know him and If they desire his services they
will tender him the position He does not hesitate to say
however that it would be with great pleasure that he
would take up the work which he started and to
which he devoted many years.
There are many people in the valley who not at
all acquainted with it's early history and who consequent
w. do not know of the great part Mr. lockwood has had
in the reclamation.
More than twenty years ago, having had experience
in building irrigation works, the attention of Mr. Rock
wood was attracted to this valley which then al
most unknown and untracked desert He began making
surveys and studying the natural advantages for recla
nation with the result that he formulated irrigation
project in all its details
His plan included an intake gate at Blaisdells well,
short distance upstream from the present intake, with
another gate where the present was built Between
these two gates there be settling basin and being
rear the river his plan to let the heavy sediments
settle there where they could be cheapy removed by
suction dredge to the main channel of the river.
From the site of the present intake gate the Alamo
river was to be utilized as canal down to point known
as Quail slough almost the level of Volcano lake where
the east side and side diversions to be made
at level that would permit canal to be constructed
onto the East Side mesa higher than the present High
Line canal and also would permit delivery the West
Side much above the level of the present West Side canal
BY this diversion about 100000 acres would be added to
the present under the canals
From QuaPs slough it was planned to have a levee
running souheastery course back to the river FORM
ing triangular body between the bank of the canal on the
north and the evee onthe SOUTH and into this triangular
area the still backwaer from the river would flow, form
inc cushion against the river current and at the same
time at least for series of years. permitting the top
the still water to be SKINNED off for in the valley and
avoiding bringing in the flood silt By this process too
there would be gradually built up between the river and
the valley higher protection from flood water.
It was with such details these that the whole plan
was worked out but when the time finally came for big
uldng the California Development Company then under
,ther engineering direction weak financially, and
was obliged to do little pieces Of work at time as the
money received from the sale OF water stock permitted
and later came still greater financial difficulties, with
seuuent neglect of the whole system.
1t is notable, however, that the engineers who have
followed Mr. lockwood have each in turn conceded that in
the main they followed the plan of the father Of the valley
rs closely as their finances permitted
While it was this engineer who first saw in detail the
possibilities of the valley and who outlined the whole sys
tenn for development the lack of funds in the early day
prevented him becoming the chief builder and surely
that the valley is for the first time in its history, getting
into form to build should instead of resorting to
succession of makeshfs the most appropriate thing pos
sibe is to call On Mr.. lockwood to finish his work.