Imperial Valley press., 1914-06-16

seem TO me CnaC 1t WOuI0 not take
an engineer to see that it is better
to work along the lines of the natu-
raj tendency of things than to under
take to work against nature, and that
is practically what was done in the
expenditure of the other million dol
lars. The attempt was made to work
against natural conditions.
I believe that there is another plan
that would come nearer working with
natural conditions in the handling of
this matter, and that will be great
deal letter and safer, and hope if
any money is raised for building of
these permanent works that whoever
handles it will not undertake to work
against natural conditions any more
than is absolutely necessary, but will
work along with nature so far as
possible, and l am satisfied that the
matter can be fixed safely. To attempt
to force the river back into it's old
original channel and hold it there,
which was the plan that was attempt
ed in the expenditure of the other
million dollars, / am satisfied is not
the best plan. From what little
know of the matter, / do rot believe
that that is practical without the ex-
penditure of enormous sums of mon
ey, and even then l do not believe it
would ever be very safe, as it is un-
dertaking to hold the river practically
up on a ridge for good part of the
way to the gulf.
In general way, l believe this
levee should be built from Hanlon's
Heading to the Black Butte, along
the highest ridge of land and that
the levee should be built high enough
and strong enough to always keep the
the river on the south and east side
of it for all time, and it should be
faced with rock or concrete, allowing
for the natural filling in which will
occur in the Volcano section, but the
slope from there to the south being
towards the gulf, it would naturally
fill in next to this levee until the time
will come when the river will be
thrown off to the south and away
from the levee, if it is properly con-
structed and properly looked after,
and I believe the levee should be
kept far enough away from the river
banks all along to give plenty of
room for the river to do any cutting
to one side that it is liable to do with,
out reaching the levee. 1t is a we'll
known fact on the Colorado river that
when it starts to cut sideways it will
cut a certain distance until the curve
becomes so great that the velocity of
the water is slackened, and then it
will commence to fill in this curve and
60 back the other way. have seen
this in dozens of instances all the
way from Imperial Valley to Needles
in the different valleys up and down
tHc IINcI. IL yOu Vail SlNC
it room enough and place your levee
back far enough from the banks to
allow the river considerable latitude
in cutting sideways, it will never cut
out or through your levee.
l have only mentioned few of
these things in a general way, as l
cannot necessarily go into them to any
extent in letter, but will be glad
to talk the matter over with you more
in detail at any time that l may see
you. If anything l have said in this
letter will be of any interest to any
one, you are at liberty. to use it in
any way you see fit, or you can pub
lish this letter. if you choose to do
so. I will be glad to do anything J
can at any time to help in any way
in connection with this matter.
Yours truly,
W. r HOLT