Imperial Valley press., 1914-06-12

to close the break in the Volcano lake
levee, and the prospects are consld-
cred fair that this work will be done
within week.
A pile driver left Mexical early
this morning for the break, with piles
to be driven in circular form around
the break, inside the levee, with the
plan Of dumping brush mats behind
the piling and thus-closing the break.
More careful soundings of the in
flowing stream have been made and
the water has been found to be be-
tween ten and twelve feet deep and
$50 feet wide. While this is large
body Of water, it is not flowing with
strong current, and it is hoped it can
be closed.
Up to 6 o'clock this morning the
water had not got into New river, but
is flooding a large area of land in
Mexico, much of it being under cul-
tivation, where thousands of acres Of
crop will undoubtedly be destroyed.
A second pile driver has been sent
to Encna flume, where it is being
put to work to protect the flume, and
it is believed this structure can be
saved. This is the flume that car
ries the water supply for all the land
west of New river, to water Dis
tricts 6, IL and s, and so much de-
pends on saving the flume that he
roic efforts will be put forth to that
end
The supervisors have sent forces of
men to the several bridges over New
river to clear the ground under the
the channel to the utmost, to enable
the water to. pass under the bridges,
if possible. 1t is probable, however,
that some or all of the bridges will
suffer. The water will probably not
reach, Seeley before Sunday night or
Monday, as it is meeting with impedi-
ments along discourse, and the river
bed itself is covered with a dense
e growth, which will tend to still fur
ther check the flow of water.
Walter Hamilton, president of the
irrigation district, was at work all
last night getting the force rounded
up for the fight that is to be waged,
and Engineer c. N. Perry, who is a
veteran in this sort of work, is in
personal charge of the work, being on
deck day and night.
A Side Issue.
One of the most important prob
lens in connection with the breal,
in the levee is to get all forces to
operate in harmony in the work now
in hand, as it is the worst time pos
sible to stop to discuss academic ques-
tions.
Meetings held in Calexico last even
ing are reported to have tended to
raise questions which might interfere
with the procedure, as to the men who
should be in charge of the work.
c. N. Perry, county surveyor and
engineer for the Mexican company,
who went through the early expert
ences of the irrigation works and the
former fight with the river, has thus
far by mutual consent taken the helm,
and it unquestionably is the desire OF
the people of the valley that he shall
continue to do so, with the co-opera-
ton which ought to be accorded to him
by every interest in the valley.
To stop now to raise the question
whether the irrigation district, the
mutual water companies, the Mexican
company or the receivership of the
California Development Company shall
take priority would be sheer idiocy
and this opinion is being expressed
on all hands. For once, these ques-
tions can be laid aside, and all con-
tribute to the utmost of their ability
to the success of the work which is in
hand
The Calexico meetings last night
seemed to nave been brought about
by the fact that there was delay in
getting the forces organized for the
work, due to the condition of the
roads leading to the break.
But the work seems now to be ir
good form and the men to be doing
everything possible to close the break
in the levee.
The Calexico meetings consisted Of
a meeting of the executive commit
tee of the advisory board of the mu
tual water companies and citizens
assembly, the latter calling on tn,
executive committee. There was Sc
we're denunciation of those member!
of the board who have opposed Wig
orous policy in dealing with the foot