Imperial Valley press., 1915-11-29
Mark Roses Affidavit
On Mesa Reclamation

1 california, and did not want the work
! to stop while he was away. After ar
irving there. and conferrng with
Conkling and Hamilton, we arranged
that ] should take up the matter of
right OF way and connection with
Laguna Dam. with the Reclamation
Service. Such right of way should
also carry with ii the right to divert
all the water for Imperial valley. at
Laguna Dam. including the mesa lands
too. They directed me to offer $780,
O00 for such right, and, if l couldn't
get il for that, to offer up to $780,
600, and the district would pay half
of it, and the mesa lands the balance.
Conkling aud Hamilton shortly after
wards returned to California, and |
took up the work of negotiating with
the department on the work as mapped
out at our conference. After about 8
weeks bill was GRATED which was
acceptable to the Land office and the
other officials. This bill was printed
in the Press of November -. and pro-
vides for a free right of way through
the Indian reservation. and free con
nection with Laguna Dam. for the ir-
rigation district, and that the mesa
lands should be incorporated into a
mutual water company. under the dis
trict, Just as the other water compa-
mics arc. and build it's own canal sYs-
tenn, and also pay 50 an acre for the
land, which money would go into the
reclamation fund and pay for the con
nection to Laguna Dam and the con-
cessions granted the irrigation dis
ri 10 LOT q
Conkling agreed with me that he
would come back to Washington,
whenever l should send for him. and
help work for the bill when I should
get a satisfactory one agreed upon.
80, when I got the above-de escribed
bill agreed upon, | telegraphed Conk-
ling to come to Washington, and he
did so. When | showed him the bill,
object To the men | had in with me
in the Imperial LaCuna Water Com
pany. lie stated that if I would go
in with him. and reorganizc the com
pany, dropping out all the directors
except myself. and taking in himself
Hamilton, lockwood and another man
whom he declined to name, he would
get i'm and support the bill. refused
fore tho Commissioner OF the General
Land office and suggested amendments
to the bill which would give the dt-
roctorS ot the district the power 10
put out the Imperial Laguna Water
Company and organize another one Ia
their own liking. Commissioner Tall
man refused to do this. and when Conk-
ling found that wouldn't work he
tried another tack. lie made me a
proposition. in the following language
or its equivalent;
THAT | was the only party boosting
the mesa proposition. and if / would
withdraw my support from il, and use
the same effort ] was using for it. in
irriEating lands south of the line in
MeNico, he would show me whore
could make more money, and make il
quicker and surcr, as he had talked
with the people south of the line, and
knew what we could do.
II refused to go into anything Of tho
sort. and told him | believed il would
be moral treason to divert the waters
of the Colorado river south Of the lin,
in McNico, and put them ON the syn
dicate lands held by Otis. Chandler
and other syndiCatcS, instead Of di
vcrtinG it in the United states, where
il would make homes for at least -.