Imperial Valley press., 1915-03-29

cIlVlIOIlS vi FL 1GnUfO.)
That the probable solution to the
Colorado river problem lies in the con-
structlon of reservoirs in the upper
reaches of the river was the summary
of the water problem in Imperial Val
ley by Secretary of the Interior
Franklin X. Lane, who, with a party
OF IA, arrived here late this after
noon.
"The 100000 appropriation by the
government to be used in the extern
sion and strengthening of the Volcano
Lake levee has been made to meet the
cry of the people of Imperial Valley
for aid" he said. "The probable So
luton to the subjection of the river
lies in the construction of reservoirs
in the upper reaches. In the past wear
federal engineers have been engaged
IN preliminary survey of the upper
river, but have made no report. The
government is eXpending $4,000 in
this work." he said.
"One or two locations have been
selected that are feasible for the erec-
tion of reservoirs, with a view to dis
tributing the impounded water over
the arid reaches of Arizona and Utah
Beyond the strengthening and eX-
tension of the Volcano Lake levee to
meet the immediate need of the val
ley, the administration has formulated
no definite policy Mr.. Lane admit
ted.
The chaos into which Mexico has
been plunged probably will be a rec
ognized factor in precludng the di-
recting Of the river into its old bed,
was his comment ON the unsettled con-
dition of affairs across the interna-
tiOnal boundary line.
Mr.. Lane and his party left San
Diego this morning and arrived here
shortly before 5. Those in the party
were: c. l.. Williams, H. H. Jones,
Fred Fortin, w. A. Foelke, Congress-
man William Kettner; Carl II. He'll
bron, president of the San Diego
Chamber of Commerce: William
Tomkins, secretary of the San Diego
Chamber of Commerce; Harold j.
Blackmore, all of San Diego; Benja-
min F. Bledsoe, federal judge, Los
Angeles; A. r. Miller, member of the
federal reserve board and wife, Wash
ington, d. c., and Secretary of the
Interior Franklin X. Lane and wife.
Shortly after leaving San Diego the
party, in 3 automobiles, drove
through a heavy rain that was fol-
lowed by dense fog and as they
emerged from the mountains onto the
desert a heavy wind that churned the
sand into binding clouds accompa-
MED them throughout the remainder
OF the trip.
The elaborate program that the
Valley Chamber of Commerce had
planned for the visitors was all for
naught when it became known that
Mr.. Lane had planned trip to Vol
canO Lake levee this morning in
a special Southern Pacific car, where
he said he desired to acquaint himself
with the physical aspects of the river
problem.
He will spend the day inspecting
the work there, return to Yuma in
time to see the work that is being
done there, and in the evening depart
for Phoenix and thence to Ell Paso.
These, he said, were the plans he
hoped to follow
Members of the House committee on
apportionments, he declared, probably
would come to Yuma within the next
3 or months to obtain an idea Of
what the river problem means. How
many would be in the party he was
unable to say, and added that the par
ty probably would inspect the val
ley.
OF the 100000 acres of land east
of Holtvile which has been withdrawn
from entry, Mr.. Lane, during the time
he was interviewed, had nothing to
af hA oil
Chamber of Commerce who took him
on tour of inspection through the
environs of Ell Centre, Mr.. Lane, after
being informed of the average acre,
age comprising the ranches in the val
lev, asserted that the farm unit on
the withdrawn land, when it was
opened for entry, would be consider
ably smaller than that acreage. lie
intimated that the unit would be even
less than 80 acres and that the draw
ing of the land would be open to
everyone.
This evening Mr.. Lane and his par
ty are the guests of the Valley Cham
ber of Commerce at banquet and IN
the morning Mr.. Lane will depart for
Volcano Lake levee.
Last Nights Program.
There has been great disappoint-
ment over the fact that Secretary
Lane was anxious to see the work on
the levee and found it impossible to
remain here for the reception which
had been planned for this evening.
The only opportunity for the public
to meet Secretary Lane and party,
therefore. was at the dinner given at
the Old Mission Cafe last evening, at
which about 40 residents OF the val
ley greetedithe visitors.
l.. j. Thomas of Imperial, president
of the Valley Chamber OF Commerce,
presided as toastmaster.
AS A. r. Miller of the federal
reserve board and Mrs. Miller were
to leave on the evening train, Mr..
Miller was first called ON to. speak;