Imperial Valley press., 1916-08-16
OUR GREATEST OPPORTUNITY.

OUR GREATEST OPPORTUNITY.
" The greatest opportunity and the greatest danger
the valley has ever faced lies in the near future.
Mexico and the United States have agreed to appoint
ioint commission to settle all issues between the two
countries.
In all probability for all time the relationship OF
Mexican lands to our irrigation system will be determined
by this commission.
Secretary Of the Interior Lane and Associate Justice
randeis were named by President Wilson for member
ship but the latter has been forced to decline to serve
owing to the great volume OF court business in hand.
There is no doubt that all the influence of the Mex-
can land interests will be brought to bear this commits
sion to secure for Mexico rights to water in the Colorado
river for which they have no legal right
The Press believes moreover that the irrigation dis
ct organization at present constituted, would also
use influence in behalf of the Mexican lands but hopes
before the matter come before the commission that
there will be reorganization that will be favorable to
the American farmer, rather than to the Mexican land
barons.
1t was in consideration of the opportunity presented
by this commission that the Press weeks since re-
erred to the possibility of forcing Mexico to put the
Colorado river back in it's old channel and permanently
confne it there by of evee and that it further
construct second line Of defense against the river at
Volcano Lake. the whole works to cost about S3OOOOOO
AS an alternative to this it is proposed that the delta
might be ceded to the United States own country to
do this work.
In case of Mexico undertaking control of the river
it is presumed she would the the Mexican
lands be benefited and it also is assumed that she
would make concession of certain necessary rights of way
and privileges for work the canals without tax and
without interference.
Having no legal right to the water of the Colorado
any part of that water the Press believes this valley
could afford make liberal water concessions to the
Mexican lands in view of the assumption by them of the
burden of controlling the river in Mexico.
There are about 100000 acres in Mexico the delta
subject to irrigation and about this side of the
ne If took the water from the river at Laguna dam
where it all could any time be diverted it would be but
about once years. and then for but short perOd
when there would be insufficient for all lands
To meet this emergency, the government could un-
dertake the building Of mpounding works the upper
waters when the development of irrigation should make
that desirable.
The opportunity to work destiny is presented
by this commission, and by no should allow
that opportunity to 60 by default for there will be
ganized influences at work against the interests Of valley
farmers.
How the people should lay hold Of this problem is a
matter that t may be well to discuss 1t to
the Press that it might be WE'LL Immediately after the re-
call election for the irrigation district the supervisors
and the association Of mutual companies each
select member of valley commission to formulate
plan OF campaign employ engineer and an attorney
and work this matter continuously before the interna
ional commission until the valleys interests shall have
been amply protected
1t is in which the people Of this section can
scarcely go TOO far but also is which they f
guard against betrayal.