Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1916-02-24

Bride and Ferguson of the Irrigation
District left by auto for Calexico this
morning. There they will pick up Di-
rector Brockman and, accompanied by
Engineer lockwood, they will go by
train to Hanlon's Heading and return
by boat to Calexico, coming down the
canal in two days trip, with view
to ascertaining what work is required
On the canal.
Each carried a roll of blankets,
ranging from the vest pocket edition
of Mr.. Ferguson to circus tent
equipment provided by Mr.. Bennett,
and, striking a general average, they
were well prepared for.
A large force of teams and men is
being assembled for work on the ca
nal, while it is declared the equipment
Of dredges now at work is "the lar
.gest on the continent"
In Possession.
The following dispatch was received
last night by ]. c. Allison, chief en-
gineer of the California Development
receiver, Colonel w. H. Holabird:
81. C. Allison, Calexico, CAL: At
4:5O p. m. the Superior Court Of Los
Angeles county confirmed sale made
by me as commissioner of the Cali
fornia Development Company's prop
critics on February 8, last. This will
be your authority to turn all the prop
erty of the California Development
Company over to the Southern Pacific
Company, or its authorized represen-
tative. Inform me of your action i'm
mediately. w. H. HOLABIRD."
Mr.. Allison Immediately met Chief
Engineer lockwood of the Irrigation
District, acting as agent of the South
ern Pacific Company, and turned the
property over to him.
The Calexico Chronicle thus tells of
the services of the retiring engineer:
"When Mr.. Allison notified his sue
cessor last evening of his orders to
turn over all property under his con-
troll, he terminated IA years of en-
ployment with the California Devel-
opmcnt Company, beginning as chain
man upon the termination 'of his
schooling. During this IA years he has
served under three administrations
that of the old company, which was
followed by the time of the railroads
control just previous to the company's
receivership, and leading to his po-
sition of chief engineer under the re-
ceivership of w. H. Holabird. He
has either worked upon or designed
practically every canal in the valley,
except a few that have been built by
some of the later organized water
companies. The same can be said OF
every important structure of the wa
ter system. He has personally To-
Gated every protective levee except the
Volcano Lake levee. His longest va
cation was one of 5 weeks, taken
about years ago, to recuperate from
an illness incurred during a period OF
overwork. The only time during his
IA years of service that he missed be-
ing on the payroll was during recovery
from illness due from overwork fol-
lowing the flood of 1905. He is now
retired from the position of chief en-
gineer to give place to an older man
and one who is generally considered
the father, not only of the water sys-
tenn, but of Imperial Valley as well
"Last night he said he had found
during his term as chief engineer du-
ring the receivership that the hardest
thing he had to perform was that OF
segregating his duties between the re,
ceiver, the creditors and his own and
his friends interests. That at times
he had felt it his duty because OF his