El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-08-10
YUMA CANAL MAY
SOLVE PROBLEM
Might Be Connected With
Imperial System and OBJ
viate Damming River.

Yuma, Ariz-. Aug. 10.-It is possible
that the present agitation over the di-
version of the Colorado's waters at the
Hanlon heading will effect a change
that long has been anticipated by the
reclamation service engineers. All canal
headings below Yurla necessarily must
be in silt or sand and therefore unsta-
BILE or even dangerous in times Of high
water, a fact that has been proved sew
eral times. This ever threatening trou-
bic can be obviated by simply extending
the Imperial canal up to the interna-
tional line. near which is the end of a
canal that heads at the Laguna dam
and that supplies the lands Of the Yuma
reservation and the ssphOn that leads
under the bed of the river to Yuma Il
IS probable that large cost would at
tend such an extension. around the
sloughs that line the west river bank.
but it would appear to be the only log
zeal solution Of the eXer present prob
lem
FnvOr Connecting With LaEunn system
Action favoring connection with the
Laguna system was taken at a late
meeting in HOltville. attended by 400
residents OF Imperial valley district No.
3. rs well as by several representatives
OF the Yuma project there TO explain
their protest against the building of
permanent diversion dam at the Hanlon
heading The meeting also made record
of its opposition TO the general course
of chief engineer G. r. lockwood and
attorney N ". Conklin. of the Imperial
canal system \ general protest has
been made over the driving OF piling at
the HanlOn heading There is a stipu-
lation. however. with the war depart
ment that The dam must be removed
completely q Z close OF present season
he 10
4 temporary Injunction against the
permanent dam has just issued in the
superior court Of Yuma county. despite
the war departments order.
Imperial Valley Must Pay.
The opposition to connection with the
LaEuna system is at least twofold- It
viii mean that ba sed upon acrea ge.
The cost of the Laguna diversion works
and of the west side feeder canal would
have to be Joined in by the Imperial
valley. This would he OF immense
value TO the Yuma project. where about
100000 acres now are assessed with the
entire cost the only help being the
part borne by the government for the
irrigation Of a part OF the Yuma Indian
reservation. on the California side. The
new order Of things probably would as
SeSs at least tWO-thirds of the Laguna
cost 10 the Imperial valleys several
hundred thousand irrigated acres The
dam and its diversion gates are fully
competent to handle the additional
flow. in ordinary river periods Posi-
blv objection would be MADE 10 the
fact that 4 flood season could not be
availed of as well as at present. for
the upper reaches of the Imperial canal
are little more than utilization of great
bayOus.
Mexican Claim May Arise
Another feature that has not vet
troubled vet ever is imminent in
threatening. is the fact that the Mexi-
can government stipulated when the I
Imperial canal was built over its terri d
tory that half of the water diverted /
from the Colorado should be for the /
irrigation of Mexican lands. whenever I
claimed
For possibly eight months OF the year
the mighty Colorado furnishes all the
water needed for irrigation in Califor-
mia. Lower California or around Yuma
But IL is becoming apparent tn 49, -
the needs of the balance OF the e.
there soon must be provided some
OF water storage in the upper cal
of the stream