Imperial Valley press., 1917-01-04
ENGINEER CLARK.
OPTIMISTIC AS.
REGARDS WATER.
SUPPLY IN 1871 !
Newly Appointed Engineer
Believes Plenty. of Wa
ter Is Here.
CLARKE SUCCEEDS
C.. r. ROCKWOOD|
New Engineer Says Valley
Has Made Wonderful
Improvement.
CLARKE SUCCEEDS
C. r. LOCKWOOD

"hSh Vic SlOeAV anu CuCll-
sive system of irrigating canals that
bring the life-giving, wealth-creating
water into the Imperial Valley, shall
have been completed when it's units,
unavoidable at the beginning in the
creation of the whole, shall be united
and working in conjunction, and when
their connections shall be canals as
large and efficient as any part of
the units themselves when there are
no longer expedients in the place of
permanent creations, then the system
in this Valley will be one of the
most complete and efficient in the
whole United States, and there will
be plenty of water at all times for
all purposes, and to satisfy all de-
mands.
"As applied to the Imperial Valley,
water shortage means water usage.
The shortage is due, not to waste or
lnefficiency, primarily, but to the
steady, continuous, ever-growing de-
mand. Water, more water is the
constant cry. And what would have
been great and possibly burdensome
excess one season, would have fallen
far short of supplying the demand
the next. The problem before the
Imperial Irrigation District, the one
great problem, its work for now and
for the future, is-to get the wa
ter"
C. X. Clarke, chief engineer for the
Imperial Irrigation Company, who on
Monday assumed the work with which
he was formerly connected. last night
gave the above as his views in sum-
ming up the present and the future of
the irrigation enterprise which he
has been called to guide. AS to the
outcome of the efforts necessary to
be made before the ultimate hopes of
the people interested can be realizd.
he has no doubt. He is here to give
his best efforts to bringing about that
consummation.
Mr.. Clarke returns after lapse of
nearly six years. absence from Off
cial connection with the irrigation
enterprises of the Valley. He left on
April 1, 1911, and came back from
Tucson, Ariz., of which city he has
been business manager for some time.
While he has kept in. touch, in a
general way, with the development Of
the Imperial Valley, Mr.. Clarke states
that he is pleased to find that his
expectations in this respect have more
than been realized.
"The whole Valley has made Won
derful advancement, and had a won
derful growth" he said "and yet, it
has not exceeded the possibilities that
I foresaw few years ago. It is get
ting in better shape each year, and I
can see nothing in the future that can
prevent 1917 being year of great
achievement and progress"
Mr.. Clarke has been going over the
entire system OF canals, Tor the pur-
pose of getting into touch with the
physical condition of the districts af-
fairs, while meeting all the old and
new men on the work. Yesterday he
visited the intake, in company with
contractors who are planning to sub
nit bids now being advertised for, for
the construction of the gate. The con-
tract for the intake canal, more than
a mile above the site Of the gate, was
awarded few weeks ago.
Until he has the work before him
well in hand, and has had further
consultations with engineers and di-
rectors of the district, Mr.. Clarke de-
clined to give an outline Of his plans
in detail.