Imperial Valley press., 1918-04-15
CONTRACT IS THE BEST|
THAT CAN Be GOTTEN

Continued from Page One)
tofore Offered to the Valley. Whether
the people approve it or disapprOve
III is a matter for them alone to decide
after a careful study of its terms. For
>the information of the public, | will
note some of the changes which the
committee was able to have made in
the original contract.
JOINT SURVEY.
l. Paragraph is changed 10 allow
the District to avail itself Of the re-
suits of the joint survey now being
made for an all-American canal, in
stead of being obliged to make a new
survey of the Laguna Dam cOnnec-
ton.
2. In Paragraph c. Subdivision A.
the obligation of the District to build
additional desilting works for Yuma
Project is reduced from such as may
be required to maintain as near as
may be the PRESENT EFFICIENCY
of the desilting and suicing works at
Laguna DAM" to such as may be
required to maintain as near as may
be the efficiency of the desilting and
sluicing works as Laguna Dam AS
SUCH EFFICIENCY WOULD BE
WERE THE YUMA PROJECT Full
LY DEVELOPED" This was a bone
of contention with the Yuma people.
3. In Paragraph 8 the first payment
to be made by the District on the
S1.6O0,0G0 charge for the privilege
of connecting with Laguna Dam is
changed from three months from the
date of the execution of the contract
by the Secretary of the Interior" to
December 81. 1919" postponement
of about one and half years.
4. In Paragraph 9 and also in Par
agraph 10 the interest to be collected
on delinquent payments is reduced
from 10 per cent to 7 per cent per
annum.
L. S. TO RETAIN TITLE.
). In Paragraph 10 the uncertain
and undesirable statement that 1.-THE
United States AND IT'S SUCCESS.
SORS shall retain perpetually the IT,
tie to and control over the diversion
works, ETC." is changed to the positive
statement that 1.-The UNITED STATES
shall retain perpetually the title t.
and control over" said works. Para
graph 9 was also changed from tht
fprOvisO that the United States retair
control over ''the diversion works a
SpihOn Drop FOR THE DELIVERY
OF THE DISTRICTS WATER SUP
Ply" to 'the diversion works at 81
phOn Drop for the division and deliv
cry of water TO THE YUMA PRO
JECT and the District. Under tn
original contract it was possible tina
the operation of the works might pas
to the Yuma Project as Successors
of the United States.
6. Paragraph II is new matter af
firming right which the Unite
States undoubtedly possesses anywa,
1t is:
''The United States reserves tn
right to arrange for the cOnnectiO
with and use of Laguna Dam on sue
terms as the Secretary of the InteriC
may deem expedient, by any other il
rigatiCn enterprise. district. cOrpOr;
tiOn or individuals; also of the heal
works and main canal and other work
after proper enlargement and mod
ficatiOn, on terms herein stipulate'
without, however, impairing the ut
lization of said dam, canal and Othe
works to the extent necessary to il
rigate the lands within the preser
boundaries of Imperial Irrigation Di.
trict."
The concluding provisO was adde
at the request of the District deli
gates. This paragraph must be rea
in connection with the last part {
Paragraph u, which provides that II
cost of works used jointly shall be az
portioned among the lands benefite
thereby on an acreage basis. Will
the contract does not provide for n
endorsement of the District on tn
original cost of the dam in case ne
land is brought under Secretary Lam
ins assuring the Yuma delegation tina
they would be credited with the 81
100000 paid by the District, ais
agreed that the same rule would al
ply in favor of the District if ne
lands were brought under the dam.
POWER DEVELOPMENT.
7 paragraDh II deals with powf