Imperial Valley press., 1919-09-09


been apparent to the promoters, as
we find them on February s, 1904,
seeking congressional confirmation of
their right to the waters of the Colo
RADIO River. Is. 4193.)
Mr. Taylor. Did they ever get it?
| Mr.. Swing. No sir; the United States
would have nothing to do with it. To
| have done so would have confirmed
to these promoters a monopoly of the
water, legalized this scheme to grant
| the same to the Mexican corporation,
recognized and affirmed it's division
of tie waters of the oColorado River
between the United States and Mexi-
co, and vetsed the Mexican lands with
equal water rights. At the hearing
of the bill the settlers of Imperial Val
ley were represented by Hon. William
E. Smythe, who protested against its
passage. The bill did not become a
law. When it became APPARENT that no
favorable action was going to be TAX
en- upon this bill, the president of this
company who was here before the
Committee on Arid Lands, made this
remarkable statement at the close of
the hearing:
want to worship at our own
altar and receive blessing from
the shrine of our own Govern
ment. Yet, gentlemen, if you COM
pei me l will go to other sources
for support.
The United States Government hav-
ing repudiated the scheme of these
promoters, they then turned to Mexico
and on May 7, 1904, contract or
commission between the Mexican Sec
retary Fomento, the secretary of the
interior, and the Sociadad de Irriga-
cion V Terranos was entered into This
contract was approved by the Mexican
Congress and proclaimed by the Mex
ican president June 7, 1904. This con-
cession confirmed and perpetuated, as
far as the Mexican Government could
confirm and perpetuate, the scheme
which these promoters had already de-
viscd.
MIR. Hayden. Have you translation
of that concession?
Mr.. Swing. Yes.
Mr.. Hayden. Will you put it in the
record?
Mr.. Swing. l will
Mr. yelling. Have you stated that
these men, now owning the Mexican
concession and the Mexican land, are
the same men who owned the original
California Development Co.?
Mr.. Swing. They were idcltical. By
the terms of this contract-notice that
this is simply contract between the
Mexican Government and the private
Mexican corporation-they can change
it or have the Mexican Government
change it, but the district can have
nothing to say about it. The Sociadad
was authorized to transport through
Mexico the waters of the Colorado
hNci, uiNSlIeu ny tilc SdlllOIHld De-
velopment Co. in the United States;
also to divert the waters of the Col
orado River in Mexico. should occa-
sion require. provided always that the
Mexican lands should be furnished
their needs up to ''one-half of the vol
ume of water passing through said
lc l,@
company the privilege of disposing of
the other half of the water elsewhere
not naming the place, and it put them
under no obligation to return any of
the water to the United States. 1t
has been variouSlv estimated taht
there we're between 100000 and SOO,-
600 acres in lower California irriga-
bic from the Colorado River In that
connection, it is true that the river
now is overflowing large part of this
land embraced in this 100000 acres,
but the Southern Pacific railroad of
fered to put it back and keep it
back on its old route for 81 100000
Mr.. Sinnott. When you refer to
lower California, you mean in Mexico?
Mr.. Swing. Yes sir. SO that they
can at a reasonable cost make use of
this great quantity Of land which ap-
proaches approximately 100000
acres.
The contract or concession also pro-
vided that the grantee should always
be Mexican corporation, subject to
the jurisdiction of the Mexican courts. |
Rights of foreigners were never to be |
alleged under any circumstances, and |
no diplomatic foreign agents should !
ever make any representation relative
to the contract. The company and all |
of its acts were subject to supervision
by Mexican inspector appointed by |
Secretary Formento. The contract be-
came null and void if any foreign gov