Imperial Valley press., 1919-09-29

c. NJ. Berry, Secretary. All-American
Canal Association. FL Centro Calf.
Section One of Hayden bill author
ICES and empowers the Secretary Of
the Interior to construct the canals
and necessary works to connect the
present irrigation system Of the dis
trict with Laguna dam for the recla-
nation Of all public and private lands
which in his judgment are susceptible
of reclamation by the diversion Of the
waters Of the Colorado river by the
said dam and also to construct stor-
age reservoirs and other works nee
essary in his judgment to provide wa
ter for irrigation OF such lands and On
behalf of the United States to ent1D
into contracts with district water us
ers associations or corporations and in
divdual water users in carrying out
provisions Of the act mourning there.
with and securing repayment Of the
costs. 49,
For Cooperation
1t also authorizes the Secretary OF
the Interior to cooperate with the
State Land Settlement Board and other
public authorities OF California anu
with the soldier settlement board ana
public authorities OF Arizona.
This section would be complied with
by the construction of canal cons.
monty called the one leg extending
from Laguna dam to connect with our
canal at Pilot Knob in Imperial coun-
ty, California. Under this section The
Secretary could include all lands in
Mexico, as it does not limit lands TO
the United States.
Remove Opposition
Davis and Hayden give as reasons
for language in Section One that II
will remove opposition from Mexican
government and Mexican interests
and that the Secretary could buila t1A
All-American canal under this secASD.
1t is perfectly evident from reading 0f
this section that he could also liMit
construction of the one leg, and iah-
guage of this section might mislead
some people by the words ito connect
the present irrigation system Of the
Imperial Irrigation District In Imperial
county, California" For this language
would be compiled with by the con-
struction of canal from Laguna dam
to connect up with the canal immc-
diately below the lockwood Gate at
Pilot Knob, Imperial county.
Looks to me like joker.
1t is evident that the only reason
interests would have for not opposing
this bill would be their confidence In
their ability to control the Secretarys
action i'm this matter In my judgment.
this would land Imperial valley whore
it landed in the farm loan matter.
Section Two
Section Two reads that In carrying
out the provisions OF this act the Sec
rotary of the Interior shall find and
determine the just and equitable pro-
portion of amount OF the cost OF any
such canals, reservoirs and works 10
be borne by or made a charge agai'
any such irrigation district. state land
settlement board. soldier settlement
board, water users association corpora
ton or individual water user with due
regard to the actual and comparative
benefits to be derived by each thereof
from the construction of such canals.
reservoirs or works, and no irrigation
district. water users association. cor
poration or Individual water user
shall receive any OF the benefits Of this
act nor secure tho delivery Of any wa
, ter from the said canals reservoirs or
works without first accepting the find.
| ing OF tho Secretary Of the Interior W
herein provided and paying o. enter
! ing into an agreement satisfactory 10
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