Imperial Valley press., 1919-01-20
RECLAMATION
SERVICE HEAD
FORCONTRACT'
RAT|F|CAT|0N
In Letter to Attorney Phil
D. Swing, Director Davis
Gives the Lie to Oppon-
ents of Contract.

Al1nough ne mas been quoted by the
antl-ratificationist orators and lead
ers as being against the contract. A.
P. Davis, director of the United
States Reclamation Service, in a let
ter to Attorney Phil D. Swing, uses
language which leaves the reader in
no doubt as to his sentiments.
Here are three forceful excerpts
from this communication, which
should sufficiently settle the ques-
tion of how this important govern
ment official stands on the contract
ratification:
II agree with you that the reso-
luton in its present form and the
approval of the contract are not in
consistent, but that one supplements
the other. and Secretary Lane agrees
with me therein"
II am glad that the Board favors
the ratification of the contract and
Of the proposal BOTH"
"With best wishes for the success
of the contract and the prosperity of
the Valley"
His letter in full follows:
washington. D. c.. January 13,
1919.-Mr. Phil D. Swing, Ell Centre,
California.-Mv Dear Mr.. Swing:
Your letter of December 81 to Mr..
E. c. Bradley has been referred to
me. Mr.. Bradley has severed his con-
nection with the Department and re-
turned to California, which accounts
for the delay in handling his mail.
"The Secretary has ust received
kilograms from Mr.. Holt. from The
Zanjero, and from the Chamber of
Commerce, asking his opinion regard
ing the contract and the resolution
that is to be submitted and is max
ing reply to all which will doubt
less be published before you receive
this letter.
81 agree with you that the resolu-
tion in it's present form and the >ap-
proval Of the contract are not incon-
sistent, but that one supplements the
other. and the Secretary agrees with
me therein.
"My letter to Mr.. Lack, to which
you refer, did not in any way COM
NIT the government or myself to the
project, but / took occasion to point
out that there were interstate and
international questions involved
which, together with the question of
navigation. make it to a certain ex-
tent a national problem. I am glad
to learn that the Boards favor rat
ification of the contract and of the
proposal both, and, while I am sure
the Secretary is in favor of the con-
tract and not unfriendly to the pur-
pose of the resolution, he is very
doubtful about getting so large an
appropriation from Congress as these
would contemplate.
"WITH BEST WISHES FOR THE
SUCCESS OF THE CONTRACT
AND THE PROSPERITY OF THE
VALLEY, l remain verv truly yours,
"a. P DAVIS,
Director"
The Seelev Chamber of Commerce
has passed the following resolution
endorsing the all-American canal
contract:
"Whereas, the opportunity is now
before the people of the Imperial Val
ley to secure real control of the wa
ter system; and
"Whereas, the contract with Secre-
tary Lane, as proposed, apparently Of
fers the best solution of our tangled
irrigation affairs, through co-opera
tion with the United States govern
ment; now, therebofsx, be it
"Resolved, That the members of. the
Seeley Chamber of Commerce, here
assembled, do endorse the all-Amri-
can canal contract. to be voted upon
on January 21, and earnestly urge its
ratification -