Imperial Valley press., 1919-05-22
IRON OVER CONTENDING
QUESTIONS ON WATER
Continued from Page ~

i l.t
"Bill to Assist in Increasing Produc-
tive Agricultural Area Of Imperial
Valley, California, and for Other
Purposes.
| Whereas, there are approximately
100000 acres of unirrigated lands in
lhperial Valley and vicinity in the
I State of California, the major portion
of which the United States is propri-
etor, which could be irrigated by a
canal headed at l.aguna Dam on the
Colorado river, leading in south
westerly direction wholly on American
! territory to Imperial Valley, all of
which land, when reclaimed, will be
| very productive; and
! Whereas, in addition to unentered
and unirrigated lands there are 1884,
J 700 acres under canals in the Imper-
! ial Valley for which canal so con-
structed would furnish permanent di-
version from the Colorado river and
an adequate source of water; and
Whereas, on February 16, 1918,
i the Unied States government, through
The secretary of the interior, entered
into a contract with the Imperial r.
rigation District providing for joint
survey by the United States and the
District for the location of a canal
wholly on American territory from
Laguna Dam to connect with the pres
ent irrigation system of the District
in the United States; and
Whereas, said joint survey was
made by the United States and the
Imperial Irrigation District, and the
report of the board of engineers MAX
ing same declared the construction
of an all-American canal from La
guna Dam to irrigate all lands in
IMPERIAL Valley to be feasible, and
estimated the cost thereof at approx
imately $30,00O,000; and
Whereas, on October 23, 1918, the
United States government, through
the secretary Of the interior entered
into a contract with the District pro-
viding for the construction of an all
l American canal under supervision of
the secretary of the interior, connec-
ting the irrigation system of the Dis
trict with Laguna dam and for other
purposes; and
"Whereas, said contract between
the United States and the District
provided, among other things, for rat
ification by vote of the people of the
District, which vote was on January
2l, 1918, after submission Of the re-
| port of the joint board of engineers
covering the survey and cost esti-
mate of the canal was duly had rati-
fication of the contract obtained by
a vote Of approximately three to one;
and
Whereas, it is the policy of the
United States to increase the produc-
tive agricultural area of the United
States to increase the productive ag-
ricultural area of the United States
by reclamation Of arid lands; and
Whereas, construction of the pro-
posed canal will increase the produc-
tive agricultural area of the United
States by 100000 acres, or more, with
in the United States; therefore,
"Be 1t Enacted, by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Unit
ed States of America, in Congress
assembled, that all unentered public
land of the United States in the I'M
perial Valley, California, found by
the secretary of the interior to be
susceptible of irrigation from the ca
nal the construction Of which is pro-
vided for by Section 6 hereof, shall
be offered for sale by the secretary of
the Interior at $40 per acre, plus $1.25
per acre, government charge under the
desert land laws for cash, or, on de-
'ferred payments, at the option of the
purchaser, one-fifth cash and the bal
ance in four annual installments bear
ing interest at 6 per cent per annum
frcm date of sale, patent to issue upon
full payment Of purchase price, pro-
vided that no purchaser shall be per-
mitted to purchase more than one
hundred sixty Q60) acres under the
provisions of this act; provided fur
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE BY
HOLDER OF LIEN FOR SERV-