Imperial Valley press., 1920-12-01
CR0NH0LM 3
c, BROCKMAN
CLASH At
MEETING
Differ Over Methods to be
Undertaken South of the
Line; Mexican Govern
ment Holding Up Work
on Pescadero Cut, He
Says.

A lively crash took place at the
meeting Of the Mount Signal
Farm Center last night when +.
n. CrOnholm, general manager of
the Irrigation District, and {. W.
Brcokman, originator of the So
called advisory board Cf the mu-
tual water companies, and candi-
date for director of the Irrigation
district, engaged in heated dis
cussion over the situation con-
fronting the water supply of the
district from the channels south
of the international line.
Chonholn? was seemingly invading
hostile territory for the night, and
test vote taken during the course OF
the evening, over resolution asking
for the dismissal of the advisory
board" was defeated by majority of
tbya. to one, with only small per cenE
81 the audience voting.
t.ity-five of the Mount Signal CEN
ter were present and only IL votes
weer cast, four for the dismissal of
the advisory board and eight for It's
continuance.
Previous to the voting Cronholm
stated that the situation in Mexico
was serious in every sense of the
word, and that if immediate action of
some kind was not taken the heavy
flow of the Colorado river during the
early spring would cause severe dam
age to Imperial lands north of the
line.
Pointing to a map he explained that
at the present time the Colorado river
was riding a ridge for a great num-
Der of miles, with the land on either
side lower than the river. The least
disturbance, he said, would cause the
river to overflow to the north or
south, either direction causing con-
siderable damage, and more especially
if the break came on the north side of
the channel. Again he said, as in
previous speeches before the farm bu-
reaus, the only remedy would be the
cutting of a channel in the Pescadora
river. This, he said, could not be
done without the approval of the Mex
lean government, which, SO far, has
failed to yield to the appeal of the
American people for help. E1
Brockman stated that he was of the
opinion that the concession would be
granted by the Mexican interests if
the request were made in the pproper
manner.
Cronholm differed with him saying
that only with the undivided support
of the entire valley and an exhorbit-
ant amount of pressure brought to
bear on the officials south of the in
ternational line, could it be secured.
Replying to this Brockman explain
ed that he had been informed that the
Mexican interests would grant the
right of way ~ the Imperial Irriga-
ton District if they be allowed repre-
sentation on the engineering staff Of
the district. Cronholm denied this,
declaring that further moves were be-
hind the plot than merely that.
That he had always been in favor
of the proposed Pescadero cut was
the point dwelt upon by Brockman
largely during the evening, but he was
afraid that, as the water would be
lower in some places than in others,
the Colorado would cut back to Hanl' n
Heading thus causing trouble.
Cronholm denied that such was the
case.
f. O. Thomas of the Mount Signal
district and candidate for director
of the Irrigation District, was also
present and spoke with Brockman ia
behalf of the advisory board"