Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-26
'0CKERSON LEvEE
| RAILROAD NEEDED
SAYS S. P. HEAD
After Return from Visit OUes
LeUee Works in Mexico Gen.
eral Manager Says Leuec
Railroad is Vital.

! CALEXICO, May ga railroad
ON the Ockerson levee is absolutel,
essential to successful flood protec-
ton of Imperial Valley, according to
~. II. Dyer, general manager of the
Southern Pacific company, who spent
Saturday in company with other
railroad officials and directors of the
Imperial Irrigation District in an in
Ispection trip over the Ockersonn.
Saiz and Volcanic Lake levees.
without such railroad, the entire
Hood protection works might be made
useless within a short time by big.
flood protection works might be made
along the levee, the danger of the
Hood causing a serious break would
De reduced to minimum.
1.-The Southern Pacific company has
not taken over the building of the
railroad on the Ockerson Ievee, but
we are lending every assistance to
the directors of the Imperial Irriga-
ton District in their work" said
General Manager Dyer "The. Irriga-
ton District directors have not asked
the Southern Pacific to take over the
work. in fact, this is the first time
have ever heard of such Il proDo-
sltlon," he continued. This work is
a step in the right direction, and,
from what | could see, it seems that
everything is being done that is pos
slble to protect the valley from the
flood waters Of the Colorado river.
as far as the leveeS are concerned"
With members Of the Irrigation
District board, Mr.. Dyer and a number
of other officials of the Southern Pa
cific, and General Manager Burdick
of the Inter- California railroad, spent
the entire day Saturday going over
the OckersOn, SaiZ, Volcan Lake and
! c. ID. levees.
WORK BEING PUSHED
| The railroad which is being built
on the Ockerson levee is being given
every impetus possible by the railroad
officials, especially in the may of ma
terials, and they are well pleased
with the progress of the work thus
far. Mr.. Burdick last week divertri
ed two car loads Of ties to the lcvce
work, while rails are being supplied
regularly by the roads.
ado you think the levee work will
| be completed before the flood begins
running?" Dyer was asked.
II am not in position to answer
your question:" he answered, because
am not familiar enough with condi-
tions, but it lies solely with Prov
dence and the ability of those III
charge of the work. We are keeping
them supplied with ample materials,
and they appear to be rushing the
work very rapidly; but it's doubtful
whether or not the work will be com
pleted before the flood hits it,"
WHALEN PLEASED WITH WORK
Division Superintendent Whalen
was we'll pleased with what he saw
of the work. He said that the Los
Angeles division of the railroad,
which is under his administration,
stoody ready at all times to give the
Imperial Irrigation District the pref
erence pertaining to the flood control
work, as they have done in the past,
especially during the high water
periods.
PROMISES S. p. AID
1--WE have in the past given trains
of rip-rap right of way over all other
traffic on our lines, in order to assist
in preventing breaks in the levees
below the line" he said, "and we are
ready at all times to render every
possible assistance to keep the flood
waters out of the valley"
Other members of the party who
were on the inspection trip We're As
sistant General Manager 7. H. Will
liams, Assistant Superintendent c, f.
Donnatin, Chief Maintenance Engi-
neer of Maintenance George w. Corri-
gan, and Master Mechanic W. c. Pet
erson of the Los Angeles division;
j. S. Rose, S. T. Tyler Of the lrriga-
ton District.