Imperial Valley press., 1920-03-31
.CANTU MAY BUILD
col LORADO RIVER
DAM NEAR HANLON
New Angle of RiUer ContrO-
Uersy: Construction of Dan,
III Mexican Territory Arises
NeU Legal Question; Would
Thlrart Yuma.

A startling plan to build dam in
Mexico, thus raising the water at
Hanon's heading. thwarting Yuma
and benefitting the valley is said to
be under consideration by Governor
Cantu.
The Calexico Chronicle tells of the
plan as follows:
There is another and new angle
to the matter of the wier dam which
is soughtb the people of Imperial
! Valley to place in the Colorado in or
der that sufficient water may be de-
livered from that stream to protect
/ the crops Of the valley during the
period of low water.
! 1t will be recalled that yesterday the
/ Chronicle published the story that
Yuma, through its Water Users asso-
citation again had filed objections
to the building of the dam and that
things look discouraging from that
standpoint. But the other angle is de-
veloped in the statement of promi-
nent man of this section made
last night. AS a preliminary it may
be stated that the man in question Is
one who knows what he is talking
about and who, when the proper time
comes. is entirely willing that his
name shall be used. He said:
Il know for an absolute fact that
the Mexican government officials are
right now considering the question, in
connection with the farmers interest
ed. of building 15-foot dam in the I
Colorado at a point within their ter
ritory in order to raise the water at
least four feet at Hanlon heading
during the low period. Plans. indeed.
have been made and it is demonstrat-
ed that the project is entirely fea-
sihle and practical. l know this my
self for | am familiar with the plans
as outlined. This has not been done
inadvisedly, as the Mexican officials,
foreseeing the opposition of Yuma TO
the building of a wier this year. took
time by the forelock and prepared to
protect their interests in the valley
below the border" ..s..s.,.
The statement made is entirely rea-
sonable, for when all is said and
done. the tremendous production OF
Lower California in the valley is the
one big source of revenue to the
Mexican federal government as well
as to the district government and II
this is cut off by a gripping OF the
industry by lack of water. or even a
shortage of water at critical time
when it is needed for cotton, it would
be a serious matter and 1t appears
! from the statement made that there
| is to be no chance taken.
With a dam erected bv the Mexican
government the American side would
receive the same benefits and the same
protection and the water supply would
| be futile; for Mexico has perfect
right to dam the river in her own ter
ritory when and where she will.
The result would be more danger
Gus, although few people believe there
is any danger, to Yuma, than under
present conditions or with the usual
dam put in by the irrigation district.
In this case the irrigation district has
no more responsibility and no more
authority than the most modest water
users of the valley and can only stand
by and accept that which the gods and
Mexican government provides, IN the
event of the building Of the dam. as
proposed.
isn't this just bluff" was asked
of the Chronicles informant.
at is not" was the emphatic re-
ply. 81 was present personally at
conference when the matter was up
with Mexican federal officials and
am satisfied that thev meant business
from the word go and | believe that
unless we, and | mean the irrigation
district by that. are able to build a
dam and supply water, that the Mexi-
can authorities will carry out their
plan"
This seems on the face Of it to
make things look pretty good for the
approaching season, when the water
supply may not be sufficient for our
needs.