Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-10

states should control, operate, or SUI
pervise tho carrying out of such plans
therefor as should be recommended by
the Secretary of the Interior in his re-
port. There was provided for the pur-
poses of the act an appropriation OF
see, 900 which was made available upon
condition that the Imperial Irrigation
District should contribute an equal
amount. Since the passage of this act
the Imperial Irrigation District has
contributed not only the sum of $780,
900 but a total of SS1oo,ooo for the fur
therance of such Investigations. Addi-
tional contributions have been made by
Coacheila Valley, by Palo Verde Val
! ley and by the State of Arizona. The
investigations were made under the
imm ediate direction and supervision of
MIR. Arthur p. Davis, director of the
United States Reclamation Service.
His report has been completed and
transmitted TO Secretary Fall, and
while il has not vet become an official
document, its contents and recommen-
dations have been generally published
and are well known.
1t is now the duty of the secretary
| of the interior, Hon. A. r. Fall, to
transmit this report to Congress with
his own recommendations for the fur
ther consideration and action by Con-
gress. Secretary Fall has thought it
\ advisable, prior to the transmission
| of such report by him to Congress, to
consult with the various communities
| and interests which may have an in
1 terest in or which may be affected or
benefited by the construction of the
works outlined in this report, and has
larranged that a conference on these
| matters be had before him in the city
}of San Diego on December H.
The report of Mr.. Davis is very COM
l prehensive and will be of extreme
value in full consideration, and COM
prehensive solution of the problems of
The entire Colorado River BASIN 1t
contains the latest and authoritative
compilation of data upon water supply.
runoff and the annual discharge of
that mighty river and its tributaries
Turing period of twenty years +,
shows the location and extent. or other
proposed and possible projects on Co
dorado river and its tributaries. II
shows conclusively that the storage of
the annual flood waters now a loss and
menace. will provide double the
| amount of water which can ever be re-
CURED for use by lands which are sus-
eeptible of irrigation from the Color
ado river by gravity or pumping. 1t
should convince every state and com
munfty affiliated with the League of
he Southwest that the construction of
such dam for the purpose of storage
least possible degree. jeopardize or de-
'troy the right of any community or
Staate on the upper reaches of the CO.
'ora"o river TO utilize to the fullest ex-
tent It's own opportunity for future de-
Nelopment of Its own irrigation and
lower projects l discusses in a can
ala and convincing manner the natural
ana equitable right IF land in the Re
puolic OF Mexico. lying within the Co.
iorauo River basin, to continue to en-
10Y the use of water on lands already
reclaimed, as well as to proceed with
future legitimate expansion. In our
view ii shows concusively that no in
-ernational question should or could
trise between the United States and
ne Republic of Mexico respecting tho
tight of either country to utilize tho
waters of that stream to the fuIlast
possible extent in the DEVELOPMENT Of
Is own territory, for the all sufficient
reason that il is apparent that there is
and will be water enough for both and
tor all, if only the water be stored for
rational use
Ihe people of Imperial Valley do not
calm that they discovered the coIoro-
10 river or first realized the Importance
OF its development nor do they feel
mat they have an exclusive rich, tn
direct or control the plans for its dc
FeIopment, but we do ask Won IN ro
member that II should be declared as
OF first Importance that agricultural
values already created in Lower Collar
ado River basin, in Imperial Valley in
fuma Valley and in Palo Verde VAL
ley must first be preserved and made
secure and that their right in that re-
Spect is greater and entitled tn moro
consideration of projects in other COM
munities and states which merely awai
munities and states which werelv
await future development. We freely
acknowledge that other communities
and other states within the entire Co
dorado River basin have a right to de-
development be amply protected. we
believe that themachinery set in oper-
alton by the passage Of the Colorado
River Commission Act, which provides
Tor an interstate treaty TO be sanction
ed by the respective states and in turn
'py the Federal government, will fur
'nish this protection in its fullest and
most comprehensive sense. We hope
and believe that the commission will
act promptly. It's creation was intend
ed TO prevent delay in commencing de-
velopment. Its province will be to pro-
vide that any development now initi-
ated will conform to, and become "A
part of that whole development in Co
dorado River basin.
We submit to you that it is obvious
that this work must be commenced
now; that the flood waters OF the Co
dorado river must be controlled and
regulated at once if disaster to Inner
ial Valley, and possibly to Yuma and
coachela Valleys in turn. is to be
ayerted. Provision for such storage