Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-03

erior Fall today.
Secretary Hoover, federal chairman OF
the Colorado river commission, who has
recently toured the western states as
head of the commission, says he realizes
the last important of the measure and
the rich lands along the Colorado river,
valued at more than $150,000,OOO and
supporting $4,000 people are to be saved
from destruction as the result of break
ing levees at Palo Verde.
He favors $2O,OO0,00O appropriation
to start the work, the rest to come later.
All federal moneys will be repaid front
the sale of power, of which 7OO,OOO prl-
mary horsepower will be developed by
the dam.
Fall's favorable report written some
time ago, will be released today or M0n-
day.
| Senator Hiram johnson, Congressman
| Osborne, Swing and Linberger, as well
as Nolan of San Francisco, are working
on the bill and Senator Shortridge is
known to be favorable and every other
member of the California delegation.
Conferences with the president are
now being arranged and every effort
will be made to rush the bill on the
calendar and bring it to a vote IN the
next, few weeks.
Already vast holdings at Palo Verde
and other places on the river have been
DESTROYED and the entire valley 10
threatened. :,
The Mexican land companies, chiefly
owned in Los Angeles, whose holdings
in lower California aggregate SOO,oOo
acres are said to be fighting the bill,
but every municipality in Southern Cah-
fornia, "a in number and % other civic
organizations have endorsed the measure
already.
This is the biggest Undertaking OF
this country, materially speaking" sald
Senator johnson this afternoon.
Great News for Imperial Valley
The foregoing leased wire dispatch to
the Press is the best news that has
been received in Imperial Valley. 1t
would indicate that right Of way has
been granted to the Boulder Dam pro-
ject and that there is a fair prospect
that legislation may be enacted at this
session of congress.
Irrigation District officials declare
that the $2O,OOO,OOO appropriation pro-
posed is ample to begin the work.
The Irrigation District has letter
from j. S. Nickerson advising OF his
arrival in Washington and of prelimin-
ary conferences with administration
officials. Mr.. Nickerson s telegram in-
dicated that he was hopeful that admin
istration and congressional leaders
would agree upon basis for the Boul-
der Dam bill, but up to the time OF
filing Mr.. Nickerson s telegram moth
ing had developed of so definite ma
ture as is indicated by the Press dis
patch.
! Too Much Politics
The following is contained in spe-
cial dispatch from Washington and in.
dicated q good cause may suffer
through the interference of politicians:
Palo Verde Valley flood sufferers had
a good prospect of getting immediate
1 federal relief through the committee
on appropriations in the house until
Gov. Campbell of Arizona objected by
wire. The appropriation committee
seized upon this objection as an excuse
and there will pc no federal relief for
the Palo Verde flood sufferers.
Gen. Beach was before the committee
and approved the suggestion of the
field engineers and there was every
prospect that the small amount asked
would be granted as an emergency
measure. The telegram from Governor
Campbell stated that if it was true
that work in the Colorado river was in
contemplation which would cut off any
territory from Arizona and throw it
into California the state of Arizona
; was prepared to enioin California from
proceeding. 1t was then the prospects
for PalO Verde relief disappeared.
Congressman Osborn, Lineberger
and Swing urged grant of $4,000.
Gov. Campbell, however, injected into
the case the question of state boundar-
les and that settled the committee.