Imperial Valley press., 1922-04-12
Serious Situation
Which CunBeMetB By
Practical Handling

meeting OF the Imperial lrrlga.
ton District was held at the Wilson
School Auditorium last evening. This
meeting was held under the auspices
Of the FL Centre Chamber of Com
merce. After an introduction by the
President Of the Chamber of Com
merce, the meeting was turned over to
Mr.. Roy d. McPherr.n, who presided
during the evening.
The purpose of the meeting was to
discuss the coming bond election Of
$5,000,000 for the absorption Of the Mu
tual Water Companies and $500 900
for drainage.
:. The principal speakers, in addition
to Mr.. McPherrin, were Professor W..
w. Weir of the University of Cali.
fOrnia, and Mr.. d. w. Murphy, Con-
sulting Engineer for the District.
Prof. Weir and Mr.. Murphy discuss
ed the present ground water condi
tions and the needs for drainage in the
Valley.
Before introducing the speakers Mr..
McPherrin called attention to the
forthcoming bond election.
Mr.. McPherrin's Remarks
Application has been made by the
District Board to the Bond Commits
authority to issue its bonds in the sum
of $7,5OO,0O0. This application, Mr.
McPherrin said, has been approved by
the Commission. $5,000,000 of the is.
sue will be expended in the purchase
Of the canal systems and properties
Of the various Mutual Water Compan'
les and $o,5OO,OOO win be expended in
the construction Of p drainage system
for the entire valley. The proposal to
consolidate the management OF the
water affairs of the District under
one management has been so generally
discussed that it's merits arc well I'M
derstood, Tho direct benefits which may
be expected to result will bel. more
economy in operation. 2. increased ef.
ficiency in operation, and B.. eqialiZa-
ton of service. and charges throughout
the valley and an establishment OF
financial credit and business Standing,
in district matters. 70 ssea.z
The matter Of drainage, its ncees
yit4, and the bepefits TO ba derived
arm; hot SO we'll aihderstoodS There hns
been a feeling that drainage was ~
local matter which should be handled
locally ut the expense OF lands affect
ed. Investigations conducted by thc
District for eighteen months last past
prove beyond controversy that the
drainage problem is not confined to any
locality but is general throughout the
entire irrigated area of the district. II
should not be matter of surprise TO-
the people Of tho Valley that drain
ago should be required as experience,
has proven elsewhere throughout the
arid west that all large irrigation pro-
iccts sooner or later require drainage
for their protection and continued sue
cess. Mr.. McPhcrrin said that invest
ors everywhere recognize this fact ana
are more willing to invest their capital
in q community which has provided
drainage than in one which may assert
that drainage will not be required. Our
drainage experts have assured us. that
no soil conditions exist here which do
not obtain id other SECTIONS which
have become woter-lOgged and which
have. been successfully drained. 1t only
remains for us to recognize the exist
ence of conditions which require I'M
mediate drainage and to PROVIDE the
funds for the construction OK the nee
essary works to re-establish conIidenc'
in the Valley and increase present ana
future production and land values hc
eording to Mr.. McPherrin, tho amount
Of money required per acre for drain
age, viewed in the light OF insurance !;
is 40 small that there should be M
shesitaney IN endorsing the present
proposal for drainage purposes.
Mr.. Weir's Demonstrations
Prof. Weir, Who is now conducting
Demonstrations relative to soil and
ground water conditions in the Valley,
rave the results Of his observations
inring the past. few days. lie also
stated that the Imperial Valley, iikt
all other irrigated areas, had exper
;eneed q. rise in the ground water.
Prof. Weir stated that his studies OF
tho Valley in the past and his present
knowledge Of conditions led to tn.
conclusion that ut least 70 per: cent OF
Inc lands in the valley now required
drainage. He pointed out the fact that
unless drainage is provided, crop losses
viii result from excessive high water
tohel and accumulation -of alkali on
the surface. He stated that the only
means for ridding the soils OF alGaii
Is byr flooding the surface and wash
mo the harmful salts downwards
Drainage works are necessary to lower
tho ground water and to carry ont the
excess supply in the soils before TINS
can be successfully done. !,
Prof. Weir supplemented his tax ny