Imperial Valley press., 1922-11-16
OFFER FREE WATER
TO RECLAIM LANDS
CHAMBER IS TOLD
Weir Tells Businessmen of
Plans; Many Attend
Weekly Dinner

Free water. furnished by the Imper-
ial Irrigation District TO ranehers while
retaining their land. wast the an
nouncement made at last night s
Chamber of Commerce dinner at the
Barbara Worth hotel by Prof. w. w.
Weir of the drainage department of
the University of California, who ad-
dressed the members on drainage mat
ters in general.
In California, drainage experts have
tried twice TO have a uniform drain
age district law passed, but without sue
cess. In 1918 and 1920, bills to this
effect were passed by both branches of
the legislature, after they had been
proposed by Professor Weir and other
men interested in drainage, but were
not signed bv the governor. A third
bill has been written and Will be nitro
duced at the next session of the legls-
lature, which all interested parties are
hoping will be successful, and the sug-
pestion is made that Chambers OF
Commerce and other civic organiza-
tions lend their support to the passage
of such bill.
Referring TO the drainage problems
of Imperial Valley, Professor Weir
said he is greatly interested in the
work now being done by the Imperial
Irrigation District to reclaim water.
logged land and land containing alkall
and made an extensive tour yesterday
with members of the Irrigation district
board TO inspect the work that has
been done so far.
Officials offer Free Aid
Officials of the district, realizing
that many ranehers desire TO reclaim
Land that has been abandoned because
of the presence of alkah, or that has
become water-logged, have made an
offer TO supply sufficient water 70
ranchers 10 enable them TO reclaim
the land without any charge. In TINS
wav the raneher win not be burdened
with heavy water charges while putting
his land in good condition and VIII
only have the expense OF MS own
labor. -, ,,,,
chosen Cor experimental purposes IN
connection with the reclamation WORK
ana will be watcher for results by lrti
oation District and ranehers. lhe lahU
has been flooded with water 10 aePlN
Of one foot and will be kept IN inns con
.dition about three weeks when thI
water will be allowed 10 run OH ahu
inspeetion of the land made.
Barkley Talks To Chamber
winfield Barkley of the southern
Trnst and Commerce Bank, told OIL hl'
;,,torast in the development work be
ino done in Imperial Valley at preseeh'
ana the necessity for close eo-oPefallol
hotween rancher, businessmen hler
abants ana bankers in order 10 soiV'
si'a ,rollems confronting this commun
ity. a.. necessity OF
.,rowiug more alfalfa to supply tne ~,
reeas Of the dairyman and thefeDs
s,on him from having 10 sen ms e"'ll'
II order 10 pay his expenses. ne ~ ~
;aa +be number of cows that are De
sola out of the valley because ol
~ seod shortage which exists ana en-
,has;ged the need Of planting cow
frans 10 take care of this shortaee Az az
at tbe same time renew the ieI'iii'1
~ worn out soil. ~ ,,ionce,
lam b. Davis, one of the pioBeei
s;dents of FL Centre, now located ~
,aa, Reach, told of his experiences q
davs here and remarked on tnS
,,aatytb Of the valley in the iast ~
a4a stated conditions in the Miaaio
w., are such that farmers are seiiihs
-, and coming to California IN large
,,',ahers m, ana Il il the duty q Imperial