Arizona republican., 1922-06-08
NO FLOOD CONTROL
WORK ON COLORADO
BY j. s. ENGINEERS

That the visit recently of two war
department engineers to the Palo
Verde valley in California was not
for the purpose of making flood con-
troll surveys on the river is the
declaration made by John w. Weeks,
secretary OF war in a telegram yes
terday to Gov. Thomas E. Campbell.
Reports had reached the office of the
governor that the two engineers, aft
er spending several days in the Palo
Verde valley, had sent reports to
Washington recommending that a
cutoff be made by the war depart
ment at Hauser's bend on the Ari-
zona side of the river to divert the
flood waters from the already broken
levee south of Blythe.
Governor Campbell at once wired
to Secretary Weeks and received the
following telegram in reply: Visit of
war department engineers to the Palo
Verde valley in California referred to
in your telegram of the 30th was for
the purpose of securing information
in anticipation of a request from
congress for data. The war depart
ment has adopted no plans for any
work in the locality and none will be
formulated unless so directed by con-
gress. Full opportunity will be
given you to present any data you de-
sire before any plan is recommended.
Signed, John w. Weeks. secretary of
war"
Since the breaking of the levee op-
posite Hauser bend, about six miles
below Blythe. early in May, the en-
tire Palo Verde valley and the town
of Ripley, Cal, have been under wa
ter ranging in depth from three to six
feet. In the past few days the water
has been rising and the worst flood
in the history of the river Is predict
ed with the crest reaching flow OF
200, 900 second feet
In several instances men said to be
from the California side of the river
have been found on the Arizona side
of the river attempting to make cut
offs to divert the flood waters from
the California side of the river, and
each time these attempts have been
stopped by Arizona residents upon
advice from w. j. Galbraith, attor-
ney general Mr.. Galhraith has main
tanned since the controversy over the
diversion of the stream arose that
Arizona will not permit anyone TO at
tempt such a course at this time on
account of such methods having a
tendency to intensity flood conditions
below Blythe and creating a possible
menace to both the Yuma and the Inn
perial valleys.
The first information that army en-
gineers were taking hand in the
flood situation near Blythe was re-
ceived in a letter to Governor Camp
bell from L. f. Williams. president
of the Palo Verde joint levee dis
trict. In part Mr.. Williams letter is
as follows:
"A short time ago Governor Stevens
was with us for day and we asked
his advice relative TO obtaining a
right of way across bends in the river
where the land lies on the Arizona
side. He was not certain as to who
had jurisdiction over the lands in
question. | was, however, informed
Saturday by an engineer connected
with the general land office at Santa
Fe, n. NJ, that We would be required
to get permission from the general
land office except for such rights Of
way as may cross school or state
lands. Regardless of having this
matter settled by the land office, the
war department. or the department Of
interior, we have felt that 1t is the
right and neighborly thing to do TO
confer with the officials of the state
of Arizona before We take any fur
ther action. We should be pleased to
have conference between you and
a committee from our valley at some
future date, providing the present
emergency does not cause certain ac-
tion to be taken without such a con-
ference"
So far the conference has not been
arranged. There is an injunction now
In force issued by the superior court
of Yuma county enjoining all persons
from any interference with the course
of the Colorado river on the Arizona
side of the river and Attorney General
Galbraith has declared that anyone
found violating the terms of this in-
junction will be arrested.