Imperial Valley press., 1923-05-04
Which Statement Above Do You Believe? One Is Untrue

er from the main canal If called upon
and the irrigation district must be ready
at all times to supply that water to Mex
leo. As matter of fact that is what is
being done right now Last weeks re-
port shows that the Mexican land owners
are using their full allotment of so per
cent. The district must be ready at all
times to serve and the cost of maintain
ance is greater with the canals but half
full than if full. Therefore the allot-
ment of charges should be on fifty
fifty basis.
But for the sake of argument let's take an
other basis that makes the district burden
heavier The amount of water used is certainly
fair method. On the basis of water used Mex
leo is $1500,000 short of its pro rata and owes
that amount to the irrigation district today. 1t
isn't how many children the farmer has that wor
ries him in financial way-it's how much sugar
he must buy to feed them. On basis Of the
amount Of water consumed, Mexico is steadily
defaulting in payments.
The protection expense to which the irriga-
ton district has been put not only reclaims Mex
lean lands which were bought for 81 an acre but
gives them first protection from flood, since
break in the system would cause the water to go
through New River to Salton Sea and begin its
nundation in the north end of the district and
probably never reach Mexico before the breaks
could be repaired.
Referring again to Allison's statement that
the district is spending money on campaigns to
deprive his company of water.
This campaign should be the MeXl-
can land owners salvation if successful.
Already at times of low water they have
used their full fifty per cent of the water
and are doing that very thing right now.
&c., Such being the case the Boulder Dam
with storage waters would enable them
to get the additional supply of water that
will be necessary for them with their
constantly increasing acreage of re-
claimed lands.
Allison should remember also that under the
Holabird regime when water was short the Mex
lean owners took their requirements without
Quiyver and exercised their physical control.
Americans remember this if Allison doesn't.
The irrigation district must maintain high
checks all along the main canals in Mexico and
frequently, in order to make two foot delivery,
must back up water five miles, causing more silt
and consequently more expense to maintain.
This is in srikin gcontrast with the districts posi-
tion on the American side where the mutual
companies during the period referred to by AL
lison maintained, their main canals. aNumber 8,
for instance helped maintain forty miles of main
canals Allison's own company. Number Three,
heped maintain the high line on the east side,
and did maintain it throughout it's length on their
territory. Allison is president of Number Three
and knew when he made the statement that the
irrigation district did not maintain the canals on
the American side.
Allison states that Mexico pays cash in ad-
vance for the water and that the mutuals were
frequently in arrears. When ever the mutuals
were IN arrears 10 the district, tney paid interest
on the amount and Allison knew that too In
Mexico during the four years he mentions and all
the time in the past, the district maintained the
main canals, and several laterals. On the Ameri-
can side he knows during that time the district
did not
Allison says that the average acre
age cost of water in Mexico is $313 and
in the United States it is $780, Every
American farmer can brand this state
ment on it's face. Every American far
mer knows that his average acre cost
is about $780, AS to the water charge
both sides were paying the district. dur
ing four years, $1.7O per foot except
in cases on the Mexican side where they
were stealing it.
There is no assessment against
Mexican lands as the district maintains
16O miles of canals i'm Mexico which the
Mexican land owners have right to
tap at will.
figures available to any tax payer at the offices