Imperial Valley press., 1926-01-30
THIRD INSTALLMENT

The canal now supplies water foi
the irrigation of over 400,0OU acrc'
! in California, and irrigators in Mex
/, leo At present require water for thu
irrigation of 100000 acres. Bu
/ Mexican irrigators are entitled, un
der this concession, to double thu
volume they are now using. or fol
enough to irrigate as many acre.
as are now irrigated in California
That is more water than the unrcgu
lated flow of the river will now sup
ply. Az the Mexican irrigator'
are on the upper end of the canal
the pinch of scarcity, when it han
come in the past, or when it may
come in the future, falls first on ir
rigators in the United States, which
country supplies the water, all the
construction cost and all the money
advanced for operation. 1t is un.
fair to California irrigators now
and will be ey en- more so after the
reservoir is bull.
1t is physically possible to irri-
gate much more than 100000 acres
from this canal in Mexico. If this
concession remains in force without
anv amendment and the canal con-
tinucs to be used as now, the irri
gated area in Mexico will continue
to extend. The volume needed to
be diverted from the river would
he more than the direct flow at the
low water season. and the area ir-
rigated in California would be sub
.icct to ruinous uncertainties and
less. If storage is provided. part
of the water for the irrigation of
lands in Mexico would, under this
concession, have to be supplied from
the reservoir. and this canal NANld
be the only means of eQnvey1Ag
water to the Imperial Vah -
il can be operated only if the terms
of the Mexican concession are com
piled with.
If, however, the government of
Mexico would consent to mOdifi-
cation of this concession and def
nitely limit the volume of water to
which Mexican irrigators would be
entitled. then the future use of the
present canal would be economical
and desirable, II smaller high line
could be built and utilized mainly
for the irrigation of the higher
lands of the Imperial and Coachella
Valleys. Thus far, no negotiations
for the modification of the conccs-
sion have been made. 1t is not
known what the attitude of the
Mexican government would be and
plans for this development should
therefore include provision for an
ALI American canal as an essential
part of the scheme.
The building of a unified power
plant by the federal government in
the place of alloeating power priv,
i.eges. as proposed in the BILL is re-
garded as more efficient and cheap
er. 1t will obviate controversies be-
tween applicants, and long delays
in their adjustment. In the end, re-
suits will, | believe, be superior to
those possible under an ALLEGATION Of
privileges. The area for the loca-
tion of separate power sites is re-
stricted. AllotmentS would not be
equal in value. Some allottees
would therefore, have an advantage
over others. 1t would result in the
creation of operation and admins
tration controversies to be avoided
and which a unified development
will avert.
The transmission lines for the
distribution and retailing of thi-
power should be financed by its
purchases. TO secure the greatest
economy. min transmission line:
leading to different localities should
be constructed for joint use. Thi:
plan Of power development is not
an experiment. 1t has been adopt
ed by the government with satisfac
tory results in the construction o1
other reclamation works. where this
generation of power is an incident
to irrigation development. Salt Riv
er Minidoka, Lahontan and Guern
scy are illustrations.
Section 8 provides that no part o.
the construction cost Of the dap
aud the appurtcnant works shall b.
charged against any lands irrigatc'
by the waters of the reservoir. l.
the All-Amcrican canal is to be con
sidsked as an appurtcnant work
the bill should be amended. IL il
believed that the sales Of wate
from this canal will return not onl,
the cost of operation and maintcn
ancc. but pay construction cost
without interest, as is done on Othe
reclamation projects.
All revenues from power, irriga
tiOn, and domestic water supple
should be placed in common fun'
and used for the payment OF inter
est. operating expenses and build u
:, inkiuU fuud Fur re1epmlup tn