Imperial Valley press., 1926-03-10

River Control Club endorsed the 20
sition taken by Secretaries Worl
and Hoover respecting the develop
ment of the Colorado River and the
solution of the water problems of
/. Imperial Valley and has wired them
an expression of confidence as fol
! lows:
( The Colorado River Control
/ Club ut Il recent meeting au-
thUrlzed me to express to YOU
and to Mr.. Hoover its full con
fidcnce regarding the Colorado
River problem and its belief
that any recommendation or
proposal You may make in this
matter will be for the best in
terests of Imperial Valley and
other lands in the lower basin
States; and TO assure you that
the Club coOperates with YOU
and supports you TO the extent
of its ability in your efforts to
bring about this great deve-
lopment.
On June "a 1924, group of I'm
perial Valley men, interested in the
American portion of Imperial Val
ley and keenlv desirOus of advanc-
ing its interests, formed TIL
COLORADO RIVER CONTROL.
CLUB and set forth the purposes
and principles of the Club in the fol.
lowing language:
First; To promote by every
proper means the early construc-
tion of Il flood control and storage
dam on the Colorado River at Il
site to be selected by proper govern
mental authority and which will af-
ford adequate flood protection and
storage for the Imperial Valley and
all other irrigable lands in the low
er Colorado River basin.
''Second: To urge that the dam
be constructed in such manner and
on such site as will make possible
the development of the maximum
of hydro. electric power. but that
the development of power shall al
ways be subordinated to the use of
water for irrigation and to flood
control.
Owners Of valley property. mum,
bcring more than thirteen hundred
and reprcsenting more than half the
irrigublc lands within Imperial
county. Joined the club and subscrib-
ed TO its purposes and principles.
From the date of its organization
the Club has concerned itself sole
lr with this one great problem of
paramount Importance TO the valley
and has steadfastlv refused TO in
terest itself in politics or other cx-
traneous matters.
Some months after its organiza-
tion the Club received from the di-
rectors of the Imperial Irrigation
District request TO outline Il leg
islative program which might har-
monize the views of various local
factions. and on November Il,
1924, in compliance with that re-
quest If suggested the following
amendments to the original Swing
johnson Bill:
First: The Secretary of the In
terror should be directed bv the
terms of the Bill NOT to enter into
any contract or contracts for the
construction of the All-American
canal or any canals authorized to
be built by the terms of that Bill
until after the completion of such
storage and flood control works on
the Colorado River or until such
storage and flOo control dam had
progressed under construction TO u
point where stored waters may be
released under control in amounts
sufficient to furnish stable and
sufficient water supply for the ir-
riGa'i0n of new lands to be -irrigat-
cd by such All-American canal or
other canals so TO be constructed.
'Socond That the Secretary Of
the interior for the purpose of Sc
curing repayment to the Govern
ment of the cost price of the All
American or other canal constructed
under the provisions of the Bill
should be required to reject as in
sufficient any and every guarantee
of repayment of charges allocated
10 the lands within Imperial Irriga-
tion District as at present constitut-
ed. except such as are based upon
the consent in writing of the owners
Of fifty per cent in value of the
lands so TO be charged with such
costs as shown bv the last edualiZ-
ed assessment roll of the said Dis
trict. evidencing their consent and
agreement that their said lands
shall be taxed for and subjected TO
tho terms of the payment Of con-
under the terms of said BILL
(The club pronosed the foregoing
amendments in the belief that the
nrovisi0ns of the Swing Johnson
Bill as originally written would
mako possible the building Of an
AN-Amcrican canal in advance Of
the time when the available water
SIMPLY has been increased bv storage
and without the consent or apnrO-
val Of owners of taxable propertv
Within the Imperial Irrigation Dis
trict being redrired to be evidenc-
ed in any equitable or sufficient
manner.O
The club favored tho mcordition-
nj ratification Of the Colorado Riv-
Or Comnact and opposcd the Finncv
Rill which qualified the acceptance
Of the compact BY this State in n