Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-03

! y7l2 cents, and the last two blocks
of the issue totaling $950000, we
sold for 100 and 101 cents on the
dollar in 1924 and 1925 respectively.
OF the fourth bond issue, $4,000 900
was for the construction of drains.
1t had been estimated this sum
would build 174 miles, but as a re-
suit of efficient methods employed,
we were able to not only build 1870
miles. or 16 miles more than esti-
mated as possible, but also pay for
eXcavating equipment in the
| amount of sl9l, Ala, at a total cost
OF $2.458,600 This could not have
been accomplished without employ
ing economical and business meth
DDS.
My opponents have both stressed
administrative overhead expenses.
In this connection, let me point out
that during my term of office, gen.
eral administration costs have been
reduced from $l25,000 to $4,000,
and / want TO assure you that I
have and will continue to give close
attention to this item and effect
every saving possible that is con-
sistent with efficient management.
l have mentioned the fact that
the canal system operated by the
District, including Mexico, totals
over 2700 miles. Exclusive of the
deep drains, the mileage of canals
IN Imperial Valley totals 2440 miles,
as compared to approximately 22l0
miles when l took office.
In 1923 we cleaned a total of 3083
miles of canals; in 1929 total of
1898 miles. or an increase Of APP
proximately 500 miles, but the
average cost per mile dredged was
materially lower in the latter year
due TO improvements which we have
made in dredging equipment as well
as more efficient methods employed
in carrying on the work. This is
shown by the fact that the total
cost of operating and maintaining
the canal system in Imperial Valley
in 1923 was 81 ,035,3 300, as compared
to but $979,000 in 1929, despite the
increase in mileage, dredged and
operated, as well as a much more
difficult silt problem, in the latter
year. Again, another comparison
can lie maze in cost based on Tie
water delive,-t In 1923 deliveries
to land in Imperial Valley totalled
928,00) aerG e"et, and for 1929 the
total was 1,634,OU0 acre feet, which
applied to the above costs shows
S1.l0 per acre foot for 1923, as
against only 60 cents for 1929 Could
these results have been obtained
without careful attention to the
work and proper methods of execu-
ton? And we are continuing to
study out ways and means of
further reducing costs.
1t has only been through such
savings as these that we have been
able to meet the increases in fixed
costs and provide improvements to
the canal system which have been
necessary for better service. For
instance. prior to 1923 there we're
no deep drains, and therefore no
expenditures for maintenance re-
quired. Now we have a total of 233
miles. 100 miles of which were built
with bond money and the balance
out of general funds. AS these
drains were built it was thereafter
necessary to maintain them. so we
find now an expenditure of over
$4,000 year for maintenance of
deep drains which was not required
in 1922. With the increasing silt
problem. more sluiceways are nee
essary and a large number have
been constructed in the past few
years.
In the matter of fixed expenses,
let US consider bond interest and
redemption. In 1922 bond interest
amounted to $662 500 and no bonds
were being paid off. Last year, 1890,
bond interest amounted to 1881 900
and redemption, $250,000 or a to-
tai of Sl,08l 900, an increase of
s4l8,500 over 1922. Our annual pay
mcnt on Laguna Dam contract has
increased from $4,000 in 1922 to
100000 in 1880. However, I an
glad to state that TO date we have
paid off $4,000 on this contract
and in the last six years we have
redeemed S1.150,000 of our outstand-
ing bonds, reducing the total from
sl6,000,000 to $l4850,0O0, and we
have never defaulted on a dollar of
either interest or principal.
Another very important work we
have been carrying on is the con-
struction of lateral drains. The
need for such was long recognized,
but the cost with the available
equipment was too high. There
fore, after several years of inves-
tigation and experimentation we de-
yeloped a new type of wheel dredge
which has proven to be most sue
cessful, excavating drains eight feet
deep at cost of about three cents
per cubic yard. Three of these ma
chimes have been constructed in the
District shops and are working con-
tinuously.
Summing up for the past eight
years l find that out of the general
funds. that is yearly tax revenue,
the district has paid $594,O0O on
Laguna Dam contract, retired ST.
10000 in bonds, and made addi-
tionS and betterments to the canal
and leyee system amounting to 81
1000. This is a record of which
I feel I should be justly proud for
my small part in it.
Much has been said about the
District financial condition. I am
going to quote from the Treasur-
er's Report of January 81, 1881:
Warrants Outstanding -. $448,272. 2.55