Imperial Valley press., 1932-09-24
NO DELAY
ON CANAL
INTENDED
Letter From Acting Sec
retary Of Interior Re-
ceived By District.
OUTLINES SITUATION
Dixon Leaves Little Hope
For Separate Contract
With COachella.

w a0t SOdIIICllds
Definite statement that the de-
partment of the interior does not
intend to delay construction of the
All-American canal in an effort to
reach an agreement between wide
'ly divergent views in Coachella and
advancing little hope Of separate
contract between the government
and Coachella Valley, was contain
ed in letter received this morning
from Joseph M. Dixon, acting sec
retary Of the interior.
The acting secretary expressed
the belief that the framework of
the contract, ptilizing most of the
present features plus certain pro-
visions can be worked out, thus,
it is declared, giving approval for
the Imperial district to consult
with department officials concern
ing necessary amendments.
The letter is in response to a de-
lug0 of kilograms and letters from
both Imperial Irrigation district
an& Coachella district for the atti-
these two important questions.
Progress in Coachella Valley Is
said to depend upon possibility of
separate contract with the gov
ernment and the letter is expected
to quiet agitation in favor of sep
arate contract
The letter follows:
Board of Directors,
Imperial Irrigation District,
El Centre, California.
Dear Sirs:
The department and the bureau
of reclamation have given careful
consideration to the questions
raised in your kilograms relating
to progress on the All-American
canal program.
From the situation you report 1t
appears that the condition prece-
dent in article "a of the present
form of contract, requiring inclu-
sion of Coachella Valley lands,
cannot be complied with because
of differences of opinion among
Coachella interests.
That contracts plan for merger
of the two districts appeared to be
the most expeditions and the fair
est way of insuring adequate wa
ter at least cost to all the lands
involved, particularly to the Goa
chella lands If that cannot be ac-
complished, the alternative appears
to be a contract with your district
eliminating that condition prece-
dent, but reserving ap opportunity
for the Coachella lands to partici-
pate within. some period to be
stated in the contract.
Cites Two Choices
Such reservation might provide
for both of two methods, leaving
Coachella a choice of them: Cd
inclusion inSyour District as origin
ally contemplated or 90 subject to
the establishment Of an adequate
water right in the Coachella lands
and subject to finding of FEAST
bility by the Secretary, the execu-
ton within the stated period of
separate contract between the Uni
ted States and such lands for re-
payment of Coachella'S share of
the costs. In the latter event, there
are, as you know, serious problems
as to division Of costs, benefits of
power development, etc.
These matters, like the division
of water, turn primarily on agree
ment between your District and
Coachella interests. II such auth
ority is reserved, nevertheless the
Department will not commit itself
to the execution of such a separate
contract with Coachella in advance
of preof of a water right and of
adequate security.
AS Secretary Wilbur is out of the
city and Commissioner Mead will
shortly be enroute to Panama On
3O-day trip, it appears that nego-
tiation of the revised contract will
be expedited by your taking it up
with Mr.. Coffey in Los. Angeles,
which is accessible to the different
groups, rather than here. A copy
of this letter is being mailed to the
board of the Coachella Valley
County Water District and to the
Coachella Valley Landowners AS
sociation, and 10 Mr.. Coffey.
The department does not intend
to delay your own program in the
effort to reach an agreement be-
tween tie widely divergent views in
Coachella. Valley. But it is be-
lieved that the framework of the
contract, utilizing most of the pre-
sent features plus provisions along
the lines indicated above, can be
worked out with Mr. Coffey, leav-
ing whatever points cannot be thus
agreed upon for consideration by
the commissioner and the secre-
tary.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) JOSEPH M. DIXON,
Acting Secretary