Imperial Valley press., 1933-10-24
APPROPRIATE ION
f Or CANAL IS
N A D T TODAY
Continued From Page II

pect it to come so soon, in view of
the adverse sand Secretary IckeS
has taken on the canal project.
THE telegram we received yester-
day from Phil Swing gave us GER
tain amount of encouragement and
a hope that we would eventually
win our battle, but we didn't eX-
pect the victory to drop into our
laps today.
Il want the people of Imperial
Valley to know that we have Phil
Swing to thank for todays victory
more than any other individual. Few
except those in intimate touch with
affairs at Washington can realize
the discouraging handicaps under
which he has worked. 1t has been
a case of stay on the job night
and day, and he has done it, putting
in hours far beyond any payment
Imperial Valley can ever give him.
I'VE of course cannot say just now
when actual work will be started,
but the people of the valley can rest
assured that everything possible will
be done to expedite the start of
construction.
THE entire board of directors OF
the district are overjoyed at the
news and we know thousands in
Imperial Valley feel the same way
about it."
A telegram received at the dis
trict office from Phil Swing, short
ly after the United Press dispatch
had arrived at The Press office, con-
firmed the information received by
The Press.
Swing has been in Washington
for several months, having been
sent by the district board to help
put over the job of having the can
al appropriation included in the
public works program. His know
ledge of capital affairs through 10
years of service as congressman
from this district, were invaluable
in making contacts at Washington
favorable to the canal project and
in winning over opposing officials
who had to be informed on the en-
tire project embraced in the SWING
Johnson bill, which provided for
construction of Boulder dam and
the All-American canal and which
was sponsored in congress by Swing.
Started In 1912
First mention of the All-Ameri-
can canal was made March %, 1912,
in discussion of ways and means to
get away from the Mexican receiver.
The secretary of the Imperial Ir-
rigation district was instructed to
write to c. r. lockwood to ask if
he had any data on the All-Amer-
lean canal route. lockwood an
swered that he did not have such
data
The All-American canal contin-
ued to be discussed at every meet
ing thereafter.
Early in the following year, w. o.
Hamilton, board president, made 9
horseback trip over the All-Ameri-
can route.
Survey Requested
In November, 1917 the secretary
Of interior was requested to make
an immediate survey to determine
the cost and feasibility of connect
ing Imperial Valley with Laguna
dam by the construction of the ALL
American canal. The historic mo-
ton was made by j. S. Nickerson
and seconded by r. D. McPherrin.
The first action on the PROPOSE
tion for the survey of the canal was
in 1918 when in a communication
from Secretary Lane, he said he ac-
cepted the proposition. The district
was to pay $4,000 and the govern
ment $4,000. The proposition was
accepted by the board and sent
Swing, chief counsel. Engineer
Grunsky and Leroy Holt, director,
to Washington to work out the de-
tails of the contract. A mass meet
ing was held in El Centre, and the
people voiced support of the project.
The proposed connection with La
guna dam caused a conference to be
held in Yuma. The people of the two
communities got together in
friendly manner.
A preliminary contract with the
government was signed February .,
1918 The district telegraphed the
delegation in Washington that the
power should be reserved to the dis
trict.
Kettner Presents Bill
On June II, 1919, Congressman
William Kettner introduced the
first All-American canal bill. This
bill failed to satisfy congressman
kincaid of the arid lands commit
tee, who introduced one of his own
authorizing a survey of the project.
This resulted in the Davis-Fall re-
port of 1922, recommending legis-
lation to furnish the canal.
Congressman. Phil Swing intro
duced his first bill on April 25, 1922,
and in November Of. the same year
the Colorado river compact was
signed by the seven states interest
ed in the Colorado basin.
Swings first bill failed to reach
the floor of the house and new bills
were presented when congress re-
convened in December, 1923, by
Swing and Senator johnson. They
were in committee for two years and
were again reintroduced in Febru-
ary, 1926, after consolidation as H.
r. 1926.
This was considered in committee
for another two years and on De-
cember 5, 1927, was again intro
duced Following another year OF
close consideration it passed the
house in April, 1928. and the SEN