Imperial Valley press., 1934-05-28
DOWD DECLARES HEWES GAVEALL
POSSIBLE HELP AT WASHINGTON

lion dollars authorized by PWA for
the canal could not be used until the
Au-American canal contract had
been approved by the courts. You
will recall at that time the suit to
approve the contract was before the
supreme court. During the next few
days we continued to try and get
favorable consideration of our re-
quest and also investigated the pos
sibilities of getting the comptroller
to change his decision. We saw
Senator johnson who was most con-
siderate and friendly, and while he
offered to assist us, he did not lend
us any encouragement.
Director Hewes arrived December
26, and after going over the entire
situation with him we continued
with the work, both on the cost ac-
count construction as we'll as the
comptrollers decision and Director
HeweS ably presented our request to
Dr. Mead at considerable length. At
this meeting DR. Mead consented to
secure a hearing for us before the
secretary of the interior, in order
that we might present our report di-
rectly to him. We then saw Sena-
tor Johnson again but received no
encouragement.
The next day we saw DR.. Mead,
and he informed us that the secre-
tary would not give us a hearing
and Furthermore that he (the sec
retary) was considerably disturbed
over conditions in general, including
the valuation suit and other mat
ters in dispute. After talking again
to Senator johnson and Congress
man Burnham. we agreed that Di-
rector Rose should be requested to
come to Washington. Consequently,
a wire was sent to Director Rose,
stating this request. Because of our
valuation suit coming up for hear
ing in the supreme court Mr.. Chill
ders had to leave for home that
evening.
On January 2, DR.. Mead received
a report from Chief Engineer Wal
ter regarding the bids, in which he
recommended that they be rejected
as being too high. We again urged
DR.. Mead to consider our request
for doing the work on a cost basis,
but he said that nothing could be
done until the question of the six
million dollars had been settled, al
though the opinion of the depart
ment had not changed in regard to
our request.
Mr.. Rose arrived two days later
and the entire situation to date was
discussed at considerable length
with him. The following day, Chief
Engineer Walter arrived from Den
YER and we had meeting with him
and DR.. Mead. They told us they
had discussed the matter with off,
cials in P. w. a. and that it was
decided to readvertise for bids but
not until the six million dollars had
been released, and that the PWA
was opposed to the district doing the
work on a cost basis. After again
discussing all phases of the mat
ter with both Senator Johnson and
CONGRESSMAN Burnham, we all
agreed that the situation was such
as to make it inadvisable to proceed
further at that time. We therefore
returned home the following day.
1 have tried to give you a brief
outline of what took place by cover
ing the main points. I believe the
steps which were taken in this mat
ter followed the proper course and
in view of developments, do not
see how we could have done differ
emily. No decision was made hur-
riedly, but only after the most care
full consideration and discussion,
and there can be no question about
the sincerity of each one of us in
endeavoring to carry out the wish
es of your board.
Yours very truly,
M. J. DOWD, Chief Engineer
and General Superintendent.