Imperial Valley press., 1934-09-29


up and a hearing was ordered to
ascertain the effect of the con-
struction of the jetty on the river
flow below Palo Verde. The secre-
tary of the interior wrote the Sec
retary of war recommendation
that the application be not granted
under the emergency conditions ex-
isting on the river this year.
g. Took up with the war depart
ment the matter of the issuance of
permit for Imperial Irrigation dis
trict to maintain a dam on the
Colorado rver. Although the per-
nit was not issued the situation
was explained to the army engi-
neers. showing the absolute neces-
sity of maintaining the same dam
in the river which was first con-
structed there June 20. SO that they
would not make any objection to its
maintenance.
10. Took up investigated and ex-
hausted all the possibilities of pur-
chasing Yuma cotton crops in or
der to make available additional
water. After conference with M.
L Wilson, assistant secretary OF
the agricultural department, Mr..
Morgan of Farm Credit Admins
tration and DR.. Mead of the rec
lamation service, reported the
facts fully to the board of directors
which seemed to indicate that such
plan was impracticable, for legal as
we'll as financial reasons.
Il. Took up with reclamation SER
vice and controller generals office
the matter of refunding the I'M
perial Irrigation District the vari-
Gus sums of money advanced by
it on account of surveys and pre-
liminary Investigations of the Boul-
der dam and All-American canal
projects. Was able to finally get
action by the controller general on
items totalling $4,000. which was
refunded to the Imperial Irrigation
District under a contract hereto
fore made with the secretary for
advancing money to expedite pre-
paration of plans and specifica-
tions for the All-American canal.
I attach letter of General McCarl
and Senator Johnson, and desire
at this point 20 express my appre-
ciation of the close cooperation
Senator johnson office gave me
in this matter, as in all other mat
ters on which I was undertaking
to act for the valley. Other
amounts as set forth in the COM
prehensive statement attac h d
hereto have to wait a special bill
by congress. Statement prepared
by reclamation service-subject to
correction.
IL. I early secured promise
from the federal officers in charge
of CCC camps that they would or
ganize such camp for Imperial
Valley for the purpose of working
on the district s bitches and re-
pairing its wooden structures. This
offer was not availad of for the
reasons set forth in the succeeding
paragraph.
13. Presented to the Federal
Emergency Relief in Washington
| Chief Engineer Dowd S request for
the formation of a workable prof.
ect for cleaning the bitches of the
irrigation district and the repair o.
their wooden structures. and had
them transmit the same to the d.
rector of State Emergency Relief
with their recommendation that
the project be undertaken, esti-
mated as involving an expenditure
of some 300,00000. The project
has been approved and will be ex-
ecuted as necessary for relief fol
unemployed in Imperial Valley.
IA. Presented the valley S request
J for the construction of one or more
units of the All-American canal by
force account. This request hac
previously been vigorously cham
pioned by officers of the Imperia
Irrigation District, but had beer
| turned down by the secretary or
the ground that the work involved
in the first two contracts wa:
difficult construction work involv.
ing the use of special and expensive
/ equipment. The effect of the
| drought upon increasing unem-
ployment in the valley was the
main argument for securing tht
secretary's approval to an alloca-
ton of $1,000,000 to be spent under
! the direction of the reclamation
service in building the west II mile
of the All-American canal by force
account. Chief Engineer Dove
rendered valuable assistance in Sc
curing the approval of Mr. Walters
chief engineer of the reclamation
service at Denver and DR.. Mead anc
/ Mr.. Schnepfe, federal emergency
administrator of public works
were helpful in getting this project
approved.
Is. Ascertained the danger oi
Arizona securing secretary sigma
| ture to contract which would en-
croach upon the contracts already
made by the secretary with Cali.
fornia communities. That is il
seemed apparent from the genera
terms which were being discussed
| by the Arizona IS Colorado River
commission and the reclamation
service and the solicitors office ir
! the interior department and there
was grave danger of the secretary
! selling under his Arizona contract
more water than was legally avail
able for him to dispose of in tht
! Lower Colorado river basin. Tele-
grams to the Imperial Irrigation
District advising of this fact result.
ed in q warning being sent out by
| them to other California commun-
! ities and tn the INNER haSin state,