Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-07
MEAD THANKS
|. DISTRICT FOR
ITS SUPPORT.
Resolution OF Confidence APP
preciated By Head OF Recla-
nation Bureau.
REGRETS DELAY ON CANAL
Expresses Desire To Work In
Harmony With Valley Consist
ent With His Instructions.

The following letter, received by the
secretary of the Imperial Irrigation
district from DR.. ElWood Mead. di-
rector of the U. S. reclamation bu-
reau, is of interest to all valley res
idents, explaining as it does, the bu-
reau's position with reference to the
All-American canal. Readers will
note Dr. Mead's wish to get con-
struction started without delay and
his regret that, because of court diff
ficultieS, the advantage of working
during the winter months is being
lost.
"Mr F.. H. McIver
Secretary Treasurer,
Imperial Irrigation District,
"El Centro. California.
Dear Mr.. McIver:
Il have received your letter of
January 81, enclosing certified copy
of the resolution passed by the
board of directors of Imperial Irri-
gation District. The circumstances
under which this resolution was
passed give it especial value. Will
you please convey my thanks to the
directors.
Both Chief Engineer Walter and
I have wished that we could con-
struct the All-Ameriean canal in
harmony with the ideas of your dis
trict board, but our understanding
of the situation here and our con-
viction as to what were our duties
under the circumstances, compelled
us to differ with the board regard
ing the turning over of this con-
struction to the district. We ex-
planned that there would be no OBJ
lection on our part if the board
sought to secure a modification of
the resolution allotting the money,
by which it would be turned over to
the board, just as the money allot-
ted for building the Los Angeles
aqueduct was turned over to the
Los Angeles Aqueduct board. I am
not hopeful that the Public Works
board would have granted this re-
quest, as the Los Angeles Aqueduce
money is loan, repayable with in
terest. The All-American Canal
money does not draw interest.
IF the canal is to be built by the
bureau, we must build it in the way
we think right. In that we have to
consider the extent of our opera
tions elsewhere, the fact that all
this work is being done by con-
tract, and that if this single pro-
ject were carried out in a different
way, it would lead to endless criti-
cism and controversy
II am happy to state that, while
We differed in regard to this, the
discussions were carried on in the
best of temper and with courtesy at
all times on the part of representa-
tiveS of the district We have felt
badly about the delay because We
hate to lose the favorable winter
weather, but it is doubtful if we
could induce the comptroller to
change his views so long as the ap-
peal against the confirmation de-
cision is pending. l was gratified
this week to receive letter from Dr.
Harry Forbes of the Coachella dis
trict, stating that an agreement be-
tween Coachella and Imperial dis
trictS had been reached and that
the appeal would be withdrawn. 1
do not know whether this will in
clude the appeal taken by the single
land owner of Imperial Valley. I
have read the brief by his counsel
1t does not seem to present any
thing which was not considered and
argued by the court which confirm
ed the contract, but if it has to go
10 argument it means that we will
practically lose the benefits of the
cold weather this winter However,
we will do all we can to expedite
the proceedings.
II am glad to learn that Mr.. Cof-
fey, our district counsel, has exert
ed helpful influence in the nego-
tiations between Imperial and Goa
chella districts.
Sincerely yours,
"(Signed Elwood Mead,