Imperial Valley press., 1935-02-04
SOLID THREE ACCOMPLISHMENTS Mi5i4ES liiSiiiiS'
DURING PAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS
SET FORTH BY DIRECTOR HEWES

ting construction starteo when the
drouth hit us we were able to get
a sector of the canal by force ac-
count to help out as an emergency
| measure.
Through the water shortage a
! program was worked out with the
SERA to furnish drinking water to
both the people of the valley and
to livestock and, even during these
strenuous times, we were canvasSing
for a qualified and competent cleo
trical engineer to make up a pre-
hminary survey of the power. mar
ket within the boundaries of the
area to be served by the ALI
American canal and the possible
power development from the canal,
SO We could make application for
our loan for the power develop
ment. The application is ready.
Mr.. Swing is now enroute to WASH
ington TO file the application.
During these strenuous times
| your water rights were defended
successfully against Arizona trying
to raid the river by contract with
the secretary of the interior on
three different occasions, in Salt
Lake, Washington and at Phoenix
Also the treaty between Mexico and
the United States on Colorado
River water division is being fol-
lowed and your interests protected
We have hammered through
almost to conclusion the re-
financing program instigated at
the insistence I'm 1892 of the I'm
perial County Farm Bureau,
which has resulted in temporary
relief for the taxpayers and saved
the entire community from being
plunged into a hopeless state of
chaos, for which Mr.. Rose is not
entitled and does not deserve the
credit that he claims, as he only
accepted and took part in this
movement when compelled to do
so by public opinion in the valley,
as represented through the farm
bureau.
I acted as chairman of the COM
Inittee representing the farm
bureau in bringing about the
formation of this program, and we
are now exploring the possibility ol
further refinancing through the
RFC to get further relief.
We have been able to get the
land bank to make approximately
three quarters of million dollars
of emergency loans in the valley,
primarily because of the renewed
confidence in the business ad-
ministration of the district.
We have settled approximate,
$100,00000 of the old Salton Sea Law
suits that have been pending fol
years against the district, and, be-
cause of the cooperation of the
SERA, have been able to reduce the
assessment rate for operation ano
maintenance from S120 in 1882 tc
$064 in 1884 relief to the tax
payer that he was SO badly in neeo
of.
We are now working out com.
! prehensive drainage. system and l. 6
project for giving the old No.
District fresh water, that we hope
to put through the coming year
with the cooperation of the SERA
which will result in the saving oi
thousands of acres of good land II
the valley from becoming water
logged, as we'll as reclaiming some
that has already become damaged
BY continuous urging that the
reclamation department expedite
action on the canal, we have Sc
cured their promise that bids will
be let on the Imperial Dam, and
the remaining sector of the canal
along the river, by August, and
that section of the canal west Of
the sand hills, not now under con-
struction, probably not later than
March, this year. In other words,
construction will actually be
under way on the Imperial Dam
and the entire canal within the
next six months.
This is brief resume and RECORD
of the accomplishments of the So
called Solid Three" Hewes, Kalir
and Young, in control for a period
of about 18 months, that Mr. Rose
says is wrecking the district but
which, as presi CENT of your Board
is a record of activity that I am
very proud to report TO the people
In this time We have merely ap-
piled business principles in carrying
out the wishes of the property
owners of the district.
| Sincerely,
I EVAN T. HEWES.