Imperial Valley press., 1937-05-10
Hewes Replies to
West Statement
On Power Setup
CONTINUED From PAGE u

/ lDlTOuuGllOH 10 TIE lINSINIeW anu
by error you have put it in QUOTA
ton marks as coming from me.
This I charge to probable haste
OH your part. do not infer any
lack of good faith.
That interview gives my person.
al opinion. Obviously I could not
presume to speak for the district
directorate in advance of board
action.
Perhaps I should emphasize here
that this reply is intended to give
you no more than my own views.
You have questioned my good
faith. If you. as a test of good
faith. would require willingness to
abandon our peoples hard won
Public Works Administration and
Rural Electrification contracts,
then good faith means one thing
to you, Mr. West, and good faith
has another meaning to me.
Let me assure you that I do not
question your own good faith in
doing all you can to protect the
interests of your corporation.
And let me add that I expect you
to recognize my good faith in do
ing all I can TO protect the in
terestS of the people of Imperial
Valley.
1t is hard for me to believe that
a man of your intelligence would
ask the people of this valley to
surrender to your corporation the
opportunity they now have TO fl
nance their own power system on
the All American canal
Contracts Approved
Will you allow me TO remind you
that the federal government has
given final and formal approval
to two contracts highly favorable
10 the residents of this valley.
You are probably familiar with
all the trouble We have overcome.
Public Works Administration now
definitely pledges a direct gift OF
one million, two hundred forty
two thousand dollars. This is scar
ly INTELLECTUALLY As per cent-of
the cost of the project. The re-
at per cent, cuts this carrying
cost to nearly 2 per cent.
Has your corporation ever fl
nanced any of its activities at such
a low rate, Mr.. West.
Power Ra7erve
Rural Electrification administra-
ton has finally and definitely
pledged TO the people 100000 to
build 600 miles of lines to carry
electricity to country homes in I'M
perial Valley not now served. This
aivance bears PIT per cent interest.
All of the money in the loans
will be repaid solely and eXclu-
sively from revenues Of the peoples
power system. For your informa-
ton, I am happy TO advise the gov
ernment expressly binds itself that
the district shall not b required
TO make any assessment against
land: shall not be required to make
any water charges shall not be re-
quired to use any money from any
source except power revenue. to
pay either interest or principal.
Have you ever heard OF terms
so favorable to the people?
This Cffer comes now after
struggle o. manv long ye 0rs.
In that struggle. Mr.. West your
corporation has "cooperated' to this
extent:
You fought against Boulder dam.
You fought against the All Amer
icln canal.
You fought against development
of power on the All American
canal
In state and ft ieral courts you
opposed the peoples proeram with
every weapon yon could devise.
you used every trick your corpora
tion lawyers cou.d dig IN.
Not until after the first Of this
year were you finally defeated in
the supreme court OF the United
States.
Then the highest court in this
land upheld the right CT the people
Of the Imperial IRRIGATION District
TO develop and distribute their own
power.
You tell me that; the corpora
ton has not since tho All American
canal was authorize l. opposed tn
development of hydro-electric pow
er thereon, except as such deVel-
opment has been tied in With
proposal for duplication OF exist
ing distribution lines and facilities.
On April l3, 1885, received from
washington telegram reading II
part:
"a. B. West, president of the
Nevada California Electric Securi-
ties corporation, advises me- that
the United States district court
for the Southern district of Cali
fornia has issued a temporary in
junction in the suit of his COM
pany against the Imperial 1rriga-
ton District restraining the dis
trict, and its officers and agents
from making a contract for prep
aration of plans for power plants
on the All American canal.
This telegram was signed by
Harold l.. Iekes. secretary OF the
interior.
In May, 1896, one year ago thi
week, your yiee-president and gen
eral hearing in Ell Centro, was
asked:
Answers Correct
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