Imperial Valley press., 1937-05-09
NEVADA-CALIFORNIA OFFER
DESERVES SERIOUS THOUGHT

Mature consideration of the Nevada
California Electric corporations offer
10 purchase All American canal power
from the Imperial Irrigation District
leads to only one conclusion. The offer
deserves even more serious thought and
investigation.
Two things are evident. 1t would be
foolish for the people of Imperial Valley
to turn thumbs down on such an offer
merely because they are still smarting
under the stings of a long fight. 1t
would be even more foolish to give hasty
acceptance to what, on the surface,
seems good offer, merely because we
are tired of the fight.
In such a matter, there is always one
danger to be guarded against. 1t is that
greater endurance often wins battle
when both sides have squabbled, argued
and fought for so long that each is
tired of fighting In the prize ring, we
often see one man go down to defeat
when his opponent is so weak he can
hardly stand The victor wins purely
because he has an extra ounce of endur-
ance.
In business it is the same. Often the
man who can hold out longest for what
he wants is the man who wins the best
of the deal.
Remembering this, the people of I'M
perial Valley must not give unqualified
approval to a plan which they believe
might end the fight, merely because they
are tired of controversy. If approval is
given, it should be only because the plan
fully merits it. If there is possibility of
a better deal, or if the valley would be
better off without any deal at all, then
the offer should be unqualifidely re-
jected.
Only by complete investigation of the
Nevada California company's proposal
will the people of Imperial Valley and
the directors of the Imperial Irrigation
District know the merits and faults of
the proposal that has been submitted.
If there are jokers in the proposal, they
will be revealed by careful study and
analysis.
In its present form, the company's
proposal at least seems to furnish a
basis for negotiation Such negotiations,
if carried to a conclusion, should have
three definite, unalterable obiectives:
l. Payment of All American canal
obligations without further cost to the
people of the valley. Can objective which
the power company contends its offer
would achieve.)
2. Payment of power development obi
cations. (The power company also says
this would be done.)
3. Assurance that electricity rates to
consumers in the Imperial and Coachella
Valleys would not exceed certain low
maximum. (This assurance is not defin-
itely given in the company's offer, al
though it might be reached in negotia-
l. oh
the people might be made to pay through
their power bills for the canal and pow
er plantS.)
These three things should not be left
to promises or indefinite chance. They
should be made fixed, unalterable, un-
changing terms of any agreement which
might be reached. If they cannot be made
absolutely sure, then there is no use for
any agreement.
1t is unfortunate that the offer was
not submitted a year ago. There would
have been time then, for full study be-
fore the public's present, detailed plan
for power development had been brought
so near to full realization. AS it is, it
would be hard to imagine anything more
senseless than abandoning present plans
in favor of a proposal which, although
it might have merit, is not yet fully
satisfactory as to details.
The logical thing is for the irriga-
ton district board to proceed with the
project for approval by the California
Securities Commission and the voters of
the district of PWA and REA grants and
loans for construction of the public n.y.
dro-electric system It would be utterly
foolish to drop what we have in snatch
ing for something we are not quite sure
we could get.
The people of Imperial Valley have
been offered $2,760,0O0 by the Public
Works Administration for construction
of a power plant and main distribution
system and 100000 by REA for con-
struction of 500 miles of rural transmits
sion lines. Acceptance will be put up to
the voters soon Their approval should
be unanimous, for the sake of Imperial
Valleys future.
We must not take a chance of losing,
perhaps forever, funds for financing
H. ,.n,,,aY dayolonunpnt