Imperial Valley press., 1938-10-18
Text Of lckes Speech Given
AT Imperial Dansite

make a complete survey ana coat
estimate for an All American canal.
A report made by Messrs. Grunsky,
Mead. and Schlecht was submitted
July %, 1919, to the Secretary of
the Interior.
It was not until December q,
1928 however that the Swing
Johnson bill creating the Boulder
Canyon project was approved by
the President The construction of
Boulder dam to control the Colo
RADIO river then was assured. 1t
proceeded in due course and with
great speed to completion.
Way Cleared
But even then all of the prelimin-
aries TO the construction of the
All American canal had not been
completed. Under a cooperative
contract signed March 26, 1929 be-
tween the United States and the
Imperial Irrigation District and the
Coachella County Water District.
further Investigations were under
taken by the Bureau of Reclama-
ton. These resulted in the construc-
ton TO start with the execution of
the contract Of December /, 1882
between the United States and the
Imperial Irrigation District, which
was later joined by the Coachella
Valley County Water District. BY
the terms of this contract the dis
tricts agreed to repay to the United
States the total cost of the canal.
Construction of the All American
canal was started by the Bureau of
Reclamation in the fall of 1884
when funds were allocated by the
Public Works Administration. To
date approximately $24,000,00O have
been expended on this work by the
federal government. You old timers
can see now thate your dream is
near its realization Boulder dam
has forever removed the danger
from periodic, major river floods.
The great desilting works here at
Imperial dam will effectively re-
move the silt from the water be-
fore 1t is turned into the canal
and thus eliminate the very heavy
annual expense that you have sus-
tanned for the removal of the SILT
from your system of bitches.
You have wonderful valley here
along this river, and it is rightly
called the Winter Garden of Amer
lea. Your lettuce comes to the tables
OF the East at Christmas and New
Years, and your cantaloupes are
being distributed by fast refrigerator
express before winter has released
its grip on most of the country
Your products are highly specialized
and in general are not competitive
with those raised elsewhere within
four nation. For example, I am tolo
that of the total of 100000 pounds
of dates grown in the United States
last year, 6,50O,OOO pounds came
from the Coachella Valley which
will be served by this canal. Th,
remainder of our domestic require
ments, some 54,OO0,0O0 pounds, wa
imported from abroad.
1t is important that we have sucl
an area as this in our country
and it is important that it be pro
tected and assisted in achieyin,
the safety to which we feel tina
American communities are entitled
So l share with you the satisfaction
that l know you must feel at tn,
completion of this great work.
The water We turn into the cana
today will not reach your farms. I
will merely mark the beginning O
a period of seasoning the cana
during which the particles of sill
carried in the waters will seal tn,
bottom and sides against seepag,
losses. This process will continu,
Tor another year. But the time i.
not far distant when you will Sc,
a great stream courSing through
the All American. 1t will FLOW
across the desert to irrigate you,
fields, to water your stock, and Il
serve your cities. Eventually por.
ton of this will be diverted through
branch canal northward into tn,
Coachella Valley to irrigate ney
areas and expand your empire. New
homes will be made, new opportu.
mites created, new wealth addec
to enrich our country.
1t has been long time since
the Spanish Conquistadores frs
penetrated this region. Many thing,
have been done since that time. bu
l believe that, among the most i'm.
portant, has been the construction
of Boulder dam, $50 miles north OF
you, followed by the completion O.
this great canal.