Imperial Valley press., 1940-10-09

most care and a startling command
of knowledge. Not many men know
him closely. Not because he is diff
ficult to approach. but because his
! time is devoted exclusively to SER
ious subjects-So devoted in fact,
that for morths on end he sleeps
only three or four hours a night.
The rest of the time he works
That work is all district too His
own business affairs, his own per-
sonal life, como a poor second to
district business. Sometimes there
isn't even time for anything else.
The stormy story of those first
years is one of bitter rivalry be-
tween Hewes and Mark Rose for
control of the district board. HeWeS
doesn't speak of it, but to anyone
who knows anything of district poll
tical history the story behind the
lines is clear Although it wasn't
clear then, it is clear now, that
when Hewes first took his place
on the board the star of Mark Rose
waned and the star of the man from
Maryland began its ascent.
Those were hard, heart breaking
years. HeweS teetered on a thin
margin of support from one close
climax to another. There was the
time when political opposition de-
manded the recall of Phil Swing
from Washington, D. c., just be-
fore the first appropriation went
| through for the All American canal
Evan HeWes and Bill Young per-
sonally guaranteed his salary, if the
board would let him remain in the
capital" close friend recalled
The board allowed Swing to re-
main to push the appropriation,
but there was deadline set A.
the last moment, when it looked as
though Hewes' house of cards was
about to collapse, the telegram
came through.
Always a Break
TT always seemed as though when
things looked the toughest we got
break at the 59th minute of the
11th hour!" HeWes remarked and
that boyish grin broke out.
And there was the time when
Hewes, lonely figure, returned from
Los Angeles after a desperate con-
ference with Coaclella directors.
Coachella knew what it wanted but
political pressure from the Imperial
district blocked action.
Draw up your agreement and
+ send it to us - HeWeS advised
Coachella Show them Coachella
isn't to blame for holding up the
All American canal
Coachella did. The agreement
came before the district board as a
surprise The agreement provided
that Coachella finance its own
branch canal and its proportionate
share of the All American. The
stumbling block had been demands
that Coachella join the Imperial
district. There wasn't much for
the opposition to do with the issue
out in the open. The agreement was
passed, the All American went for
ward. That was in the spring Of
1884.
The dying kick of the opposition
at least so far as the All American
was concerned-WaS during award
of contracts. These objections, too
were pressed aside and the canal
that year before had seemed hope
lessly involved was ready to go.
1t is difficult to tell the story
of the man from Maryland'S part
in building the All American canal
His story lies deep in maze Of fig
ures and in office conferences. His
story lies behind the scenes. Or
the outside, HeWes is a quiet, calm
figure in the district headquarters
big forearns resting on the desk
and powerful shoulders hunched. Hit
fingers are usually looking for q
cigarette as he talks. Because he is
calm is no reason to believe there
is no storm around him.
lowering over those shoulders
bearing down upon them, are the
problems of Imperial Valleys great
est buSiness-not only the problem
of seeing that the All American goes
on without hindrance, but the prob
lem of seeing that the Imperial
Irrigation districts house returns
to financial order.
There isn't another pair of shoul-
ders in the valley wide enough to
take his place