Imperial Valley press., 1942-03-04

ing to surveys laid out by the
dreamers Mules and scrapers
travelled through the lcng hours
digging out the canal to carry water
from a mighty river to a thirsty
soil so it could bear and make a
dwelling for men.
Slowly. slowly heightened the
great ditch Slowly grew the canals
and laterals planned to carry the
water from the big ditch TO the
farms Farm land was leVeled, plac-
ed in conditions to welcome the
water it must have to make il
bloom
Actual canal construction began
in December OF 1900 Construction
of lateral canals went ON apace.
WATER ARRIVES
Water from the Colorado river
arrived in Imperial Valley June
d, 1901. Only half a dozen persons
were on hand to watch the water
OF the Colorado river welded to
the desert. There was no fanfare
of trumpets, 40 celebration to mark
the realization of a dream in pio-
neering.
In 22 months more than 400 miles
Of canals and laterals were built
more than 100000 acres of land
were made ready for water, and 2
600 persons were living in and
around the valleys first towns, I'M
perial and CaleXico
Then of course, the farming be-
gan A new type of farming to the
farmers in a strange climate, and
in a preculiar type of soil. Many
were the experiments and the fall
ures The experts and the nOViceS
both failed at times and both sue
ceeded at times. In 1912 Imperial
Valley has a type of farming pc
culiar to itself and a model for
irrigation projects all over the
world.
WATER BIG BUSINESS
The handling of water, the life
blood of Imperial Valley, was from
the beginning a business in it
self. A business so complicated and
so specialized that by handling it
at all the residents of the valley
made financial history
In the beginning, it was decided
by the dreamers to have one COM
pany wholesale water at given
price to mutual water companies
formed in the valley. This plan was
worked cut in 1900 and stock in
the companies was sold.
This system was followed for
Years but there was difficulty be-
tween the settlers and the private
corporation
GOVT RULED OUT
Government management was
deemed impossible because Of the
international situation. The inter
national situation was that Great
ed because the great canal carry
ing water from the Colorado river
to the valley travelled go miles on
Mexican soil across the border
south of the valley. This go mile
canal had TO be built in Mexico to
dodge what then was believed to
be the impossible sand dunes in
the eastern part OF the valley
MEXICAN WATER
The situation was handled by Il
Mexican company delegated 10
handle that phase Of the problem.
At last in 1911 the people them
selves took over the ownership and
formed the Imperial Irrigation dis
trict which was to handle the water
belonging to the people and sell =
back to them for money To E"rp
the system going.
ALL AMERICN PLANS
First mention CT the All AnIil-
can canal was made at dlstrlc'
beard meeting March %. 1917. l.
was suggested as a means OF get
tino away from the international
complications caused by the canal
lur.ning through Mexico for GO
miles. The All American canal con-
tinued to be mentioned from time
to time and in November, 1917 the
secretary of interior was asked T.
make an immediate survey to de
termine the cost and feasibility Of
building it.
The people of the valley grew
weary of being alternately flood
ed because of too much water III
tho C'aloT1Gp river and heinz