AZ vs. CA:04 California Exhibits, Vol. IV; Nos. 151-192

page 19

THE AT.TrAMEBICAN CANAL. 19 Geo. M. Wheeler. He reported unfavorably upon a canal location entirely in the United States, but again called attention to the natural route across Mexican territory. Despite this report, which was discouraging to those who desired to have water supplied to the desert in a canal located throughout its entire length on United States territory, the efforts to get water into the Imperial Valley did not cease. But no proposition gave promise of success until Mr. C. R. Rockwood and his associates organized the Colorado River Irrigation Co. in 1892. Surveys were made and works were planned to deliver water from Colorado River in California across the boundary into a short canal in Mexico, which would discharge into the Alamo River, down which it would then flow to a reentry into California. This company, failed however, and was succeeded in 1896 by the California Development Co. At the head of this company, except for two years 1900-1902, was the late Mr. A. H. Heber. Mr. Rockwood remained in charge of engineering and construction. A reorganization of the company in 1905 put the control of its affairs into the hands of the Southern Pacific Co. From 1910 until 1916 the property of the canal company was in the hands of a receiver. In 1914 the Imperial Irrigation District was organized and two years later took over the canal properties, which included all the shares of stock of the Mexican corporation through which the properties in Mexico are managed. Notice of intention to divert water for the irrigation of lands in the Imperial Valley was given repeatedly from May 16, 1895, to April 25, 1899. The various notices all specified 10,000 second-feet as the amount to be diverted, and the places of posting the notices were at 3,000 feet to 1£ miles north of the international boundary line. The canal of the California Development Co., as originally constructed, had its head in California at Hanlon's or Hanlon's crossing, about 100 yards north of the international boundary. The canal was cut from the river at an oblique angle, and its flow was controlled by a timber structure. On a falling river, the head of the canal and the headgate were obstructed by silt deposits, and it became difficult to keep the water flowing from the river into the canal. The water shortages due to this cause in 1903 and 1904 and the failure of various remedial measures prompted the application to Mexico for a concession under which a diversion would be allowed on Mexican territory. This concession was granted in 1904, and operating thereunder, the dredger cut was made about 4 miles below the boundary line in Mexico which caused the river, a year later, to turn for a time inland away from its course to the gulf. It is not proposed to describe the Imperial Canal system in detail, but these main facts are here alluded to for a full understanding of the problems of the lower Colorado. The clause in the Mexican concession relating to the use of Imperial