File No. 711.1216M/134.
The Secretary of State to
the American Ambassador.
Department of State,
Washington, October 26,
1910.
No. 127.]
Sir: The Department incloses herewith copies of
two letters from the Department of the Interior, dated October 17, with
inclosures consisting of copies of correspondence between that
department and Mr. J. A. Ockerson, consulting engineer, and the report
of Mr. Ockerson on the protection of lands and property in Imperial
Valley, Cal., and elsewhere along the Colorado River, pursuant to joint
resolution of Congress of June 25, 1910. A careful perusal of the
inclosures to this dispatch will inform you fully as to the matter.
You will present this matter to the Mexican Government, and furnish it
with a copy of the report of Mr. Ockerson, beginning at page 26 thereof
in order to eliminate from the negotiations with Mexico any matter
relating to the right to the waters of the Colorado River, since any
discussion involving an agreement with regard to these waters would be
likely to prolong the negotiations. You will request the consent of the
Mexican Government to the erection of the desired levee on Mexican
territory and express the desire of this Government
[Page 543]
that the matter may be given urgency,
since it is essential to the accomplishment of the purpose contemplated
by the joint resolution of Congress that the work be proceeded with in
all dispatch in order that the flood season of May and June, 1911, may
be anticipated and avoided.
For your information a blue print of map showing the country in the
proposed works and to be protected thereby is also inclosed.
I am, etc.,
(For
Mr. Knox
.)
Alvey A. Adee.
[Inclosure 1.]
The Secretary of the
Interior to the Secretary of
State.
Department of the Interior,
Washington, October 17,
1910.
Sir: There is inclosed herewith copy of
report of J. A. Ockerson,1 consulting engineer, appointed by the President
to examine the physical conditions and make recommendation as to the
best method of accomplishing results indicated by the joint
resolution of Congress of June 25, 1910, by which $1,000,000, or so
much thereof as may be necessary, was appropriated to be expended by
the President for the purpose of protecting the lands and property
in the Imperial Valley (California) and elsewhere along the Colorado
River within the limits of the United States, the President by such
joint resolution being authorized to expend such portion of such
money as he might deem proper within the limits of the Republic of
Mexico, “in accordance with such agreements for the purpose as he
may make with the Republic of Mexico.”
The difficulty which was responsible for the congressional action
referred to arose out of the break of the Colorado River from its
accustomed channel to a point a few miles below the intersection of
the south boundary line of Arizona with said river, and proceeding
through a new channel, called the Rio Abejas, to and through Volcano
Lake, from which latter the water naturally flows northward through
the Imperial Valley to the Salton Sink and southward through the
Hardy (Colorado) to the Gulf of California. Owing to the grade of
the new channel being in excess of that of the old channel, and to
the fact that the slope northward from Volcano Lake to the Salton
Sink is vastly in excess of the slope southward from Volcano Lake to
the Gulf of California, there are serious apprehensions as to the
effect of permitting the river to follow this new channel; and the
engineer, in his report, recommends as a protective measure the
building of a levee some 25 miles long extending along the west bank
and approximately parallel to the course of the river from a point
about 6 miles south of the south line of the State of California,
crossing and damming the Rio Abejas, diverting the water at present
following the latter back to the original course of the river. The
land upon which this structure is proposed to be constructed is
entirely in the Republic of Mexico, and is owned by the Colorado
River Land & Water Co., of which corporation Gen. Harrison Gray
Otis and his son-in-law, Harry Chandler, of Los Angeles, are
directors. The gentlemen just named have evinced a desire to
facilitate in every way the works required. It is necessary that the
consent of the Republic of Mexico be secured to the construction of
a levee in the manner proposed by Engineer Ockerson, and
preliminarily to the presentation of such request to said Republic
negotiations were had with the corporation named by Mr. Ockerson,
the result of which is set forth in letter of September 28 from the
latter to Assistant Secretary Frank Pierce,1 copy of which is herewith
inclosed, and has been supplemented by telegram from Gen. Otis and
Mr. Chandler,1 the
original of which is also herewith inclosed.
It is essential to the accomplishment of the purpose contemplated by
said joint resolution that the work be proceeded with with all
dispatch in order that the flood season of May and June, 1911, may.
be anticipated and avoided, and
[Page 544]
it is respectfully urged that appropriate
steps be taken to accomplish the consent referred to.
This department is recently in receipt of telegraphic advice from
Engineer Ockerson that map showing in detail the proposed work is on
its way, which as soon as received will be transmitted for your
information and use in any negotiations had pursuant hereto.
[Inclosure 2.]
Department of the Interior,
Washington, October 17,
1910.
Sir: Supplementing communication of even
date with reference to the proposed measures for protecting property
in the Imperial Valley, California, and elsewhere along the Colorado
River pursuant to joint resolution of Congress of June 25, 1910,
appropriating $1,000,000 to be used by the President for that
purpose, I inclose herewith copy of communication just received from
Engineer Ockerson of October 10, 1910,1 together with copy of telegram of the same
date,1 the former
covering the matter of the consent of the Colorado River Land &
Irrigation Co. to the utilization of such of its lands as may be
necessary for the construction of levees proposed by Engineer
Ockerson, and the latter suggesting that, if possible, there be
eliminated from the negotiations with the Republic of Mexico any
matter of the right to the waters of the Colorado River.
It is because of this latter suggestion that there has been delay in
transmitting the papers to you as agreed with Solicitor Hoyt on the
occasion of his recent conference with myself and the Assistant
Attorney General for this department concerning the matter. It is
understood from Mr. Ockerson that any discussion involving an
agreement between the two Governments as to the division of the
waters in the Colorado River for the purpose of irrigation would be
likely to prolong negotiations to a degree which would injure the
effectiveness of the proposed protective measures, hence the
suggestion that all of his report preceding page 26 (relating, as it
does, to the water flowage and kindred matters) be not submitted to
the Mexican authorities. For your convenience two copies of Mr.
Ockerson’s report1.
are submitted, one bound and the other unbound. There is also
inclosed blue print of map1 showing the country involved in the proposed
works and to be protected thereby.
