File No. 711.1216m/301.
The Acting Secretary of the
Interior to the Secretary of
State.
Department of the Interior,
Washington,
Sepember 12, 1911.
Sir: Herewith I hand you copy of a letter,
dated September 8, 1911, together with enclosures, from Col. J. A.
Ockerson, engineer in charge and commissioner on the part of the United
States for the construction of works for the purpose of protecting lands
and property in Imperial Valley, and elsewhere along the Colorado River,
within the United States, against injury or destruction by reason of
changes in the channels of the Colorado River, as provided for in the
act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat., 867), from which it will be seen that
work is about to be resumed, but that the Inspector Oficial del Río
Colorado, F. B. Puga, in letter of September 2, has advised Col.
Ockerson that it is his personal opinion that the permit and privileges
heretofore granted by Mexico in regard to the construction of these
works have expired, and therein is indicated the course to be pursued in
order to have the same renewed.
I should be pleased to have you give this matter early consideration.
Very respectfully,
[Page 978]
[Inclosure.]
The Commissioner for the United
States to the Secretary of the
Interior.
Office of Engineer,
St. Louis,
September 8, 1911.
Sir: I have the honor to hand you herewith
copy of letter sent to Mr. Puga, commissioner from Mexico, and his
reply thereto, both relating to the resumption of work on the
Colorado River. In accordance with his suggestion I have taken the
matter up with the representative of the Colorado River Land Company
in Mexico City, through General H. G. Otis, with the request that a
decision may be reached at the earliest practicable date, in order
that resumption of work may not be delayed.
I did not understand that the exchange of notes between the two
Governments included any limitations as to time in which the work
should be completed; and if need be, I suggest that the matter be
revived through the State Department.
Very respectfully,
[Subinclosure 1.]
The Commissioner for the United
States to the Official Inspector
for Mexico.
St. Louis,
August 25, 1911.
Dear Sir: The resumption of work along the
Colorado River in Baja California, which was suspended on account of
floods on May 20th last, is contemplated early in October.
- 1.
- A careful survey will be made to determine the present
condition of the levee and dam. It is my intention to take this
up very soon.
- 2.
- The first construction work will be the restoration of such
portions of the levee north of the Abejas River as have been
damaged, and the construction of tapoons or spurs at suitable
intervals along the river side thereof to prevent erosion from
water flowing along the base during overflow stages of
river.
- 3.
- The raising and enlarging of the levee north of Volcano Lake
to such height and section as may be necessary to insure its
safety for several years.
- 4.
- The dismantling of such railway tracks and equipment as will
not be needed and laying such new railway tracks as the
projected work may require.
The details of the projected work can only be determined after a
careful survey of the present conditions has been made and maps and
plats will then be sent to you.
In the meantime I assume the work can be carried on under the same
terms as defined by your Government both as to operating under the
Colorado River Land Company by me as attorney in fact, and also as
to the customs rulings covering the entry of any and all things
required for the proper prosecution of the work.
Your prompt consideration and favorable response to these suggestions
is earnestly requested in order that there may be no delay in the
inauguration of active operations as contemplated.
With highest regard [etc.]
[Subinclosure 2.]
The Official Inspector for
Mexico to the Commissioner for the
United States.
Mexico City,
September 2, 1911.
Dear Sir: I am answering your letter of
August 25, received here yesterday.
My personal opinion is that the permit and privileges granted to your
company last year in regard to the construction of a levee and dam
on the western bank of the Colorado River in Lower California,
Mexico, has expired, since all correspondence relating to those
works specially mentioned the month of May, 1911, as the latest date
in which they should be finished and since they were actually
completed—though badly damaged later on—within
[Page 979]
the designated time. In my own
judgment, your company ought to apply again to our Department of
Fomento for new authority and customs rulings, and please notice
that I say and mean “Fomento” and not “Foreign Relations,” as the
former is the only department of our Government empowered by law to
grant such kind of permits and privileges. I should say you won’t
meet with any particular trouble in getting what you wish if you act
quickly through the company’s representative in this capital and
along the general lines herein suggested.
Nevertheless, I am forwarding at once your consultation to the proper
Mexican Government officials and will let you know their final
answer as soon as it reaches me.
I wish to add that the outline of what you propose to do in handling
the new constructive work is satisfactory to me in a technical
sense, and I don’t believe any serious objection will be made to
your plans, once properly legalized.
Yours very truly,
