sentatives, so that the use of this water may be administered fairly to all.

There is at the present time an application pending before the Department of the Interior looking toward the creation of additional water reserves on other débris cones. An effort to conserve water is being made by the use of pipe lines on the various ranches. In short, the district board is doing everything that its engineers deem practicable to promote the conservation of the present supply.

If your present source of water supply was dependable and was available, even at a cost production of $150 an acre, there would be no need of seeking an additional water supply, but with the large overdraft that is being experienced with the small acreage under cultivation we are face to face with a critical condition.

The question is, Will the land justify the expense of bringing the water from the Colorado River? Is the investment of $3,684,900 that we have created through the farming of 14,500 acres of land worth preserving and worth extending?

The measure for determining this, with the engineering problems decided, is the return on the acreage. A net return for the past year is as follows:

Small crops
Grapes---

Grapefruit
Dates_.

Date off-shoots

Bermuda onions

Cotton and cottonseed__

$150,000

231, 760

80, 000 104, 000 60,000 500, 000 700,000

making a total of $1,825,760 and an average of $126 per acre net return. This large net return per acre is due to the fact that the produce from the district consists of special crops that are not in competition with crops from other sections, because of the fact that they mature especially early or are not grown at all or in a limited quantity in other sections. And where this does not apply the return is attributed to special packing and marketing and production of pure seed, as in the cotton industry, thus stabilizing returns.

The development within this Imperial district is not unusual, nothing extraordinary; it is due to the fact that special conditions and special crops make the land produce large returns. What has been done in this and the Imperial districts can be done throughout the extent and breadth of this entire proposed project, provided the flood waters of the Colorado River are stored at or near Boulder Canyon Dam and provided the Federal Government joins with and assists us in the building of the All-American and High Line Canal.

Summarizing the position of beneficiaries under the proposed project, I would say:

First. We hold that the general principle of retaining the waters of Colorado River and its tributaries in the interest of reclamation is sound.

Second. We accept in theory and fact the principles of the Colorado River compact and expect to receive our benefits subject to its

terms.

Third. We indorse the report of the Secretary of the Interior concerning this problem, as submitted to Congress and contained in

Senate Document No. 142, and we are actively supporting the legislation intended to put the recommendations in legal form as that work may proceed.

Fourth. We believe this project should be developed as a unit because such a plan would be the most practical and economical.

Fifth. We believe the Federal Government should participate in the development because 66 per cent of the land that will be developed under the proposed All-American and High Line Canal is public land, withdrawn to benefit of this project, and 7 per cent is held as Indian reserve, making a total under Federal control of 73 per cent.

Sixth. We again submit that present production cost per acre-unit for development of water in the Coachella district is not only in the interest of new development but also needed to sustain the present developed farms and investment; further, that this additional water supply is only possible by developing the project as a unit.

In conclusion, permit me to express the appreciation of the Coachella district and of the people to be benefited by the project for the time and consideration you have given to hearing these problems.

The CHAIRMAN. Doctor Jennings, I may be pardoned for making this observation following your statement, you saw fit to give the cost per acre of the development of the irrigation projects in Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada, much to the advantage of the project in the Imperial Valley. Let it be known that in those projects the water user, the settler, the farmer, is charged with the construction cost of the dam. In the Imperial Valley you are calling on the Government to do that particular thing and only charging the water users the cost of the diversion canals. Therefore, your figures are invidious, and I want the record to show that they are not comparable at all.

Senator JOHNSON. Is there any power development in any of these schemes in Oregon, Nevada, and Idaho?

The CHAIRMAN. Now and then incidentally.

Senator JOHNSON. Here is a power development that will pay for the cost of the dam; so that, after all, they are really charging the cost of the canal to the lands that are to be benefited and are paying for the construction of the dam out of the power that will be generated.

The CHAIRMAN. I appreciate the scheme, and I have no quarrel with anyone. I want the record to show that the reasonable cost of the development of these projects under the act of 1902 is higher than this one, where the water users pay the cost of the construction of the dam and the diversion canals, and here you are only charging for the cost of the diversion canal and laterals. Whether right or wrong, it is a distinction, because of two different situations.

Mr. JENNINGS. That is the point I had in mind, Senator, when I made the comparison.

Senator JOHNSON. That is true. There are two different situations.

The CHAIRMAN. Yes; but the comparison is invidious but not intentional at all, no doubt. I want to have the record show the difference.

Mr. JENNINGS. May I state the reason, so far as the district is concerned?

Senator DILL. I want to ask a question. Will you indicate on that map just where this All-American Canal is to run?

Mr. JENNINGS. It begins at the Laguna Dam on the Colorado River and follows down to the diversion at Andrada, then follows along the boundary line to a point opposite the sand hills, where it diverts to the northwest and runs through the sand hills, along through these sand hills to a point where a high-line canal is taken off for a pumping section on the east side of the Mesa. It then comes along the national boundary line, where the main high-line canal is taken off for the use of all this outside territory. Following that, it proceeds along the boundary line to the various intakes of the Imperial irrigation district, clear to the west side.

Senator DILL. What added advantages will there be to the owners of the land in the Imperial Valley section now irrigated that would justify them in paying the extra charge per acre which you have given?

Doctor JENNINGS. The sole purpose is to get that canal system entirely within the United States, so that they may have the legal and physical control of their water supply.

Senator DILL. I want to know what added benefit there will be to the owners of land now irrigated by the present canal that would justify or induce them to pay $37.50 an acre more than they are paying now?

Doctor JENNINGS. The first one is, as I say, the getting of the water supply entirely on this side of the boundary line, where they will have the legal and physical control of it. The second one is that they will not have to operate under a Mexican arrangement which pledges them to allow the water to be diverted in Mexico before it comes back to the United States.

Senator DILL. That is an advantage to the country, but not to those individual users.

Doctor JENNINGS. All that includes an extra cost. And then in times of water shortage there is a further advantage in the fact that the water is diverted here and will be entirely within their control; there will be no delivery of any part of that in Mexico. It can all be used in the district on the district lands.

Senator DILL. The Imperial district has not taken any action to show their willingness to submit to Congress a guarantee to pay this added cost, have they?

Doctor JENNINGS. To pay the cost?

Senator DILL. Well, they have not taken any action, I say, by which they offer to pay the added cost on their own land?

Doctor JENNINGS. Only for their right to attach to the Lagoona

Dam.

Senator DILL. Are there two All-American Canals there-two plans for all-American canals?

Doctor JENNINGS. No, sir.

Senator DILL. Is that high-line canal essential to the Imperial Valley cultivated lands now?

Doctor JENNINGS. It enables them to build this project for about $6,000,000 less than it would if outside lands were not taken into consideration.

Senator DILL. But they could build along the border there straight to the Imperial Valley, could they not, without building the high-line canal?

Doctor JENNINGS. Yes, sir; and they are not charged with any part of the construction cost of the high-line canal.

Senator DILL. Is the present canal system a cement canal or wooden canal, or what kind of a canal is it?

Doctor JENNINGS. I could not definitely answer that question. I think it is mostly dirt.

Senator DILL. Is it proposed, in making the All-American Canal, to make it a cement canal?

Doctor JENNINGS. There are two alternatives. One is a small cement canal.

Senator DILL. In submitting the system, is it to be submitted for a cement or dirt canal?

Doctor JENNINGS. To be submitted on the figures submitted by the department, which is for a dirt canal. I would say, in answer to one of your other questions, however, that the Imperial Valley irrigation district have ratified that contract, if necessary, to build this All-American Canal.

Senator JOHNSON. By what proportionate vote-do you remember? Doctor JENNINGS. About 4 to 1. The Secretary of the Interior required that that contract be submitted.

Senator DILL. By acres or by capita?

Doctor JENNINGS. Capita.

Senator ODDIE. What is the evaporation from the Salton Sea?
Doctor JENNINGS. It is about 17 feet a year.

Senator ODDIE. What are the drainage conditions in the main portion of the Imperial Valley?

Doctor JENNINGS. I couldn't answer that question. I am above there, and I am not familiar with it.

Senator ODDIE. What are the drainage conditions in the Coachella Valley?

Doctor JENNINGS. Mr. Starhorn, who made the report, said in his report that there were no physical impediments to proper drainage. That involves some 38,000 acres of land that are not included in this 72,000 acres.

Senator ODDIE. Is there any slope to the land surrounding the Salton Sea?

Doctor JENNINGS. Twenty feet to the mile.

The CHAIRMAN. Are there any further questions? Is Mr. Frisbie here? The program shows you are to discuss the subject of the All-American Canal jointly with Mr. Rose.

Mr. FRISBIE. I am prepared.

The CHAIRMAN. I am wondering if you would be able to shorten it. The committee wants to conclude the afternoon session at 15 minutes after 5. We can not run over until tomorrow. Will you and Mr. Rose agree to occupy three-quarters of an hour instead of an hour and 10 minutes?

Mr. FRISBIE. I think so; yes.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Rose gave a very essential and informative statement before the hearings in Washington. Proceed and bear that in mind as far as you can. Tell who you are and what is your occupation.

STATEMENT OF CHARLES G. FRISBIE, REPRESENTING THE IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT, STACK BUILDING, LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

Mr. FRISBIE. I am a consulting engineer, and I have been requested by the Imperial irrigation district to present the subject of the All-American Canal.

The CHAIRMAN. Where is your office, and how long have you been active in your profession?

Mr. FRISBIE. I have been active in my profession now about 18 years.

The CHAIRMAN. Where do you reside?

Mr. FRISBIE. Residing in Los Angeles at the present time. I have an office at 532 Stack Building. Over 10 years ago I made a study of the All-American Canal for the Imperial-Laguna Water Co., at that time making a preliminary survey. Later, in 1917, we made another survey, a more exhaustive survey for the same company. The data of that survey was presented in Washington at hearings before the Interior Department. Later the Imperial irrigation district became interested in the All-American Canal, and ultimately took over the interests of the Imperial-Laguna Water Co. At that time we made quite a thorough investigation of the canal and made a report. Two consulting engineers in this part of the country, the late E. F. Albertson, consulting engineer, of San Diego, and Mr. James W. Reagan, present head of the Los Angeles County Board of Flood Control, entered into the report. Then, several years later, about 1923, we made another investigation over this line, considering a higher location for the All-American Canal.

The CHAIRMAN. Were those surveys made in cooperation with the Federal Government?

Mr. FRISBIE. In a way they were, yes. At the time the ImperialLaguna Water Co. made the second survey, they had a contract with the Interior Department, with the idea that this company would join with the Laguna Dam and build the All-American Canal in conjunction with the cooperation of the Interior Department. So that, in a way, the Government did have an interest in those original surveys and reports.

The CHAIRMAN. Very well, you may proceed with your statement. Mr. FRISBIE. A good deal of the data that I was intending to present to this committee has already been presented through a previous speaker. I intended to outline the deplorable conditions in the Imperial Valley and the great necessity for the All-American Canal. The CHAIRMAN. Yes; the record is ample on that point, and you may omit that.

Mr. FRISBIE. I will omit that portion.

The CHAIRMAN. You may continue with your statement.

Mr. FRISBIE. In our earlier surveys and reports we passed over practically the same line that the All-American Canal board surveyed and adopted in its 1919 report; and we arrived at substantially the same conclusions at that time that this later report has adopted. So, in the talk today I am considering the All-American Canal from the standpoint of the report of the All-American Canal board of 1919, and also in connection with the Boulder Canyon Dam.