Congressman MOSES P. KINKAID, WEST SIDE IMPERIAL IRRIGATION Co., Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: This company was organized for the purpose of securing water from the Colorado River by means of an all-American canal for the irrigation of 200,000 acres of arid land lying on the west side of Imperial Valley. Ours is the part of the great project which has for its purpose the reclaiming of 600,000 acres of America's most fertile land-land which is unexcelled in productivity, but which at the present time is nothing but a barren waste. To this end we have had, and still have, representatives in Washington, who, together with representatives of the other sections of the valley, have been working with the Government officials and Congressmen to secure the legislation which will make this desert land an agricultural empire, settled by thousands of loyal and patriotic Americans. Fundamentally, we believe that American water should be used for the benefit of American lands rather than for the benefit of Mexican lands. The net result of our representatives' labors is bill H. R. 6044. We inclose herewith a clipping from the morning edition of the Los Angeles Times, which speaks for itself. If this article states the facts correctly, the work of years, and the expenditure of thousands upon thousands of dollars has been wasted. We can not believe that such is the case. We have every confidence in the patriotism, farsightedness, and good intentions of Secretary Glass. We believe this report to be sadly garbled. We are confident that the Secretary is desirous of placing this land under cultivation. We realize, however, that the mere fact that such an article as this can be published indicates that our project has virulent opposition. We respectfully bespeak, therefore, your assistance in bringing to Secretary Glass and other governmental officials the true facts regarding, and the importance of, this project. Representing American citizens who have claims in this arid region, which they took with the belief that the Government would assist them in making homes and gardens on this arid waste, we ask you to use every influence which you have to secure the passage of this bill. Most respectfully, yours, WEST SIDE IMPERIAL IRRIGATION CO., By D. W. SHOEMAKER, Secretary. The Los Angeles Times article referred to follows: PROJECT— ALL-AMERICAN CANAL KILLED CLASS KNOCKS OUT IMPERIAL VALLEY [By Robert B. Armstrong.] WASHINGTON, July 2. Secretary of the Treasury Glass has hit in the head with a sledge-hammer blow the all-American canal project for the Imperial Valley irrigation district. He has written the Committee on Irrigated Lands of the House, in response to its request for his opinion of the bill introduced by Congressman Kettner at the request of the committee from the Imperial Valley. In this letter he objected to every proposal for financing the canal and the extended irrigation districts. He declares that the proposal to have the United States issue certificates of indebtedness running for a period as high as 40 years is all wrong. further declares that the United States is asked to place its credit back of a . proposition where the securities are issued without any control on the part of the United States and without any safeguards. He says that if Congress wants an all-American canal the money should be appropriated without any camouflage, such as provided in the bill. He ends his letter by absolutely refusing to consent to the bill in its present form and with any of the financial features now contained therein retained. He The result of the action of Secretary Glass is equivalent to the death of the bill for the Interior Department will follow the lead of the Treasury; and, while the committee of seven here from the Imperial Valley is still trying to save something from the wreck, no reason exists for hoping for any legislation of the sort proposed. Some progress may be made through the State Department for an international agreement on the matter between the United States and Mexico but the bill now proposed is dead and contemplated hearings before the committee, if held at all, will be perfunctory. IMPERIAL ALL AMERICAN CANAL ASSOCIATION OF LOS ANGELES, Hon. MOSES P. KINKAID, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The Los Angeles Times of the 3d issue states, that Secretary Glass has killed the prospects for an all-American canal. We, as representatives of the All-American Canal Association of Los Angeles, Calif., representing 200 members, beg of you to use your influence to secure the passage of the Kettner bill, H. R. No. 6044. This bill represents the hopes of thousands of American citizens who are anxious to go into the desert and reclaim it. There is a large number of returned soldiers, members of our organization, who are claimants for land in this desert, and other returned soldiers who are waiting to offer their filings under the homestead and desert land laws of the United States. The 600.000 acres of American lands that will come under this bill would make homes for thousands of American citizens, and without the support of the Government in reclaiming this land it must remain a desert to the detriment of the United States. To kill this bill would give encouragement to a few syndicates and big private land holders below the boundary line in old Mexico. We pray you to give this matter your serious consideration and see if you can not assist this all-American canal to take all-American water and put it on American land to make homes for American citizens. Yours, respectfully, Hon. M. P. KINKAID, Wshington, D. C. HARRY WM. ELLIOTT, President. EL CENTRO, CALIF., August 4, 1919. Sorry to learn your committee unable visit Imperial Valley as soldier organizations wished personally present your committee recommendation for amendment to House bill 6044 by Kettner. Can committee continue consideration of bill giving us reasonable time to present matter? Please answer, wire collect. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EL CENTRO POST AMERICAN LEGION. WASHINGTON, D. C., August 5, 1919. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, El Centro Post, American Legion, El Centro, Calif. If you will mail your proposed amendments to the Kettner bill our committee will give the same due consideration. M. P. KINKAID, Chairman. Hon. M. P. KINKAID, EL CENTRO POST THE AMERICAN LEGION, Chairman Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN: Please accept our thanks for your telegram stating that your honorable committee will give due consideration to the amendment we wish to propose to House bill No. 6044, now before your committee. Pending a general conference between our organization, the directors of the Imperial irrigation district and the returned members of our valley Washington committee, which is scheduled for next week, we are not at this time able to formally present the amendment to you, but ask your indulgence for a short time longer. The amendment which is under consideration will be drawn to provide that honorably discharged soldiers, sailors, and marines be given six months as a preferential period in which to purchase the public lands to be disposed of by this bill. Such a change will not disturb the primary object of the bill, which is to construct canals and works to better the valley's present water supply and to bring into cultivation lands now unproductive. Assuring you of our appreciation of whatever consideration your committee may give our request, we are, Yours, very truly, ARTHUR M. NELSON, Chairman Temporary Executive Committee. Hon. M. P. KINKAID, EL CENTRO POST THE AMERICAN LEGION, Chairman House Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands, Washington, D. C. SIR: Upon instructions from the temporary executive committee of the Imperial County posts of the Americal Legion, given at a regular meeting of that body held August 22, 1919, in El Centro, Calif.. I inclose resolution covering amendment to House bill No. 6044, which amendment provides for a preferential right of six months to be given to all persons who served in the military or naval service of the United States in time of war and who have received honorable discharges or have been placed on inactive duty. I also inclose resolution from San Diego Post No. 1 of the American Legion in regard to an amendment of this kind. Thanking you in behalf of the Imperial Valley posts of the American Legion for your courtesy in this. matter, I remain, Respectfully, JOHN M. KEPLEY, Secretary of Temporary Executive Committee of the RESOLUTION. Whereas there is now pending in the United States Congress House bill No. 6044, which has been referred to the House Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands, and consideration of said bill is now pending before said committee; and Whereas the posts of the American Legion at El Centro, Brawley, and Imperial, in the county of Imperial, State of California, have directed their several executive committees to take such action as may be expedient, in an attempt to procure an amendment of said bill, by the insertion therein of a provision to the effect that a preference right be granted to all persons who served in the military or naval service of the United States in time of war, who have received honorable discharge, or have been placed on inactive duty, for a period of six months, to purchase said lands, upon the terms therein provided; and Whereas the said respective posts have authorized their said respective committees to take such steps as may be deemed advisable in an attempt to secure such a preference right in any bill or act of Congress which may provide for the disposal of those certain lands known as the Eastside Mesa Lands, lying in the county of Imperial, State of California; and Whereas the said respective posts have not expressed any opinion, nor given any direction to their said respective executive committees with reference to any other provisions of said House bill No. 6044, or any bill which may be introduced having for its purpose the disposal of said lands: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the said respective executive committees in joint meeting duly assembled at the county court house in the city of El Centro, Calif., this 22d day of August, 1919, that it is the sense of the various posts of the American Legion of the county of Imperial, State of California, that the lands known as the Eastside Mesa Lands in the county of Imperial, State of California, and now being public lands of the United States should not be opened for sale, entry, or settlement, unless the right shall be given to all persons who served in the military or naval service of the United States in time of war, who have received honorable discharge, or have been placed on inactive duty, to purchase, enter, or settle upon said lands; which right shall be exclusive for the period of six months from and after the time when the said lands or any part thereof shall have first been declared open to such purchase, entry, or settlement: And be it further Resolved, That we do now in joint meeting duly assembled respectively petition the United States Congress to so amend said House bill No. 6044 that it may provide a preference right as hereinbefore set forth: And be it further Resolved, That the chairman and secretary of this meeting be and they are hereby instructed and directed to forward copies of this resolution to the chairman of the House Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands, to the Hon. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior of the United States, and to the Hon. William C. Kettner, Member of Congress from this district. SAN DIEGO POST No. 1, AMERICAN LEGION, San Diego, Calif., August 14, 1919. Whereas there has been presented to the House of Representatives of the United States, by Congressman William Kettner, House bill No. 6044, authorizing the sale of public lands in Imperial and Coachella Valleys, Calif., And whereas a movement has been inaugurated to request the Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands of the House of Representatives to amend said House bill No. 6044, said amendment to provide in substance that all persons who served in the military or naval service from April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, and such as still remain in the service, be given preferential right of entry and purchase for a period of six months from date of public opening: Be it, and it is hereby Resolved by the San Diego Post, American Legion, in regular meeting assembled, That the post unanimously favors incorporation of said amendment in said House bill 6044. SAN DIEGO POST, AMERICAN LEGION, SAN DIEGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Mr. MOSES P. KINKAID, Chairman, Committee Irrigation of Arid Lands, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The extreme necessity of the adoption by the Congress of legislation to make possible an all-American irrigation canal in Imperial Valley is of the greatest possible importance not only to Imperial Valley, but to San Diego County and all of the southern part of California. The final method of construction which may be adopted is in our judgment of no particular importance at this time, for the reason that this can only be determined after a very exhaustive research into all of the conditions upon which the construction and utilization of the canal may rest, and for that reason we are not basing any opinion upon the various types or plans which have been suggested. It hardly seems reasonable that during these times of urgent necessity for conservation, a measure which so greatly governs increased productivity of the soil of southern California should not merit not only the earnest consideration of the Congress of the United States, but that it should receive favorable consideration as early in the next session as the calendar will permit. We are therefore respectfully urging you to do everything in your power to bring about this very desirable result. Very sincerely, yours, SAN DIEGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, RESOLUTION OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIF. On motion of Supervisor Cogswell, duly seconded and unanimously carried, this board of supervisors hereby indorses and urges the immediate construction of the all-American canal for Imperial Valley, and the United States Senators from California and Members of Congress from southern California districts, are hereby urged to do everything possible to hasten the construction of said canal so that it may be completed and available for irrigation purposes at the earliest possible moment. The foregoing resolution was adopted by the board of supervisors of the County of Los Angeles, State of California, on August 18, 1919. A. M. McPHERRON, Chief Clerk, Board of Supervisors. CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIF., HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARID LANDS AND IRRIGATION, 66 Washington, D. C. August 25, 1919. HONORABLE SIRS: I wish to take this occasion to put my stamp of approval on the proposed all-American canal," as outlined in H. R. No. 6044, which is to serve the people of Imperial Valley. After a careful investigation of the situation I have arrived at the conclusion hat this canal is a matter of vital necessity to the ranches of Imperial Valley, and if this fertile section of southern California is to be properly farmed, the "all-American canal" must be built. Sincerely, yours, MEREDITH P. SNYDER, Mayor. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, Washington, D. C., August 27, 1919. Hon. M. P. KINKAID, Chairman, Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I am in receipt of a telegram from Mr. Walter Brinkop, chairman Los Angeles Post, American Legion, in regard to an amendment they desire to be added to H. R. 6044, introduced by the Hon. William Kettner, providing for what is called the all-American canal, such amendment to provide a preference right of entry for six months from date of opening the land to entry, in favor of honorably discharged soldiers of the late war. May I respectfully ask the committee to give this request their careful consideration? Very cordially, yours, H. Z. OSBORNE, M. C. LOS ANGELES, CALIF., August 5, 1919. Hon. M. P. KINKAID, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Reference to House bill No. 6044 by Kettner, the American Legion here requests same be not reported out of committee until we have had reasonable time in which to submit amendments providing some preference to ex-service men. Bill now being studied and further communication will be forwarded to you promptly. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE LOS ANGELES POST, AMERICAN LEGION, Hon. WILLIAM C. KETTNER, LOS ANGELES, CALIF., August 26, 1919. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. We request that House bill 6044, Kettner bill, include provisions giving all persons honorably discharged from the military or naval service of the United States a preference right of entry for a period of six months from the date of the opening of the land to entry, or that it contain provision making at least part of this and subject to Secretary Lane's soldier-settlement plan. We are wiring Secretary Lane and Representatives H. Z. Osborne and M. P. Kinkaid. WALTER BRINKOP, Chairman Los Angeles Post, American Legion. Hon. M. P. KINKAID, LOS ANGELES, CALIF., August 27, 1919. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. We request that House bill 6044, Kettner bill, include provisions giving all persons honorably discharged from the military or naval service of the United States a preference right of entry for a period of six months from the date |