SECTION I: Correspondence

SECTION I: Correspondence
BOX 1
1909 - 1922
Accessed Aug 8 th and 9th, 2007 by Diane LaRue (DLR)
DLR Summary
FOLDER NO.
S EL ECT ED IT EM S
1
2 letters, about job offer Twin Falls North Side Land & Water Co.
He is with USGS as District Engineer (1910)
2
His address is Box 972, Salt Lake City, Utah
1910
Corresponde nce - Idaho
8 pieces
Strawberry Project
3
Strawberry Project, funding issues
1911
Correspondence
38 pieces
4
1912
Correspondence
8 pieces
5
1913
Correspondence
2 pieces
Hiring assistants, recommendations to Leighton, Chief Hydrographer, for Crandall,
Dort, Hartwell and Purton - all junior engineers
“PERSONNE L STATEM ENT O F E. C. LaRUE” (May 31 st, 1911)
Eugene Clyde LaRue, Birth: Nov 11, 1879, Riverside, California, Married. Graduated
from Riverside High School, 1900; Received B.S. degree in College of Covo;
Engineering, University of California 1904. Po sitions: June 1, 1904 - April 1907, Eng.
Aid U.S.R.S., April 1907 - July 1907 Junior Engineer, U.S.G.S., July 1907 - Jan 1910
Assistant Engineer U .S.G.S., Jan 1 to date Enginee r, US GS . Me mbe rships: A ssociate
Memb er American Society of Civil Engineers; A. F. & A. M., and Elkorah Temple,
Mystic Shrine
Recommendation request and reply to and from ECL for Freeman to work in Siam
(His M ajesty’s G overnment)
And telegram in code about potential bad things in USGS [?]
Letter fro m W illiam B . Raym und, 1 512 . South. Los A ngeles St., Los Ange les to Lo uis
C. Hill, Supervising Engineer, U. S. Reclamation Service, Los Angeles, Oct 8, 1913
concerning irrigation in Colorado River Basin. Both sides of border.
-Acres: US 1,155,000 + Lower Calif 500,000 + Sonora lands 500,000 = 2,155,000
acres. Water supply: flow of Colorado River at gauging station 1.5 m below mouth of
Gila River given in table for 1894 to Sept 28, 1912 in sec ft and acre ft. - several
tables giving flows - shows flow is adequate (0.6 acre ft) to irrigate over 1 million
acres, and during 8 of the 11 years, supply to irrigate 2 million acres
“Gulf to Yuma Ship Canal” necessary to include in project, especially in terms of
Panama Canal opening and shipping vs. railroads. Yuma to upper end of Gulf is 90
miles. T ide in up per end is 20 ft
All American Route is engineering feasible, but financially is not
1
International border line - for basis refer to treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; maybe
confusion between Gila and Colorado River, should mean Hardy River and Colorado
River; possible “neutral zone”, U,S. purchase lower Colorado River in Mexico
6
EC L goes to wo rk in Salt Lake C ity.
1915
Correspondence
7 pieces
Manuscript: “Utah’s interest in Colorado River”, Has flows and irrigation estimates
with population - all re Utah. He recommends U tah should have more interest and
app reciatio n in the natural beauty
Letter to ECL about W eber, choked to death, Indians, desk stolen, written by Crandall
7
Exam for junior engineers - math
1916
Correspondence
7 pieces
Correspondence between ECL and his father Seneca
8
Poem he wrote and gave at “Denver Conference” Jan 1917
More family correspondence
1917
9 pieces
9
Family correspondence
1918
11 pieces
10
Family correspondence with his brother about farm and crops
1919
Correspondence
35 pieces
Confidential letter to N.C. G rover, asking for a raise, because other men are earning
more; all very re spectful; and his reply
D ec 19 , 1 91 8, to Boise Lodge #2, A .F.&A.M
Corresponde nce about El Ko rah Temp le, Mystic Shrine
11
1920
Correspondence
44 pieces
Letters between N.C. Grover, Chief Hydraulic Engineer and ECL about the
differences in available water for irrigation between (USGS - ECL) and Reclamation
(Whistler). ECL says not enough. Reclamation says plenty. Issues. Land available for
irrigation, ECL says as development increases, there will be more acres to irrigate.
Reclamation drops acres off that they think won’t be developed, seemingly to make
sure there is eno ugh wa ter. Reclamation d idn’t appear to calculate evapo transporatio n.
ECL believes that “...when ultimate development is near there will be a serious water
shortage on the Lower Colorado.” Situation favors upper basin states that they can
divert all the water they want and it will not cut off water to irrigation in lower CR.
This is all after ECL’s repo rt on C olorado River utilization. T herefo re an entirely
different policy needs to be developed.
Several pieces of family correspondence
Correspondence re a project on Merced River
2
12
More letters re Merced Irrigation District
1921
Correspondence
49 pieces
More family letters b etween EC L and Scott
Letter to Gro ver re rock-fill dam at L ee Fe rry - Has prep ared a pap er on this subje ct to
be submitted for publication to Am. Soc. Civil Eng. Might be controversy between
U.S. Reclamation Se rvice and U SG S because of Boulder Ca nyon P roject.
Gro ver’s rep ly - develo pme nt of can yon section o f Colo rado River contro versial,
Mem orandum from G rover re his report
Correspondence (August, and into fall) re his report entitled: “Tentative Plan for
Storage and Pow er Developme nt on the Lower Colorado R iver”
Plans to submit to Engineering News Record for publication (19 21).
Letter S ep 2, 192 1 - leave s tomo rrow with E.L . Kolb for G reen R iver, U tah for a trip
to cover 3 50 miles of the Green and Co lorado Rivers.
Letter to Grover re his October 6 th visit to Rainbow Bridge with E.L. Kolb, Sidney
Paige and M r. Miser.
Letter to Grover about hearing in San Diego on Los Angeles and Boulder Canyon
project. He wants to go.
Southwest League to hold conference in Riverside in December. Permission granted
to attend both of these.
Letter to Hon. Herbert Hoover suggesting he be his assistant with the Colorado River
Commission (CRC). “I understand that the CRC Comm ission will prepare a
comprehensive plan for the development of the water resources of the Colorado River
basin. I assume that the se ven interested States and the Rep ublic o f Me xico will
require an equitab le distribution o f the waters of the C olorado , or an equitab le
distribution of the benefits to be derived from the complete development of the water
resources of the basin.”
13
1922
Correspondence
139 pieces
Letter from Grover and then from ECL asking for clarification. Grover asks him to be
careful in what he says, only that he is in agreement. In terms of CRC mee tings.
Letters to H. E T urner re Preston and E CL w ill visit their cam p: drive from Yum a to
W elton, thence south to Tinajas Altas, east over Camino del Diable to Tule tank and
Tule well.
Mo re correspondence abo ut this, seems to be surveying areas in western Arizona
which are irrigable from the Colorado River
Letter to Governor of Utah - making boat trip to study topography of canyon above
Lee Ferry, so going to cover section of river between Hall’s Crossing and Lee Ferry
then much correspondence and telegrams about this trip so governor or reps of Utah
can go. Due to start September 3 rd.
3
Correspondence with Southern California Edison Co about costs of pumping water
electrically
July 27 letter - detailed information on river between Lees Ferry and Bridge Canyon
Corresponde nce concerning transportation Richfield to Halls Crossing
Letter from State of Arizona (W .S. Norviel) A Porter, J. Preston, Mana ger of the
Yuma P roject has been appointed by the Reclamation Service as a member of the
engineering commission.
Letter to his brother Scott: after the Hall’s Crossing to Lee’s Ferry (120 miles). He
hopes to reach Flagstaff Sept 19th, then proceed on another 300 mile boat trip on
Colorado River from Boulder Canyon to Yuma, arriving at Yuma about Sept 27th.
Then to P asadena, C alifornia then to P hoenix, Arizona.
Mo re correspondence on irrigating all of Arizona
EC L made ch airman of Arizona Engineering Co mmission - H e is the only one not in
controversy.
Letter from Norviel: Quinton of Quinton, Code & Hill, has made study of proposed
high line canal from Boulder Canyon R eservoir, such as is proposed by M axwell. And
more on the September trip.
ECL to G rover about money, USG S should pay his expenses and salary while doing
this work for Arizona since it will be information about the whole Colorado River
project. Reclamation is paying for Preston. If USGS pays for ECL, then more money
for the to pographical survey.
Several letters on details of trip, re boats and logistics, who is hired or looking for
work
Letter to G. E . P. Sm ith, Civil Enginee r, University of A rizona., Tu cson asking fo r his
opinion on “... the height to which water may be pum ped for the reclamation o f land in
Arizona.” “We must keep in mind that we are planning developments which may not
be under taken for fifty years.”
Smith’s 2pp reply
Letter fro m T urner - boats to get ship ped to Las Vegas. Gila R iver surv eys to be
completed on Oct 3, start in a few days. Then final arrangements for their trip will be
made.
Sept 5, 1922 Letter from Robert. H. Williams, Phoenix, 10 pages, with his ideas for
the Arizona High Line C anal, his ideas re the dam at B oulder construction, and height,
details of acre ft of water for irrigation. Happy that ECL is involved.
Sept 30, authorizing two boats to be built by Walker of Needles at Boulder Canyon
(BC), rather than in Las Vegas and then shipped to BC
Sep t 30, E CL to No rviel, just co mpleted a trip from B C to N eedles, accomp anied by 5
members of the Glen Canyon party. Too m uch work to handle boats by hand, ordering
two Evinrud e motors.
Oct 10 letter from ECL to Scott.
4
No v 1, N orviel to EC L, Preston, Turner. T hey are at Cam p B lack C anyon. He trusts
they will have a pleasant trip and “...will discover the long lost or undiscovered
treasure of Arizona— lands to be reclaim ed from the waters of the Co lorad o.”
Colorad o River Comm ission meeting in S anta Fe - work ing out the details of a
compact
Newspap er article about M axwell speaking to Jr. Chamber of Com merce about
coming p rosperity, irrigated and p roductive lands.
Go verno r elect of Arizona W .P. H unt wants two years befo re entering an a greem ent,
because Arizona lacks information as to the acreage irrigable from Colorado River
and engineering works necessary to be built. Ariz cannot enter into agreement until the
surveys have been mad e. Telegra m from H erbert H oover invites Hunt to mee tings.
Hunt sends Maxwell as his representative.
Norviel and Lewis both at Santa Fe
Dec 21, ECL to Grover, copy to Norviel. Returned to Pasadena yesterday. Finished
335 mile boat trip to Yuma Nov 18.
Dec 27 ECL to T urner. Stene has another dam site, 2.5 miles below point they visited
near head of Box C anyon. Do a cross section.....
Bits more
5
BOX 2
1923 - 1928
Accessed August 9 -10, 2007 by Diane LaRue (DLR)
DLR Summary
FOLDER NO.
SELECTED ITEMS
1
January
- Correspondence about work for Arizona Engineering Commission (AEC) between
ECL, Preston, Turner
- Norviel sum marizes the work the y did
- Letter Gov Hunt to ECL - keep up goo d work
- ECL: the work is to continue, the Commission must work in harmony with the new
Governor
-Norviel to ECL about politics Re Arizona and the Compact
- Legislators without sufficient information to give due consideration to the Compact
and they should wait for the AEC ’s repo rt.
- ECL’s boss Grover orders him to Washington
- Arizona is ‘hotbed’ considering Colorado River situation
1923
Correspond ence,
164 pieces
February
- Perso nal correspondence with bro ther Sc ott
- Pressure to get field work done for AEC b ecause in July will be making Grand
Canyon trip for several months
March
- ECL correspondence requesting maps from International Boundary Commission, RR
surveys - all for information on Gila River region
- Norviel gets fired
- Increasing pressure to complete field work in reference to High LineCanal and AEC
work
April
- Lengthy letters from George Maxwell to EC L about making sure no water gets to
Mexico (American land o wners); page s and page s all with details of canals and tunnels
etc. Whole system with dam at Glen Canyon first to control the river. Then diversions
off at higher altitudes so water can all travel by gravity to Arizona and southern
California
- Maxwell to ECL,18 pages long, ranting again his ideas, convinced that 2.5 million
acres in Arizo na and 2.5 m illion acres in Ca lifornia co uld be reclaimed. One basis is
no water to Mexico.
- Letters about Gillespie Dam
- Letters from Turner, where he is in field work and when will finish
- More letters requesting maps from various agencies about Gila River
6
May
- Letters from ECL reque sting maps: of State highway between Topcock and K ingman;
To Preston: map of boundary limits of Y uma Mesa P roject. Th is will assist in
sketching in the high line on Yuma Mesa, which may be irrigated. From a canal
through Raven Butte Gap; to Foster, Co. Engin., Kingman - new county map; To
Grover for topographic maps of each of the quadrangles: Camp McM ohave, Needles
Special, and Parker
- More from Maxwell: it is essential Compact not go through because it is essential
that no water get to Mexico
- ECL letter to S. J. Elton asking him to come stay with Mrs. La Rue since ECL will be
away o n dangerous river trip
- ECL letter to Congressman Carl Hayden - re LaRue’s plans for a 780 ft rock fill dam
at Lees Ferry - letter includes storage capacity and depth to b ed rock at several sites.
But there has been no government agency investigating G len Ca nyon site with view to
feasibility of type of dams and cost. Recommends this get done.
- State Water Commissioner office to ECL - re his opinion for Stene Consolidated
Copper Co. For storage of water on “Middle Reservoir Site” of Williams River
- Letter from G.E .P. Smith (University of Arizona, College of Agriculture. Department
of Irrigation) - have they considered a low dam (50') at Cocopah Point just north of
Laguna D am and ECL ’s reply yes and has taken p anoram a pictures of site - to raise
water 50' or more, then pump lift of 200' to reach lands in Gila Valley. But they have
another plan which might be mo re eco nom ical.
June, early July
- More letters suggesting irrigable land
July 10 letter to Vaughn, State W ater Com missioner - repo rt completed, details
(July -Oct Involved with Birdseye GC Expedition, therefore no correspondence )
Oct - Nov
- Oct 4 Confidential letter to ECL [gag order]
- Nov 2 handwritten letter from Frank Word, blaming his leaving the expedition on
Kolb. Kolb even tried to get Birdseye to get rid of Freeman and ECL at Hance
2
1924
Correspondence
69 piec es
January: Letters with fellow engineers with calculations re flood flows and drainage
basins. Data shows Colorado River not sufficient to irrigate all irrigable lands
April
- ECL’s presentation to Senate Comm. “Development of Colorado River”;
Congressional Record, 67th Congress, Fourth Session
“The Colorado River Compact” Extension of Remarks of Hon. Carl Hayden of
Arizo na, H ouse of Represe ntatives, with replies to questions o n the Comp act.
- Notice to ECL that he was elected an Honorary Life Member of The American
Scenic and Historic Preservation S ociety in recognition o f distinguished service in
connection with the USG S, and particularly as member of party which made the
perilous survey of the CR in 1923.
7
July and Au gust
- Letters about coming river trip in September.: Letter to Roger B irdseye about
September survey 200 m iles between Devil’s slide and N eedles. Looking for cook, any
contact with Felix K oms?
- Sept 10 as date to assemble at K ingman, Arizona.; has located F elix and offered him
the job.
- Various letters abo ut logistic d etails of trip
September through December
- Correspondence about potential dam sites
-December 4 ECL requested to report to Washington
3
1925
Correspond ence,
15 pieces
4
1926
Correspond ence,
21 pieces
August through December
- Aug 15, 1925. ECL promoted to Engineer (Hydraulic) (Grade 15) in field service of
USGS at salary of $4000 per annum (from $3800)
-Sep 22 ECL to Carl Hayden in response to his request for a bill LaRue has prepared
entitled “TO PROVIDE FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE FLOOD MENACE ON
LOWER COLORADO RIVER”. Also enclosing a statement entitled “COLORADO
RIVER COMPACT”
- Sep 23 Carl Hayden to E CL, merit in the idea; needs backing of adm inistration, so
will work on that when he returns to W ashington DC in Novem ber.
- Oct 5, ECL to Hayden. It would not surprise him if demand were made for a Flood
Control Dam at M ohave Canyon. Could b e built in 3 years at cost not exceeding
$15,000,000.
- Letters re ECL’s testimo ny, and others who m islead the com mittee and E CL w ould
like to further comment - denied
February and March
- Letters about Los Angeles Aqueduct via gravity vs Mulholland’s system
- Mc Cluskey, M axwell, Swing-Johnson B ill
- Bridge Canyon vs. B lack C anyon for first da m site
April and May: Letters to Secretary W ork
June
- June 11 Telegram from Dr. George Otis Smith, Director - tells him to shut up, too
many criticisms and complaints. Must defend survey and must not oppose adopted
policy. There is to b e no m ore d iscussion by E CL o f Boulder Dam or related subjects.
-June 11 ECL’s reply letter to Smith’s “muzzle telegram”
5
1927 Correspondence
40 pieces
Mar 8 - 29, 1927: Nego tiations with Bray Productions Inc. about a movie on the
Romance of the Colorado River. ECL gives various hints as to time of year to get
floods, where to get Indian scenes. In one letter says “The G rand Canyon is the
greatest chasm on this earth. Thousands of people have stood on its rim and marvelled
at its grandeur, yet aside from the members of our party less than five men now living
have seen the Grand Canyon from the inside.” ECL wants to be on the payroll for
$50/day. Bray’s response is that is way too much, correspond ence back and forth about
pay, and whether it is worth while for ECL to leave USGS, or take leave.
June: Letters between M ulford Winsor (Colorado River Commission of Arizona) and
Hubert Work, Secretary of Interior, about ECL
8
July:
- Much correspondence about the Marble Gorge Dam project
- Written and typed copy of “Geologic considerations relative to a proposed high dam
at the “Bridge Site” on Colorado River, about 5 miles below Lees Ferry, Arizona”
- Jul 15 from W . E. D ickinson (USG S T ucson letterhead) - disapp ointment, not a
surprise to learn of his resignation from the Survey “...much more apparent that a man
cannot really get there in the Service and keep his individuality.” “You will, however,
go much farther on the outside, and my b est wishes....”
-Jul 18 ECL letter about project 6 month contract with Bray Pictures Corporation of
New York as their eng ineering direc tor.
- Planning to open an office as Consulting Engineer with B. F. Jacobson and the firm
name will be Larue & Jacobson, Central Building, Los Angeles
July and August: More correspondence about Marble Gorge Site Project
6
1928
Correspond ence,
74 pieces
-Letters from high schools, debating team s, reports, asking for information against
Boulder Canyon and/or against All America Canal and his replies
-Several letters about work on Salt River above Roosevelt Reservoir - stream gaging;
Federal Power Commission Projects 425 and 627 on Salt River
-Correspo ndence with old contac ts
-Correspondence with USG S trying to get information, and reports - back and forth;
Trying to get old Water Supply Paper
- Correspondence about San Juan River Basin and possible error in 1904 and 1902
stream flow data. This river is second largest tributary to the Colorado
-May 11 - Series of letters and reports concerning salt deposits (Virgin River) and
salinity of water making impounded water unsuitable. Mention of dense willows
indicating salt can’t be problem, etc... Included are figures of dissolved solids, Yuma,
various place s.
- Lots more about whole Boulder D am project, which makes ECL ‘sick’
9
BOX 3
1929 - 1949
Accessed February 20 - 21, 2008 by Diane LaRue (DLR)
DLR Summary
FOLDER NO.
ENVELOPE
LIST
SELECTED CONTENTS
1
Env. 1
1929, January
20 pieces
- Letters between ECL and Charles Rutherford Dec 31, Jan 4 th, Jan 9, Feb
27, March 11
- Rutherford wants to write article showing misrepresentations made by
W eymo uth and showing EC L as a great Enginee r.
- Letters between ECL and John L. Savage, Jan 2 and 5th Re: new
grouting system for building safer dams, competent engineers, etc.
- Friendly letters between ECL and Frank Dodge January and March
- Letter from George Maxwell Jan 15, 1929 Urging the National
Reclamation Association to get the facts to the country that the Boulder
dam project will waste millions of dollars
- Newspaper clipping
- Letters fro m G eo. W .P. H unt to E CL, Jan 10 , 192 9 and Jan 1 8; He is
off the Colorado River Comm ission -discouraged, feels bad after 6 years
of battle
Env. 2
1929, Feb April
29 pieces
- Letter H .S M cCluskey to E CL F eb 5, 192 9 T endering his resignation to
Governor P hillips from Colorado R iver Commission.
- Letters between ECL and Metropo litan Water District of Southern
California Metropolitan Water District is charged “ ...with the
responsibility of constructing an aqueduct for the purpose of bringing a
domestic supply of water from the Colorado R iver to the coastal plane
cities.” B oard wants info rmatio n on all possib le routes. Inviting E CL to
present to them.
- Letter ECL to Grover March 12, 1929 Re Metropolitan Water District
and gravity aqueduct
- Letters from and to ECL and Elwood Mead, Commissioner, Bureau of
Reclamation
- Geo ge W .P. H unt re the bill
- N. C. Grover - asking for his paper reply to Mr W eymouth’s testimony
back if no longer needed
- Miscellaneous letters - almost all about his plans for gravity aqueduct
Letter and map from La Rue & Jakobsen to Directors of the Metropolitan
W ater District, April 26, 1929. Outlines what he has presented to them
10
Env. 3
1929
March 11 May 2
From group
marked
“Gra vity
Aqueduct
Letters”
56 letters
- Inquiries and explanations of the “LaRue Gravity Project”
Both LaRue and Jakobsen
- Various letters to city ma nagers, asking about electrical power co sts
- Several back and forth with H.N. Savage (Engineer in Charge of Water
Supply for City of San Diego)
- Jacobsen asks P hilip Schuyer, E ditor o f Western C onstruction N ews if
wants to publish an article by LaRue; yes
- Letters asking for costs o f building tunnels
- Discussion of paper by Van Norman, by Jakobsen (BFJ)
Paper: “The proposed Los Angeles - Colorado River Aqueduct” by H. A.
Van Norman, Proceedings, Am. Soc. C. E., April 1928, p. 116
- Several letters from BFJ
- References to clippings from the Los Angeles Times
- May 1, 1929
Several references to the failure of St. Francis dam and the need for
competent engineers, including letter from BFJ to Ed itor of Engineering
News-Record
Env. 4
1929
May - July
42 pieces
- Ma y 3, 19 29 L etter to L a Rue & J akobsen from S chuyler and B FJ reply
about the “Boulder dam repo rt”. BFJ clarifies calculations. Mentions
Brother Van N orman and his testimony to the Senate Committee where
he gave wrong information about the ECL site [Van Norman pro ponent
of Boulder dam site]
- Preliminary Announcement
“Program of the Second Annual Meeting of the Los Angeles Center of
the American Academy of Political and Social Science. May 3 and 4,
1929". Subject: “The Present Status of the Boulder Dam Problem”
- Several letters: politics of what is going on
- May 1 6, 192 9 Letter from F .E. Schm itt, Editor of Engineering NewsRecord to BFJ
And , BFJ’s reply of M ay 27, 192 9 re G ravity Aq ueduct.
- Letters from John R. Freeman to BFJ: June 3, 1929, Jan 2, 1930, Jan
16, 1930
- June 5 , 192 9 letter fro m B FJ to Go verno r Geo. W . P. H unt and Hun t’s
reply, R e; EC L’s giving a newspap er rep orter H .... for their co mments
- May and June 1929 Several letters from various people who had
received info about gravity project
- Letters b etween Grover, June 26, 1 929 and O ct 24, 192 9 and ECL’s
reply Oct 29, 1929
- ECL did report for United Verde Copper Company on water power
possibilities below Leupp, Ariz.
- Letters between A.H. Ko ebig (of Koebig and K oebig) and EC L June
28, 1929 and July 24, 1929
- Koebig’s 3 pages on the legalities of water allocation, including
Imperial Valley, and Mexico.
11
Env. 5
1929
Aug - Sep
32 pieces
- Little Colorado Development by the United Verde Copper Co
- Colorado River suit: United States vs. Utah to ‘quiet title to the beds of
the rivers in southeastern Utah
ECL retained by Utah to testify with his information. Question: is the
Colorado River a navigable stream?
- Several letters about gravity aqueduct project
ECL to Grover, Sept 30, asking for copy of Senate Document 186, 70th
Congress, 2 nd session, entitled Colorado River development by Malone.
Env. 6
1929
Oct - Dec
33 pieces.
- Little Colorado Development by the United Verde Copper Co
- Letter, hand written from De Long to ECL (Oct 26, 1929 ) and ECL’s
reply (Oct 29, 1929)
- Letter from BF J to C.R. Kuzell re using steam power (O ct 30, 1929)
- Other miscellaneous letters
- Colorado River suit: United States vs. Utah
EC L to B urdick (Oct, 1929) - materials prep ared and b eing mailed to him
ECL to Farnsworth (Attorney, Utah) - sending profiles of the Colorado,
Green and San Juan rivers. (Oct 1929)
Farnsworth to ECL re profiles and photos - to use in cross-examination
of government witnesses in Washington. (Oct 1929)
- Gravity Aqueduct Project and Brid ge Canyon dam site
Handwritten letter from A.D. Bedford, MD of Colton to Harry Hague,
Calif re the two proposals, the Black Canyon primarily for power.
Clipped. -ECL to John P orter, Mayor and M etropolitan Water Board
explaining in detail his reply to Weymouth’s confidential report which
was submitted to Water Board in May in criticism of ECL’s plan.
Recen tly into ECL’s hand s and wishes to “.... merely point out the most
salient places where Mr. Weymouth has fallen into error.” (Oct 21, 1929)
- Letter from K oeb ig to ECL; fully suppo rts gravity p lan. Ca lls
Metrop olitan Water District (MW D) “...height of folly and short
sightedness....”
- Letter E CL to Gro ver (O ct 29, 192 9) - pra ctically sure the M W D will
never pump CR water to Los Angeles (LA); Sends Grover copies of LA
Times articles
- Letter Koebig to ECL about legality of whole thing (Oct 31, 1929)
- L ette r ECL to W . P. W hitse tt, C ha irman, B oa rd of D ire ctors of M WD
of Southern California, 12 pages (Octob er 1929)
Letter from B FJ to John R. Haynes (De c 16, 1929 ), 3 pages comparing
EC L’s calculations with W eymo uth’s
- Other miscellaneous letters
Env. 7
1929-1933
Letterbook 1
volume
- Letterbook, with carbon copies of ECL correspondence from Feb 8,
1929 (BFJ), then May 14, 1929 to Jan 27, 1933 are personal letters from
ECL
- Jan 9, 193 0 EC L to Cruz an in LA: re stream s with more flow because
brush burned off
- Personal letters, financial problems, depression, lost home, no work
12
2
1 Envelope
- Letters between R. R. Lyman of Salt Lake City and ECL
(Jan - Feb 1930)
- Lyman accuses ECL of circulating falsehoods about him. ECL replies
no, and is hurt. T hey bo th say nice things ab out each other; Lyman will
look into who is spreading the rumors about ECL
- Letters from W illiam Russell White (Jan 23) and EC L reply (Jan 28),
1930 Re: water power project at request of Col. C. H. Rutherford,
- Letter J. C. Allison to ECL (Feb 20, 1930)
ECL’ reply (Feb 21, 1930) Referring to Water Supply Paper #556, ECL
reply with table o f data
- Letter ECL to Grover (April 9, 1930)Asks for copy of report of the
“Fact Finding Commission” which investigated the Reclamation Service
- Miscellaneous letters
- Requests for info; Geo. Hunt (on trip around the world)
- Letter Harry L Heffner (MW D of SC) to ECL (Nov 25, 1930)
Setting up meeting with Mr. Merriman for conference Dec 1 st. Gram
sending things to ECL, including copy of Final Report of the
“Engineering Board of Review on the Colorado River Aqueduct
Location.”
- Carbon of letters to Thos Maddock and N.C. Grover (Nov 26, 1930)
Firm of La Rue & Jocobsen” will be dissoved Dec. 1, 1930. Parting as
friends, believing each can do better.
- Letter H . S. M cCluskey, Attorney, to ECL (D ec 4, 1 930 ) and ECL’s
reply (Dec 5, 1930)Would ECL accept employment as expert on
Colorado River in regards to the Colorado River Commission case now
pending in U S Suprem e Co urt.
ECL rep ly yes and has no ill feeling towards the State of Arizona
1 Envelope
- Walter E. Mellinger announces resignation from the South West Water
League, (Feb 12, 1931)
Organization was formed to make study of Metropolitan Water Act and
other methods of conserving water but the ones most active in the League
were in opposition not only to the Wa ter Act, but also Hoo ver Dam and
proposed aqueduct
- Southwest Water League - regular meeting (March 28, 1931)
Mee ting April 4, 1931 with A. H. Ko ebig, Chairman of the Engineering
Committee of Southwest W ater Le ague is to be sp eaker of the d ay.
- Worthington Company Operating data on diesel engines
Quo te for equipm ent for a 500 kw plant for installation at Nogales,
Mexico (July 29, 1931)
- Letter S[?] to Victor Rossetti, President Farmers and Mutual Bank, Los
Angeles, 7pages (legal size) about the Colorado scheme; potability of
water (salts), public confidence, legal title, cost of Parker Route, Owens
Valley aqueduct
Letters A.C. Milner, his engineer J. E. Hayes and ECL (Oct 1931)
abo ut analysis o f water resourc es and metho d of use on the Snake River.
1930
Correspondence
30 pieces
3
1931
Correpondence
15 pieces
13
4
1932 - 1949
Correspondence
32 pieces
Env. 1
1932
5 pieces
- Letter from ‘Com mittee on State W ater Plan’ to its Board of D irectors,
Los Angeles Section, American Society of Civil Engineers (Mar 1, 1932)
Listing of ‘points’ which they believe are involved in the fundamental
principles for the Statewide Water Plan
- Letter from J. E. Rockhold, County Surveyor to ECL (Mar 15, 1932)
Asking if any work for Leigh B . Lint. And, copy of Lint’s request to
Rockhold for work. (Was furloughed from USGS in Dec 1930 because of
lack of funds, and no prospects).
- Letter from J. R. Bray, President, The Bray Productions, Inc to ECL,
EC L’s reply and B ray’s rep ly (June 193 2). B ray has b een un able to
complete arrangements for finishing the Colorado p icture but they might
need his services for 2 or 3 weeks
Env. 2
1935
6 pieces
-Letter fro m H arry Redd ick, Re gional Direc tor, U SD A, to E CL in reply
(August 8, 1935)No openings for employment at this time
- Series of letters between Fra nk Do dge and Fairchild Aerial Surveys,
Inc. (August, 1935)
Env. 3
1939
3 pieces
- Letter from F. H . Smith to ECL re an interview for a book and E CL’s
reply (Oct, 1939) Reply from ECL, yes, his experience extends back
about 30 years “...during which time I was drawn into the discussion of
controversial problems which were given wide publicity in newspapers
and maga zines...”
Env. 4
1941-1943
9 pieces
- Letters between Colorado River Commission of Arizona and US Army
(Aug-Sept, 1941) re proposed trip to Lake Mead in Sept and inspection
of dam sites at head of Lake Mead. Had talked to ECL and G .B. Bebo ut
at his office. Permission for ECL to go.
- Letter from J. N eil M urdo ck, G eologist with B ureau of Reclamation to
ECL (M ar 24, 1943) and ECL reply (April 20, 1943)Raschbacker
informs him that ECL wo uld be interested in progress on the
investigation of the Bridge Canyon Project. Preliminary survey work
com pleted , Power stud ies and fact that P ark service stro ngly ob jecting to
water being stored in Grand Canyon, influences selection of four
alternative dam sites, alo ng with ge ology...
ECL’s reply: the foundation conditions at the 4 sites is interesting
General location map
Bridge Canyon Investigations
14
Env. 5
1946-1949
7 pieces
- Letter from ECL to Scott (La Rue) (24 June 1946) Sold the dry farm
- Letters between Tom Mad dock (Gila Valley Irrigation District) and
ECL (Sept - Nov, 1946)
Two engineers and ... Detailed discussions about proposed G lenn
reservoir, acre-feet of water, California and Arizona’s proportion - seems
they need to start again with both legal and engineering plans or
development will cease.
.... forget the cost of the stupid ly too large B oulder reservoir with its
eternal heavy evaporation.
Mad dock asks for ECL’s personal opinion on dam sites near Lee’s Ferry
rather than Glenn. Discussions o n tunnel lengths and dam heights for co st
and water saving. Power capacity at B oulder. Little co nfidence in
U.S.B.R . repo rt.
- Blueprint of proposed dam profiles. With water so scarce, seems like
saving 500 ,000 acre feet from evap oratio n shou ld be considered.
- 3 letters from Otis Marston to Mrs. E. C. LaRue (May 23, 1947, Jan 24,
1949 and M ay 31, 1949); Thanks her for the ECL material. He has had
copies made of all the items except the newspaper clippings. He hopes
she will find the diary of Mr. LaRue covering the 1923 trip below B right
Angel Creek.
Env. 6
No dates
2 pieces
- Letter from Director of Depa rtment of Interior, USGS to H on. Carl
Hayden
Responding to oral request for information on status and scope of
forthcoming LaRue report, which will be Water-Supply paper 556.
His preliminary plan: “... construction of 13 dams making available 3,383
feet of head for development of power and a maximum of 42,000,000
acre-feet of storage capacity for control of floods, equalization of flow,
and storage of silt.”
- Letter from F. L. Ransome, University of Arizona, Tucson to Governor
Geo. W . P. Hunt
In response to telegram of April 7 from Governor. Hunt, Ransome
proceeded to Flagstaff with H. D. Wilson, geologist of Arizona Bureau of
Mines, to join the Colorado River Com mission on April 9. They all went
to the site being prepared for a bridge in Marble Gorge, about 5 miles
below Lees Ferry
As geologist, giving his info on the rock material (Kaibab limestone,
Coconino sandstone, hermit shale and their depths) at the bridge site and
feels that the dismissal of building a d am he re was prem ature and sho uld
be re-investigated.
15