To James H. Barry San Francisco Star

Washington, December 1, 1913

My dear Jim,—­I didn’t get your telegram until Monday, but I had taken care of you in the same way that I took care of myself, in regard to flowers.  I bought three bunches, one for you, one for Mrs. Lane, and one for myself.

The most surprising thing, my dear Jim, is the manner in which Mrs. Marble has taken John’s death.  We took her to our house, where the morning after his death she told me that she had talked with him; that he had chided her on breaking down constantly.  Since then, both morning and evening, she says she has seen him and talked with him.  The result is a spirit on her part almost of gayety, at times.  She is really reconciled to his going, because he has told her that it was best and that he has other work to do.

I don’t know what to say of all this.  It mystifies me.  It has tended greatly to support me against the depth of sorrow which I felt at the beginning.  There is no evidence of hysteria on her part, whatever.  She dictated to Mrs. Lane, who was sitting beside her, some of the things that John said to her.  It certainly is a glorious belief, at such a time, and I am not prepared to say that it is not so, and that its manifestations are not real.

...  It is an impossible thing to get a man to take his place, either on the Commission or in our hearts.  I believe that he worked himself to death ...  Affectionately yours,

F. K. L.

To Edward F. Adams

Washington, January 10, 1914

My dear Mr. Adams,—­ ...  Our most difficult problem is that of water.  Colorado, for instance, claims that all of the water that falls within her borders can be used and should be used exclusively for the development of Colorado lands.  Southern California has made a protest against my giving rights of way in the upper reaches of the Colorado for the diversion of water on to Colorado lands saying that Imperial Valley is entitled to the full normal flow of the Colorado.  The group of men who hold land in Mexico south of the Imperial Valley make the same claim.  Arizona wishes to have a large part of this water used on her soil, and the people of Colorado are divided as to whether the water should be carried over on to the eastern side of the Rockies or allowed to flow down in its natural channel on the western side.

We have a similar trouble as to the Rio Grande, which rises in Colorado, where the Coloradans claim all the water can be used and can be put to the highest beneficial use.  New Mexico, Texas, and Old Mexico all claim their right to the water for all kinds of purposes.  If we recognize Colorado’s full claim there is probably enough water in Colorado to irrigate all of her soil, but portions of Wyoming, Nebraska, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah would remain desert.