The herald., 1895-04-03
THE COMING IRRIGATION CONGRESS

Public attention throughout the arid
west is already being directed to the
fourth national irrigation congress, which
is to be held at Albuquerque, New Mex
leo, during the week beginning Septem-
her 10th. Realizing the importance OF
this gathering the recently adjourned tr-
ritorial council of New Mexico appropri-
ated $500 to be used in advertising the
congress and defraying it's expenses. The
city of Albuquerque has pledged like
sum, and committee of prominent
citizens is already at work arranging the
details of the meeting. The call for the
congress will be issued by Chairman Will
lam c. Smythe. of the national executive
committee, about April 10Th, and from
what is already known of its scope it is
sure to prove both interesting and IN
structive. 1t is quite likely that Southern
California will be represented at this
gathering by delegation of prominent
citizens who are interes ted in the irriga-
ton enterprises of the southwest, and
chief among these will naturally be Hon.
Lionel A. Sheldon of Pasadena, an ex-
governor of New Mexico and member of
the national executive commi ttee OF the
irrigation congress for California. Gov
ernor Sheldon was chairman OF the COM
mittee on resolutions at the interna-
tional irrigation congress held in Les
Angeles in 1893, aud his position on the
question of public ownership of water in
flowing streams attracted widespread at
tention.
At the congress held in Denver IN 1894
the official representative of the govern
ment of Mexico Senior ]. Ramon Ybar-
rola, who was also it's representative at
the Los Angeles congress, complained, on
behalf of his government, that the waters
of the Rio Grande, belonging jointly to
the two nations for irrigation use, are be-
ing largely diverted by American citizens
on this side of the line, and that Mexican
citizens are not getting the amount of
water to which they are entitled. He
asked the Denver congress to pass reso-
luton reciting these facts and asking our
government to take the necessary steps
to secure to Mexican citizens their proper
proportion of the surface flow of this
great river.
Since the adjournment of the Denver
meeting inquiry has been made into this
matter and it is discovered that a very
large portion Of the water which form
erly flowed from its Rocky Mountain
watershed into the Rio Grande is now
diverted by land owners in Colorado and
New Mexico, who living on the borders
of streams which are feeders to the great
river dividing the two nations, believe
they are entitled to this water as riparian
owners.
Because of the great Importance which
this question has assumed, rising to the
dignity of subject for international set
tlement, the secretary of the national
committee, who is resident of Los An
geles, has suggested that the matter be
made topic of special discussion at the
Albuquerque congress, and this will be
done. 1t is expected that General
F. NJ. Clarke of Fort Worth, Texas,
member of the national committee
for that state, and Governor Shell
don of California will present the side
of the United States in the discussion,
while Senior Ybarrola, assisted by several
eminent engineers. will present the side
of Mexico. The joint discussion, together
with the conclusions OF the irrigation
congress on the subject. will then be pre-.
sented to the proper authorities of the
two nations interested for final action.
1t is expected that at later congress,
possibly that of 1896. the question of inter-
national waters between Canada and the
United States will be taken up for settle
ment, a report to that end having already
been made to the secretary of the ma
tional committee by Hon. William Pence
of Calgary, Alta, the representative from
the British northwest at the last congress.