San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-01-14
MAJOR BUTTONS MISSION.
Ordered to the Capital to Aid South
western Irrigation.


When in his recent message to
Congress the president recommend
ed appropriate legislation and in
ternational consultation over the
storage and use Of the waters of
the Rio Grande for irrigation pur-
poses, he overlooked probably leg
isIatIon of the tifty-first Congress
which gave him power to promote
this important undertaking. This
has since been, called to his atten-
ton by the large number Of Texas
and Mexican citizens interested,
and the president will probably in
a few weeks appoint commission
upon the part OF this Government
to confer with a similar commits
sion from Mexico. Secretary Ores
ham, who was instrumental in
calling this matter to the atten-
tion Of the president. has taken
great interestsin it, and has called
conference OF diplomats and SOL
diers to meet at his department on
the 10th Of this month to discuss
the best plans for bringing about
the desired end.
Minister Romero already has
authority from the Mexican Gov
eminent to act at this conference
and the outlook now seems that
Immediately thereafter the Presi-
dent will appoint a commission to
consider the subject OF the irriga-
ton of the arid lands in the valley
Of the Rio Grande, and the inter-
national boundary relations with
Mexico growing out OF such a
scheme. Secretary Gresham has
asked Secretary Lamont to order
to Washington Major Dutton OF
the regular army, now stationed at
San Antonio and intimately &C
quainted with the needs and con-
ditions Of the southern boundary
frontier. Major Dutton has been
ordered to report here on the 10th
of January. Colonel Arson G.
Mills of the army, who is now
serving as boundary commission
er in boundary negotiations be-
tween this country and Mexico,
will also be here on that date, the
boundary commission having taken
recess for the winter, and has
been asked to attend the confer
ence.
The citizens of the northern
boundary country near FL Paso
and below, are represented here by
Mr.. Juan S. Hart of Ell Paso, who
was in consultation with thePresi-
dent yesterday upon the subject.
The situation in brief is that the
uncertainty of the water supply in
the Rio Grande, added to recent
large drafts upon its waters along
it's upper course for mining and
irrigation purposes, has caused Sc
rious droughts along the Texas
Mexican boundary, where, in for
mer years, there used to be dry
river bed only once in three or
four years, but now it is an annual
occurrence Of from two to four
months in duration. And, flow
ing as it does through an arid re-
gion, this deprivation of water not
only for irrigation, but for actual
necessity, has caused situation
serious enough to demand imme-
diate international consideration.
1t is proposed not only to make
some effort to restrict the whole
sale use of the upper Rio Grande
water for mining, but also to de-
wise some scheme by which the
flood waters may be stored for irri-
CATION and ordinary use during the
summer. There have been various
enterprises begun both on the
Texas and Mexican sides for the
erection of large reservoir dams in
which the great quantity OF waste
flood water for which the Rio
Grande is noted might be saved.
But nothing of this kind can be
done without international agree
ment. Congress thoroughly con.
sidered the question in 1880 and
passed a bill, prese nted by Repre-
sentative Lanham of Texas, en-
towering the President to take de-
sired action along this line. 1t is
u nder this thePresident will prob
ably act, and that the commission
will probably be appointed.
Washington Telegram.
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