The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06

ing upon the distribution OF the waters OF the
RIO 9rands, and the proposed Sonstrneii9n OF
of vital Importance to the agricultural and
Manufacturing Industries of that section. Chpt.
j. Ramon dc ibsrrois Of Mexico. with several
assistants, have the work in charge, and
are now engaged in making pr .ndm lSEs
the Rio Grande River. finding It's source In
Colorado. flows southwark through New Mexico
eastward and becomes the dividing line be-
tween Texas and Mexico. For three months
IN the year; during the rainy season and
bank full. For nine months in the year II Is
very rapid in that climate, and because the
water Is go extensively used for irrigation IN
Colorado and New Mexico that IL Is exhausted
quence citizens OF both the, United States ana
Mexico who reside below I'll Paso have suffered
irrigation and for their stock, without consider
ing the. advantages IL might offer IN the way OF
Grando for navigation. It is estimated that the
damages suffered since the treaty OF 1883, which
made mac , the river m common prs9 Is go 9 SaS sn the
American side aud $1,000. DOC, on the Mexican
side, and these claims should all lie against
tho United states, because our people have ex:
hausted the water. The Mexicans have had
little or none of II, except during the Seasons
when they needed II the least.
Some years ago Col. Arson Mills of tho United
states army proposed to solve tins problem ny
constructing n dam hcross q narrow gap be-
tween two mountains through which the river
flows. Nature seems to have intended that
some such thing should be done. The gorge Is
only u short distance from the city OF HI Paso.
to which II gave a name,
Preliminary examinations were made some
years ago Ivy Engineer Toilette OF the United
States geological survey. but they were not
thorough, and no borinRs have yet been at
tempted to determine the strata to be en-
countered and the kind of formation that can
be secured as a foundation for the walls OF the
dam; This, of course, is very Important, as 1t
will be necessary to prevent filtration of tho
water and secure the dam against the enormous
pressure, OF the floods. A general survey has
shown that O dam 400 feet long and 90 feet
high will furnish q reservoir III miles long, 2
miles wide. and 80 feet deep, or about 30
square miles lineal measure, which would be
sufficient to hold the entire present flow OF the
river for a year and furnish Irrigation for mill
lions of acres through the entire valley. Those
who have seen the irrigated gardens and farms
along the banks of that river know what this
means. Five years ago. when Engineer Fol
lette. made his survey, the cost OF constructing
the dam was estimated to be Sl.lO0.O00. but
now II will cost much less because OF the i'm
provement In machinery and the lower prices
OF labor md material. More than half this
money Will BIO required to remove the tracks of
the Santa fe and Southern Pacific railroads.
which run through tne gorge. The dam itself
Will not cost more than 5000, 900. but the grade
of ;he Santa Re Railroad will have TO be raised
for more than fourteen miles and that of the
southern Pacific for more than six miles and n
new right OF way will have to be found for Thorn,
which Will be ex% pensivo.