El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-11-05

international dam schemers have in
dustriously circulated all manner of
erroneous and misleading statements re-
gsrding the compsny's titles; the lead
ing spirit Of the group, the German
merchant in Juarez, Mexico, having
openly boosted that he would effectu-
ally stop the New Mexican Co.'S. works
the moment they were started In
the light of recent events the threat
does not appear to be wholly an idle
one, though it is impossible to con-
ceive that the United States govern
ment is q party to his nefarious plans,
or is DESTROYS of aiding and abetting
his schemes to the extent the official
action against the company would in
dictate. When threatening the compa-
ny perhaps the worthy Teuton relied
more upon assistance from his own
country, aud expected that the Ger.
man emperor would, II called upon SO
to do, enable his loyal subject to fleece
the United States, send Q German
man-of-war ION wheels) up the Rio
Grande with instructions to shell the
company's dam. if the authorities at
Washington should decline to confis-
cate the valuable works carried out in
New Mexico with British capital. or
refuse to support the international
dam schemer's plot for pro6ting 80
enormously by their option. It is
we'll known abroad that the Germans
are avowedly opposed to the Monroe
doctrine, and contemplate colonial ex-
pansion in the New World. Per-
haps the Germans intend to begin by
making conquests in the United States
and Mexico.
Inspired by these German specula-
tors, supported by Col. Arson Mills,
the United states attorney, in apply
ing for an I'M junction against the New
Mexican company, claims that the Rio
Grande is navigable because it "has
and business purposes between the
territory of New Mexico and the state
of Texas in the United States of Amer
lea and the republic of Mexico" (which
Is untrue) and further "that the
of the said river has been
and acknowledged hereto
fore by congress and the secretary of
war of the United States" (which, as .
matter of fact, is also untrue) and that
therefore the river is legally navigable.
In the plant against the New Mex
can company "a very garbled account
Of the objects of the English company
% set forth. The intention to create
with British capital the largest artifi-
,ial lake in the world, in order to
rrigate some hundreds of thousands
IF acres of hitherto useless desert land,
appear to have given dire offence.
the compauy's proposal to supply
water to cities and towns for domestic
and municipal purposes and for mil
ing and mechanical power, is viewed
With grave suspicion.
For years the citizens of the valley
nave sent petition after petition to
praying the government to
lake steps to impound the flood waters
If the Rio Grande, aud thereby pro-
vide an adequate system of irrigation
'or their lands yet SO soon as sufficient
in American investments has
been inspired to enable the New Mex
can company to raise capital to carry
,ut the good work, the present su-
;horities at Washington, misled by the
Juarez and Ell Paso land spectators,
promptly proceed to repudiate the late
approval of the COM
oany's plans, and bring an action to
,onfiscate valuable works of great pub
ic utility, built in good faith and con-
idence in America official and private
honesty, with friendly foreign capital.
The allegation that the New Next
ian company would "reduce TO servi-
ude the landowners, citizens of New
Mexico, Texas and Mexico" is blatant
,onsense-nothtng could be more ridicu-
GUS. The bulk of the lands of the Rio
3rande valley are at present without
water, and are for the greater part alb
olutely valueless. The irrigation,
uch as exists. is inadequate, and the
armers in the valley to a man support
he company. Ninety per cent of the
landowners in the valley have petit
Toned congress to support the COM
,any's undertaking, instead of building
IN international dam at Ell Paso, which
would only be made to supply the lands
below Ell Paso, less than q third of the
Irea the New Mexican company can
rrigate. The compsny's proposal to
convey to landowners q free perpetual
light in exchange for half of their
ands, lands now without water and
valueless for other than
rro zjno nurposes. tn create tho larooat
artificial lake in the world; to impound
Tor the use and benefit of American
citizens the flood waters of the Rio
Irande now allowed to run to waste; to
make land now worth but few dollars
per acre the equal in value of the fruit
lands in southern California; to expend
vast sums in colonizing the Rio Grande