The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-05
THE FREAKIsH RIO GRANDE.
Queer Complications Brought About
by Quick shifts in Its Course.

| San Antonio Letter in New York Sum-
The Rio Grande is a treacherous stream,
! and the changes in it's bed caused by the
| annual floods make it necessary for the
| United States and Mexico to maintain a
| joint boundary commission to settle the
| many questions which the floods bring
about. Experience shows that there is alb
solutely no dependence to be placed on the
course of the river. The high banks are
no barrier when once the raging current
strikes them at the proper angle. The dirt
melts away like sugar, and in a very little
time the course of the river is materially
changed and either Mexico or the United
States have gained new territory, about
which the affected settlers dispute until the
commission renders a decision.
1t was only a short time ago that flood
en- the Rio Grande washed away the United
States custom house at the SUPPORT of Del
Rio. west of here The SUPPORT at Del Rio
had been established only few weeks be-
fore the flood came, and the subcolector
stantial building not far from the rivers
bank. His duties had hardly begun when
a rise in the Rio Grande came. Heavy
rains in the mountains of Texas and Mexico
above Del Rio caused a torrent to rush
down one night. and the next morning when
the subcollector arose from his bed in the
custom house he found himself on an island
and a channel rapidly forming between him
and the United States mainland If rescue
did not come soon the prospects were prom
Using of his being transferred to the Mexi-
can side of the river, together with his
office and building, provided the latter was
not washed away. The water was still ris-
ing rapidly, but before the island was en-
tirely submerged a skiff came out to the
custom house and took the subcollector and
his books and records to the United States
mainland. Shortly after he had got off the
custom house building was caught in the
flood and washed away down the river. 1t
has not been heard of since.
Tie freaks of the Rio Grande have also
been the source of great trouble and con-
siderable expense to the United States gov
eminent at Fort Brown, near Brownsville.
Tex. The post grounds at Fort Brown lie
along the river, and the post buildings were
harfl
the river. They are all substantial struc-
lures. The river began encroaching on the
post grounds several years ago, and its raw
ages have Increased each year to such an
extent that the post buildings can now be
saved from complete destruction only by a
strong stone protection wall along the river
bank. 1t is claimed that the course of the
river was changed so as to encroach on the
grounds of Fort Brown by the building of
jetty by private parties on the Mexican side
of the river The joint boundary commits
sion investigated the matter and upon it's
order part of the jetty was removed. Since
then the encroachment on the grounds Of
Fort Brown has not been so rapid as form
erly, but the progress of the water Is GER
tain.
The same condition Of affairs exists at
Fort Ringgold, near Rio Grande city. Tex.
The flood in the Rio Grande a few weeks
ago did considerable damage to the grounds
and property at Fort Ringgold, and for sew
eral days the water supply was cut off from
the post by the waShouts. The river is
rapidly eating away the United States soil
there and adding it to the domain of Mex
leo.
A few years ago a sudden flood in the Rio
Grande cut off several thousand acres of a
Mexican's sheep ranch below Rio Grande
city and placed it in the United States ter
ritory. On the. ranch were 5000 head of
Mexican sheep. The owner had got them
into this country without paying a cent of
duty on them, and congratulated himself
that the act of God in bringing down the
flood had netted him comfortable sum in
the increased value of his sheep But when
he sold some of the animals and the buyer
started to drive them off the ranch United
States customs officials nterfered The
latter wanted to collect duty on the ami
mails The question of boundary was
brought before the joint boundary commits
sion for settlement, and after an examina-
ton of the premises had been made and
evidence heard a decision was rendered in
favor of the Mexican sheepman.