El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-25
THE DAM QUESTION IN THE
TRANSMISSISSIppI CONGRESS
Eel pASO AND THE UPPER
VALLEY-JUSTICE TO ALL.

On at Friday, for the first time,
the proposed international dam at Ell
Paso was the subject of discussion in
an important public body other than
congress. The significance OF this
may best be understood by those who
are familiar with the controversy that
has RACED about the dam ever since !.
was first suggested.
On the frat day OF the Transmissis-
sippi Commercial congress at Hous-
ton, 81. D. Slater, editor of the HER
AID and delegate to the congress
from the Ei Psso chamber of com
merce, introduced resolution en-
dorsiug the building of the dam here,
and at the same TINA expressing the
sense of the congress that nothing
should be done to prejudice the rights
OF the people OF New Mexico and Col
orsdo to their just proportion OF
the waters of the river.
The resolution went to the commit
tee on resolutions in the regular course,
was referred to q subcommittee con-
sisting of Elwood Need, the we'll known
irrig alton expert, OF Wyoming, and
one representative each from Colorado.
New Mexico, and Texas: and finally,
after the most careful coosideration in
ell It's phases, and the changing OF Its
wording In some slight particulars, the
resolution was reported back to the
congress unanimously, just few min
utss be fore the final adjournment, an
passed without dissent. The resolution
Is passed is practically the same as
that originally introduced. and reads
rs follows:
Whereas, 1t is proposed to construct
by the Joint action OF the United States
and Mexico, an international dam
across the Rio Grande a. Ell Paso, and
Whereas, the riparian residents in
Color ado and New Mexico claim that
the construction Of such dam would,
unless otherwise expressly provided,
seriously affect their water supply for
irrigation purposes,
Therefore, be it resolved, thst il is
the sense of this congress thai the
proposed international dam near Ell
Paso should be constructed without IN
necessary delay, in order, first, TO settle
the vexed International dispute that
has long been a source of friction bs
tween the states and territories of the
Rio Graude valley in the Uuited Sta Is
and the northern portion OF Mexico, and
second, to afford relief to the people of
the Rio Grande valley at and below Ell
Paso that have suffered greatly from
lack of water:but we hold emphsticslly |
that no provision should be made by
treaty or by statute that would operate
to deprive the people of New Mexico
or Colorado of their rig tful proportion
OF the water OF the Rio Grsnde.
When it is considered that over a
score of states and territories we're re-
presented in this commercial congress
BY delegates who stood for the very
highest interests of their respective
communities, that every state OF the
"srid belt" was represented, that the
Transmississippi congress Is the most
important public body meeting west of
the great river, and that its proceed
iogs were reported most extensively
and very full reports sent out by wire
to every city in the country, il will be
realized how great i'm portancs is to be
attached to the act of the congress. Ell
Paso's need, and the need of the valley
above US, have gone abroad
TO all the country, and the influence OF
two thirds Of the United States has
been brought to bear upon congress in
the effort to secure the much needed |
relief.
We want the dam. But we want JUS
tice. Especial attention is called to
the latter part Of the resolution quoted
above, which represents the almost
GUS sentiment of the citizens OF
Ell Paso. The HERALD was the fret TO
voice this sentiment, and call for CO.
operative action on the part OF the
people Of FL Paso aud the Pc Ople OF the
upper valley. The sincerity OF the
proposal was questioned in some
quarters. Gould anything be better
yuaran tee of such sincerity than the
ncorpor alton OF the qualifying clause
q the above resolution? This clause
vas In the resolution as originally sub