Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1900-07-27
INTERNATIONAL DAM.
Why Consulting Engineer foIlett, Of
Boundary Commission, Resigned.
the MEXICAN BOUNDARY LINE.

W. w FOiittlf COntuillnk NutAhtEi VI
the International water boundary COM
mission In at Santa Fe on a business
trip. He said that IL was true that he
had resigned hrs position with the com
mission. but that the III Paso and Den
yer papers were wrong in attrfbuting
this action to any open breach between
himself and Colonel Anson Mills. head
o. the commission, over the Elephant
Butte dam AFFAIR. Their personal re-
lations. he said. remained entirely
friendly. but a difference OF opinion
arose between them as 20 the prosecu-
ton Of hts work as CONSULTING engineer,
and as Colonel Mills had been instru-
mental in securing him the position in
the first place. he thought st best to re-
tire and leave the way clear for the
government to name an engineer who
might look at things more in accord
ance with Colonel Mnils' ideas. Paul ID.
Cunningham OF Tennessee. nov in
Cuba. has been appointed Mr.. Follett's
successor. and viii reach Ell Pas and
enter upon his duties August 10.
WATER COMMISSIONS DUTIES.
The linked States-Mexico water
DblihItAI1 SUBMISSION " VI
Colonel Mills. a retired army officer,
receiving the pay OF colonel. represent
ing the United States; General ia
cobo Blanco. representing the Mexican
government, and a consulting engineer
appointed by the American govern.
ment IL was organized to settle dis
putee between the two countries arising
from the constant shifting OF the inter
national boundary line through the err
ratic behavior Of the Rio Grande. By
treaty the boundary Is fixed at the GEN.
te- OF h river channel; when the
channel moves by erosion or deposit the
boundary moves with 1t. but when the
channel moves by avulsiun-that is,
abandons Cts old course and the river
cuts for itself a new c~hannel-then the
old channel remains the boundary. I'm
de- the treaty these cutoffs remain UNI
de- the Jurisdiction Of the county from
which they are cut. Thus Il often hap
pens by the shifting of the stream that
Unfted States territory IL left on the
ives: side OF the river adjoining Mexico
and Mexican territory Is left lying east
OF the river adjoining the Texas state
line. These CUTOFF sections are called
"~bancos" Between Rio Grande City
and the gulf are some sixty OF these
cut-offs, and they constitute a source
OF never ending trouble and annoyance
arising from the use OF water for trri-
gstion, and other contentious between
border settlers, which the commission
inuet look into and report upon. The
United States has for Ave years endea-
vored TO induce Mexico to agree to
eliminate the provision respecting these
"bancos' and make the center OF the
normal channel the true boundary line
between the two countries. bu6 there
are details which the Mexican govern
ment has thus far refused TO agree to,
THE Ell PAso SCHEME.
In speaking of h Ell Paso projected
government dam, Colonel Mills fight
on the Elephant Butte dam and the
use of waters in the Rio Grande. En-
gtneer Follett appears to be In cordial
sympathy with Colonel Mills we'll
known ideas on these subjects. He said
the Colorado farmers were chiefly re-
sponsible for the lac OF water in the
loves Rio Grande: that there had been
no marked increased use of the waters
In years by the people of New Mexico
As 10 the International dam project al
FL Paso. Mr.. Follett considered u
doubtful is a bill appropriating 81, 500.
900 for its construction win ever pas,
congress unless some administration ir
full control OF al the branches OF gov.
ernment takes II up and pushes II as a
strictly party measure.
THE ELEPHANT BUTTE CASE.
The status OF the legal controversy
over the Elephant Butte dam was asked
about. He said the case was pending
on appeal by the government from
Judge Farker's district 10 the terrific
rial supreme court, and a decision IL
expected next month. The main ques-
ton az issue IL whether the construc.
ton of the dam and the enlarged US,
OF water for irrigation that will follow
VIII materially interfere with the navt,
gability Of the Rho Grande at the pom
where Il IL now considered navigable-
that is, between Rio Grande CITY
which is 500 miles below Fl Paso, an,
the mouth Of the river. Judge Parke
ruled that Il would not. The govern
ment rhen asked for more time 10 pre-
sent testimony tending to show IN,
contrary. and Judge Parker declined q
grant IL, From this ruling appeal wa.
taken 20 the territorial supreme cou
-