El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-25
On The Dam Question That
Means Cooperation And
EARLY Success.
THE PLAN OUTLINED
In a Resolution Adopted BY
The |ransmissis sippi Com
merciaI Congress And
Commended Locally

TIE position of the HERALD In the
international dam question is receiv.
Ing universal 'commendation. That FL
Paso, Juarez and the valley below
must have the international dam Is
conceded by all. Ga the other band
this paper has always held that nothiu e
should be done to deprive the people
Ct New Mexico of water.
At the Transmississippi congress
Just closed a resolution introduced by
81. d. Slater, delegate from the Ell Pa 20
cham Der of commerce, and editor of
the HER AID, was passsd embodying
this view. The resolution was printed
in full 10 the HERALD last Saturday
In part it says:
| Therefore, be it resolved, that it il
the sense of this congress that the
proposed international dam near Ell
| Paso should be constructed without uu-
| necessary delay, in order, first, to settle
| the vexed International dispute that
has long been sOurce of friction be-
| tween the states and territories of the
Rio Grande valley iu the United States
and the northern portion of Mexico,
aud, second, to afford relief to the
people OF the Rio Grande valley ct and
below Ell Paso, that have suffered great
iy from lack of water; but we hold en-
ph attcslly 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 rightful
proportion of the water of the Rio
Grande.'
Today HERALD reporter inter
viewed number Of prominent citizens
on this all important question. Here
are some OF the expressions obtained.
TWO DAMS PREFERABLE TO NONE
w. g. Walz-I have always pre-
ferred to have two dams rather than
no dam. | would rather have the in
ternational dam than the other dam.
but If there is going to be fight about
it let's have both dams.
NAY BE DIFFICULT TO ADJUST
j. b. Comstock-I am afraid it will
be hard matter 70 settle. for this
reason: if 1t was all in one state and
under one administration it could be
easily managed, but here are three
Texas, New Mexico and Colorado,
each with different laws. OF course,
there Is q general control by the gov
ernment and that may enable matters
to be strengthened out. If they would
I'LL the lower dams first 1t looks as if 10
might be all right as some seem to fear
that If the upper ones are filed first
there Will not be enough left over to
hll the others. 1t looks to me, how
ever, as II the flood waters would be
enough for all If properly handled.
TIE MAYORS VIEWS.
Mayor Magotfin-I think that is the
proper Idea. L see no reason why the
water rights of New Mexico and this
vicinity should not be properly sud
=quitabiy adjusted. We do not wish
10 deprive any peopls above Us of
'helr rights. Oae thing that may aid
considerably in the adjustment of this
lues tion Is that Nsw Mexico is q ter
'ltory and under the government of
ne United States ard hance.auy Gecis-
on arrived at by congress must settle
GIVE ALL THEIR JUST DUES
Capt. j. 81. White-I think the
government should ADJ lst the riparian
lights of the people 50 that all y III get
heir just dues.
FAIR PLAY TO ALL
County Judge J. K. Ha-pcr-As
ave said all along We want thu inter
ational dam. We do not want to
ght any one and we do not want to be
laced Ia the light of fighting any one.
lew Mexico needs water as badly as
'e do. 1t is possible that If this inter-
ational dam would bs built it would
eed a provision of congress to allow
ther enterprises OF the same sort to
We anywhere on the Rio Grsnde In
lew Mexico or Colorado.
Here the judge read the provision of
he Stephens bill which forbids the im-
oundfng of water in the river in New