Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1900-05-05

inture the whole RIO Grande valley and
it's tributary districts. 1t would also
establish a precedent which might in
the future be ~variously applied and
used TO throttle other irrigation enter
prises In this territory; for instance,
those of the Pecos valley and other
sections. II behooves the citizens of
the territory, therefore, to make an em-
phatic n formal protest, and to make
that protest as soon as possible. Gov
ehnor Otero. ever wide awske to the
interests OF the territory, Sss there
fore decided to call a convention to as
seTnble at Albuquerque on May 10 to
protest against the Stephens bill. lie
has Issued the following proclamation:
Executive Office.
Territory of New Mexico,
May 3. 1900.
Whereas, There Is a bill now pending
in & providing for the building
OF ar International dam al Ell Paso,
Texas, and for the equitable distribu-
ton Of the waters of the Rio Grande
river" commonly known as the Ste
phens bill. which, IL enacted into a law,
will work great harm and injury to the
residents OF this territory. not only
along the line OF the Rio Grande river,
but upon all Of its tributaries.
Now, therefore, /, Miguel A. Otero,
governor of the territory Of New Mex
leo, for the purpose OF obtaining an ex-
preston Of opinion from the citizens OF
the territory OF New Mexico upon the
object and purposes of said bill, do
hereby call a delegate convention and
meeting OF the citizens Of the territory
to assemble at Albuquerque on the 18th
day OF May. 1900, there to meet with
the irrigation commission OF this terri
tory to consider the sale bill now pend
ing, n to take such action in the
premises as they may deem for their
best interests.
And for the purpose of forming such
convention, l would urge each board OF
county commissioners to select Ave
delegates TO said conventions; each In
corporated city or town to select three
delegates, and each irrigation company
to select two delegates, n that each
OF said boards, cities and irrigation
companies send a list OF said delegates
to Hon. l.. A Hughes at Santa Fe,
secretary of the irrigation commission,
not later thar the l2th day OF May,
1900.
Don at the executive omce this, the
Sd day of May, A. d. 1900. Witness
my hand inc the great seal OF the ter
ritory of New Mexico.
MIGUEL A. oTERO,
Governor OF Territory Of New Mexico.
BY the Governor: GEO. ii. WALLACE.
Secretary of New Mexico.
The following is the text of the Ste
phens bill as introduced by Representa-
tive ST ephens Of Texas in the house
of representatives:
A bill to provide for the equitable dis
%tribution of the waters OF the Rio
Grande river between the United States
of America and the republic OF Mexico,
and for the purpose OF building an in
ternational dam and reservoir on said
river at Ell Paso, Texas.
whereas, the republic u Mexico has
made reclamation of the United States
to the secretary of state, through its
legation in Washington, for a large in
demnlty for water alleged to have beer
taken n used by the citizens of the
United States in Colorado and New
Mexico, on the headwaters of the Ric
piaiAhNt W Niheh NANLtUS VI AltNlNA
had right by prior appropriation, In
violation Of the spirit OF article 7 OF
the treaty Of peace OF Guadalupe Hi.
dalgo; and,
Whereas. a investigation directed
JOINTLY by the state departments OF
the two republics and carried out bS
the international boundary commission
organized under the convention o
March l, 1899, discovered the fact tina
the flow of the river has gradually di
minlshed for the past fifteen years il
an increasing ratio, 50 that the ordi
nary summers flow in the lower rive
is inadequate TO supply the wants of ir
rigation, domestic n other purposes
as has been supplied In previous years
and,
Whereas, A remedy has been pro
posed by the two governments for thi
deficiency by ~impounding in an inter
national dan and reservoir. near tn
boundary line between the two repub
lies. the annual flood waters OF tn
spring season. which are greatly in ex
cess OF the wants of irrigation, domes
tic and other purposes in those seasons
such waters to be equitably distribute,
btVNttH slHt TWO TcpuDlHtst una,
Whereas. 1t was afterward discov
cred that other like projects of larg,
! dams n reservoirs We're contemplate,
above said proposed international dan
| and reservoir; and,
Whereas, The two governments Joint
ly directed the international boundar!
! commission hereinbefore mentioned 4
5 investigate and report upon the feast
bility OF the project; and.
, Whereas. Said commission reporte,
E that, Units judgment. the project wa
{ feasible, but that the flow was insufn
, Client for more than one reservoir: ant
Whereas, The two governments wer
unable TO agree upon the constructor
OF said proposed international dam an
reservoir until some method OF re
s%training the building and use of othe
/. dams and reservoirs which would de
b stroy the usefulness OF said propose
international dam and reservoir ha
e been devised: now therefore,
Be II enacted by the senate and hous
J. or representatives of the United tSate
e OF America in congress assembled, tina
g nothing in the acts OF March 3, 1891
January n, 1895; February 20, 1897, an
may H. 1888, shall De so construed a
to authorize the appropriation an
storage of the waters OF the ri
e Grande or its tributaries in the teri.
tory of New Mexico to which other
have right by prior appropriation; an
every person and every corporate
10 which shall be guilty of thus unlawful
~ appropriating and storing said wa
tiers in this act mentioned shall L
ie deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, an
=" on conviction thereof shall be punishe
&c by a fine not exceeding 5000, or by in
II prlsonment Qn the case Of a naturi
D. person. not exceeding one year, or I
both such punishments, in the discrl
ton OF the court. The unlawful al
propriatlng and storing Of water in tn
act mentioned may be prevented, al
the dam. reservoir, or other meal
used for mpoundin uha Water may 1