Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-05-04
CONVENTION CALLED
Governor Otero Issues a Proclamation
for a Convention to Protest
Against the Stephens Bill
AT ALBUQUERQUE ON MAY Is
Vital Interests In New Mexico Are Threat
ened By the Stephens Bill for the
Construction of the Interna-
tional Dam.

tional Dam.
| The sentiment of New Mexico Is prac-
| tically unanimous against the Stephens
bill, but unless that sentiment is ex-
| pressed in formal manner 1t will have
no weight with congress. The danger
that threatens the most vital interests
of New Mexico Is not an imaginary one
and If the Stephens bill is allowed tC
pass it will not only ruin the agricul-
tural and horticultural prospects of the
Mesilla valley, but Will injure the whole
Rio Grande valley and its tributary dis
tricts. 1t would also establish prece-
dent which might in the future be va
| riously applied and used to throttle 9TH
er irrigation enterprises in this terri
tory; for instance, those of the pecos
valley and other sections. 1t behooves
the citizens of the territory. therefore,
| to make an emphatic and formal pro-
test, and to make that protest as soon
| as possible. Governor Otero, ever wide
| awake to the interests of the territory,
| has therefore decided to call a conven-
| ton to assemble at Albuquerque on
May Is to protest against the Stephens
PROCLAMATION.
Executive Office,
Territory of New Mexico,
May g. 1900
ic n limo
in congress providing for the building
of an international dam at Ell Paso,
Tex, and "for the equitable distribu-
ton of the waters of the Rio Grande
river" commonly known as the Ste
phens bill, which, if enacted into 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, I, Miguel A. Otero,
governor Of the territory of New Mexi-
co, for the purpose of obtaining an ex-
preston of opinion from the citizens of
the territory of New Mexico upon the
object and purpose Of said bill, do here
by call delegate convention and meet
ing Of the citizens of the territory to as
semble at Albuquerque on the 18th day
of May, 1900, there to meet with the ir-
rigation commission of this territory to
consider the said bill now pending, and
to take such action in the premises as
they may deem for their best interests.
And for the purpose of forming such
convention, would urge each board of
county commissioners to select five del
egates to said convention: each incor-
porated city or town to select three del
egates, and each irrigation company to
select two delegates, and that each of
panies send a list of said delegates to
Hon. l.. A. Hughes at Santa Fe, secre-
tary of the irrigation commission, not
later than the 18th day of May, 1900.
Done at the executive Office this, the
Sd day of May, A. d. 1900. Witness my
hand and the great seal of the territory
Of New Mexico.
MIGUEL A. OTERO,
Governor of Territory of New Mexico.
BY the governor: GEO. H. WALLACE,
Secretary of New Mexico.
TEXT OF THE BILL.
The following is the text of the Ste
phens bill as introduced by Represent
ative Stephens 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 Mexi-
co, and for the purpose of building an
International dam and reservoir on said
river at Ell Paso, Tex.
Whereas, The republic of Mexico has
made reclamation of the United States
to the secretary of state, through its
legation in Washington, for large in
demnity for water alleged to have been
taken and used by the citizens of the
United States in Colorado and New
Mexico, on the headwaters of the Rio
Grande, to which citizens of Mexico
had right by prior appropriation in vio-
lation Of the spirit of article of the
treaty of peace of Guadalupe Hidalgo:
and,
Whereas, An investigation directed
| jointly by the state departments OF the
| two republics and carried out by tine in
ternational boundary commission Or
ganized under the convention of March
l, 1899, discovered the fact that the flow
Of the river has gradually diminished
for the past fifteen years in an in
creasing ratio SO that the ordinary
summers flow in the lower river is in
adequate to supply the wants Of irriga-
tion domestic and other purposes, as
has been supplied in previous years
and,
| Whereas, A remedy has been proposed
by the two governments for this def
cheney by impounding in an interna-
tional dam and reservoir, near the
boundary line between the two repub-
lies, the annual flood waters Of the
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 distributed
between the two republics and,
Whereas, 1t was afterward discovered
that other like projects Of large dams
and reservoirs were contemplated
above said proposed international dan
and reservoir; and,
Whereas, The two governments joint
ly directed the international boundar,
commission hereinbefore mentioned t.
investigate and report upon the feast
bility Of the project; and,