El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-31

Grande valley or its tributaries ought
to be enjoined pending the settlement
of the international Dam question.
The grant for the Elephant Butte
dam had been made by the secretary
of the interior. The state department
wanted the interior department to re-
woke the permit, but Secretary Fran
els replied that he had no power to re-
woke his predecessors approval. Then
Secretary Oluey had brilliant
thought. He evolved the theory that
the Rio Grande was technically ma
vigsble stream, and thus subject to the
Jurisdiction of the secretary Of war.
Not having the necessary permit from
the war department the Elephant
Butte dam was lost.
But not forgotten.
The Elephant Butte people have
since been trying to dissolve the in
junction procured against them, AID
the litigation has been long drawn out
and expensive. It will be rememb ered
that at Las Cruces last December a
trial was held to determine the facts as
to the uaviRability of the river and the
probable effect of the proposed dam up
on such navigability. The decision
favored the Elephant Butte people,
but was appealed by the government.
The United States has repeatedly,
through its agents and tscitly by Of
fetal com pliance, recognized the JUS
tice of Mexico's claim for damages
arising from the excessive diversion of
water in Colorado aud New Mexico in
alleged violation of treaty rights. The
United States government engineers
have practically decided that the dam
age WAS done in Colorado alone, and
that the worst is over. But, Mexico's
claim having been accepted as valid,
redress must follow.
Is appears that the international
dam is the only solution, except the
payment of an absurd number of mill
lions of good American dollars. that
will satisfy Mexico. Incidentally the
intern ational dam will benefit some |
thirty-fve thousand residents of the |
United States, but very little thought
seems to have been expended on the |
claims of our own citizens. However,
again there is no need to question
motives or means, if the results are
satisfactory.
Our engineers have repor ted again |
and again that there would not ordinari- |
1y,be enough water in the Rio Grande to |
supply the two proposed gigantic res
ervOirs, and that one of the schemes
must give way to the other. This |
Is an extreme statement, and doubtless |
if one project were reduced to a some
what smaller scale both could be re-
allied. 1t is probable that after the |
international dam is built another |
large reservoir will be provided for |
above Ell Paso in New Mexico. II this |
Ia done the dam should be built under
government supervision and the con-
troll of the wsterfow should be vested
in the national government, so as to
insure the filling of the Ell Paso dam
first, the upper dam to have the sur
plus. But such Supervision would in
sure the fairest treatment of all and
the most equitable distribution of
vocated, not fought against.
It is to be regretted that New
Mexico and. Colorado should have
got the idea that. Ell Paso is working
against their interests. The thought
of interfering with existing irrigation
arrangements in Colorado has
probably never entered the
head of anyone except those
ridiculous and absurdiy arrogant gov
eminent attorneys, Messrs. Burch and
Sutton. And as for New Mexico,
every Ell Paso business man recognizes
that the interests of the southern half
Of the territory are Identical with his
own. Such has been this loyalty to
DUR northern neighbors that many Ell
Pasoans bave actually worked to the
prejudice of the international dam be.
cause they wanted to help the upper
valley.
There should be an end to the OBJ ,
structive friction between Ell Paso and
New Mexico, or rather between the
advocates of the International dam
and the advocates of the Elephant
Butte dam. ,
Why not map out right now course =,
Of action, program that shall be ad- ,
hered to until it's end is accomplished? ,
The HERALD believes 1t voices the
honest sentiment of every loyal citizen
Of Ell Psso when II says, Let New Mex {
leo and Colorado join the fifty thous-