Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1900-05-12
Governor 0tero Issues a ProcIama-
ton Against the Stephens Bill.
MEET IN THIS CITY ON NAY IS.

inlufe the whole llu 0randc valley ANA
It's tributary districts. 40 would also
establish a precedent which might in
the future be- yari0uHly applied and
used 20 throttle other irrigation enter
prises la this territory, tot instance,
those of th4 Pco0s valley aud other
sections. a. behOOvos the citizens OF
The territory. therefore, to make an en-
pnauc and formal protest, ana 90 make
tnat protest az SOON as possible. Gov
ohnor OtcrO, ever vide aw AXE TO the
Interests of the territory. has there
fore decided 10 call a convention to as.
solnblc az Albuquorque 0n May 10 10
protest against the stephens bill lie
has issued the following proclamation.
Executive Omce,
Territory of New Mexico.
May .. iyv0
whereas. There Is bill now pending
in congress providing for the building
OF an international dam az 40 Paso.
Texas. and For the equitable dlstribu-
ton 0f the waters of the Rio urandc
uvcf," commonly known as the Ste
phenH bi.l, which, " enacted into a law,
viii work great harm and injury to the
residents OF this territory not only
along the line OF the Rio 0randu river.
but upon an OF its tributaries.
Now, therefore. J. Miguel A. Otcro.
governor OF the territory OK New Mex
icu. Tor the purpose u obtaining an cx-
preston Of opinion frum tho citizens of
the territory uf New MczlCo upon the
object and purposes of SAID bill. do
hereby call u delegate convention aud
meeting ui the citizens % The territory
to assemble az Albuquerque ON the 18th
day OK May, 1890. there 10 meet with
the irrigation commission OF this terri
tory to- consider the said bill now pend
ing. and 10 take such action IN the
premises as they may deem Tor their
best interests.
And f0r the purpose 0f forming such
convention. / would urgo each board of
county commissioners 30 select live
delegates 90 said convention; each IN.
corporated gity OF town 10 selsct three
delegates. and each irrigation company
90 select two delegates. and that each
uf said boards cities and irrigation
companies send list OF said delegates
to Hon. l.. a. Hughes al santa Re.
secretary Df the irrigation con. mission,
not later than the 18Th day Of May.
1900
Done al The executive ofnoe this, the
% day % May, a. -. 1901. Witness
my hand AID ne great seal Of the ter
rit0ry Of New Mexico.
MIGUEL A. OTERO,
Governor of Territory OF New Mexico.
By the Governor. GEO. n. WALLACE,
Secretary Of Now Mexico.
rhe following s the text OF the Ste
phens bill as introduced By Representa-
tive ~ -phens Of Texas IN the house
~ representatives:
\ bin to provide for the equitable dis
trhution OF the waters OF the Rio
dunde river between the United states
VI America aud The republic OF Mexico,
and Tor this purpose Of building an in
tcrnauonai dam ana reservoir on said
river 80 III Paso. Texas.
Whereas, the republic OF Mexico has
made reclamation VI the United states
To- the secretary OF state, through It's
legation Jon Washington, Tor a large IN
demnity Tor water alleged 90 have been
taken and used by the citizens OF the
United states in Colorado and New
Mexico. on the headWaters OF the lt.o
Graudv, 90 which citizens OF Mexico
had right by prior appropriation. in
violation Of the spirit uf article OF
the treaty pf peace OF Guadalupe lii
dalgo and.
Whereas. an Investigation directed
JOINTLY by the state departments OF
The Two republics aHd carried 0ut by
the International boundary commission
organized under the convention Of
March !. 1899, discovered the fact that
the flow OF the river has gradually az
miulshcd Tor the past hfteen years ia
an Increasing ratio. 10 THAI the ordi-
nary summers How in the lower river
is inadequate to supply The wants Of ir-
rigatiou. domestic uud other purposes,
as has been supplied In previous years;
aud
Whereas. A remedy has been pm.
posed BY The Two governments Tor this
deficiency BY imp0undlng IA an inter-
national dam and reservoir, near the
boundary line between The Two rcpub-
lies. the annual Hood waters Of the
spring season. which are greatly in cx-
cess %; the wants OF irrigation. dOmes-
ne and other purposes IN those seasons.
such waters 10 be equtably distributed
between the Two repubiics and.
Whereas. II was afterward diacov-
cred that other like projects OF large
dams ana reservoirs were contemplated
above said proposed International dam
and reservoir. ana,
Whereas. The Two governments Joint
ly directed the international boundary
commission hercinbrf0re mentioned 10
Investigate and report upon the FEAST
biliiy of jhe project. and,
Whereas, said commission reported
that inlH judgment, the project was
feasible, but that the now Was insufl-
cient Tor moro than one reservoir; and.
Whereas. The Two governments were
unable to agree upon the construction
" said proposed international dam and
reservoir until some method Of re-
straIning the building and use OF other
dams and reservoirs which would do
stroy the usefulness OF said proposed
international dam and reservoir had
been deyisedi now, therefore.
Be 90 enacted By the senate aud house
OF representatives of the United tsates
Of America IN congress assembled, that
nothing In The acts OF March Q, 1891.
January -, 1886 February 20. 1897, and
May ~, lsgs, shall be ~ construed as
10 authorize the appropriation and
storage OF the waters OF the RIO
Grande on its tributaries IN the terri
tory Of New AsNco 20 which others
have right by prior appropriations and
every person and every corporation
which shall bee guilty Of thus unlawful.
~ apprppriating and storing said wa
tcrs IN this aci mentioned shall be-
deemed guilty ~ a misicusan0r, aud
GA conviction thereof shall be- punished
by tine not exceeding 81. OO0. or By inn
prnOnment On .he ease OF natural
person. not exceeding one year. or by
both such punishments IN ihe dlsore-
ton ~ the court The unlawful ~.
prupnutinn and storing OF water in this