The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-12
THE WATERS OF RIO GRANDE.

bill introduced Culberson and in the
house by Representative Stephens providing for equitable
distribution Of the OF the Rio Crande and for dam
across that El Paso is the in all its essential
the the subject which before the
last congress and which fsvoraby reported in both
branches has been heretofore pointed in The Post
the proposed brings up question which has dc
manded legislation for long past and the investigation
which has resulted in the expenditure of much time and
money commission OF which General Arson Mills now
retired the head has represented this in the
for time past and under his direction nvestiga
tons have been conducted which have been thorough and
complete and which have necessarily great deal Of
money They have also least human life. that Of
young Cunningham, who drowned while making trip
through canyon Of the river months ago. A large
amount of information regarding the situation. including
measurements lost with his body and
result much OF The work will have be done again
Senator Cuberson General Mills in Texas last fall
and had lengthy conference with him regarding progress
being made r the premises and the general situation
,ted then AS result both he and Representative Stephens
who personally looked the last well
posted the and position push the bill
as rapidly as possible
The fifth article OF the treaty of Guadalupe Hdaeo
tered into by the United and Mexico in 1913 fixed the
boundary line between the republics in the middle OF the
Rio Grande from the southern line of New Mexico the
Gulf OF Mexico The Gadsden treaty Of 1883 modified this
arrangement by making the middle of the boundary
only from the gulf TO the point where the parallel OF 30 min
Ltes and seconds north the river about the
time to time Mexico has made claims against this country for
large of money alleging So much water has been
taken from the headwatcrs Of the river by the people New
mexico and Colorado seriously damage on the
MeN,an side Of the river. This damage according to the
Gains resulted from the alleged fact that the river at FL
Paso. and down the point mentioned above drained as
was points above there did contain water
su'cert to afford proper irrigation the MeNcan farms
cortguous to the waterway in that territory
This being the case the governments entered into an
agreement Whereby General hen Colonel Arson Mill, for
the United States and Senior Osorno for Mexico were in
struced to investigate and the
Of the Rio rande taken by rrgauC this country
the average amount OF water in the river by
prior the construction of the said irrigation canals and the
best and NEST feasible Of regulating the waters Of
thu river as to secure the legal and equitable rights
people Of both countries The order resulting from the agree
ment mentioned was issued May 1906 and IN November
OF the year the commissions fled report This
report was quite elaborate and exhaustive showed among
other things that total OF 1898 canals had taken OUT
o. the river in Colorado and New Mexico p to that time an
increase OF 454 canals and OF acres irrigated in te
sixteen years from up to 1906 With reference n tho
question Of the average water in the river before
the construction of the irrigation canals in question the
mission found that to considerable extent the flow of
the river unavailable, being made up arpelv Of Aood
water during periods Of the year which aood water
IN the absence Of dams or other anpliapce
! essary for storing it, was useless
As to the third question that the best method Of rrc
vdng for just and equitable distribution Of the water tb
commission reported favor OF an international dam across
the river at FL Pao and the construction Of storage
voir at that point The total OF such dam and reser
voT was estimated at $7,3l7II536.
While above stated large portion Of the fo,y of ,b
rveha contributed by floods at ce.ain periods NJ tho
year-was found to be unavailable the commission decided
that the regular flow would be sufficient to supply the n
posed international reservoir after deductions were
all the small reservoirs likely be constructed for STORAGE in
Colorado and for the probable increase in the nrb 80
canals in Colorado and New Mexico
In connection with that part Of the report dealing with tho
last question mentioned the commission made the or
statement II is the opinion Of the joint commission that
Mexico has been wrongully deprived for many war, -
portion OF her equitable rights in the flow of onehalf Of the
waters the Ro Grande at the time OF the treaty Of Guad
lupe Hdaso and II there we're no other evidence - -
tact than the records and measurements ALREADY referred 80
IN TINS report is apparent the eye of anv visitor ~ tt
oo4 "here can he witnessed the dying fruit trees aud
vines inc abandoned heds and dry canals for the greatest
portion that has heretofore been cultivated and Whit.
considering the equitable rights OF Mexico this is , 49,
OF the United States side. where almost the sam.
messed ''' may ne wit
The commission also made a number of recorr,ord
~ INC premises one OF the most important Of which was -
the effect that should he taken to prevent the ,
bom OF dams at points in New Mexico or elsewhere eon H.
b % De readily apparent when recalled that am F
he having mad access through OF its agents f
dam prepared under the direction OF the
oceT and perhaps otheps were e1 me up the This
s courts but the decision OF the lower court was sd
fse 10 the government and the was anneaIed "u-
uH having been remanded further btarnc low
Ssva ~ various other ways, is again before The a
~ WIN no prospect Tor decision being handed do, Us
Hedi tuIuie his litigation we'll as the absenc m
G ~ 'n Ii when this government considered e.
nas ueayed the progress Of the negotiations ana
as f lang results are concerned the matter is
80 nun 's'''emeht as 1t has ever been ''Na'y
IN the meantime the avulsions, erosions etc ,,bSch
S's.'n,y occurring IN the bed Of the river have bt
noou' pe'peNns complications regarding the proper
o 'e TWO countries The frequent changes in he
ou'se Of me stream cause what are known as ob |
many instances former citizen OF Mexico NAV ,;,t ana
States Side oS nsa himself and his property on the United
ana II Is devoutly he hoped that tb IS very
has S ne s9le to do something toward reiiepe con
m o.ephens are familiar with the facts IL represent