El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-14

| as a Rule Evlnce Either Ignorance Oh
| Wilful Desire to Misrepresent tht
| racts.
| The bill introduced in congress TO-
the building of the international dan
near this city by the general govern
ment has not only awakened opposi
ton throughout New Mexico but alsc
in Colorado.
The Rocky Mountain News in re-
cent issue sets forth that the bill is a
menace to the irrigated section of Col
| orado which depends on the waters d
the upper Rio Grande and calls upon
Colorado's representatives to watch tn
progress of the bill closely and defe'-;
it as it now stands. if possible.
1t ridicules the claims of the inhab-
itants of northern Mexico for compen-
sation for the loss of water which had
been theirs time out of mind. and guar
anteed to them under the terms of the
treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. and as
serts that the MeXicans were encour-
aged to present their claims by Ameri-
can boosters of the international dam
project.
The way New Mexico looks at the
matter is shown in the following from
the Albuquerque Citizen:
The people of New Mexico do not
properly appreciate the danger that is
hanging over the territory in the pro-
ject to build an international dam at
FL Paso. Delegate-elect Rodey. Cover
nor Ctero. DR.. Nathan E. Boyd, and
a few others, do appreciate it, and are
working like beavers to prevent the
passage of the Culberson bill. which
embodies the ideas of those who favor
the measure. Gov. Otero is now max
ing a flying trip to Washington in be-
half of the territory on this question.
in the few days that remain to him be-
fore the Legislature convenes at Santa
Fe.
DIR. Boyd who is the American agent
of the bondholders of the Elephant
Butte dam project. is working hard
in Washington against the scheme.
and while primarily fighting for the
rights of his company. is necessarily
fighting the battle of the people of New
Mexico. He should not be put on the
great expense this involves. He has
spohch otl Tic SuDJCSt " CNSiS
senator and congressman, and to all
officials who have anything to do with
the matter and has filed a written ar
gument comprising more than fifty
typewriter pages. before the secretary
of state protesting against it. and
showing to that official how partial
certain reports made to the United
States senate were. owing to either
negligence or partiSanship of the gov
..xIr- LII
Delegate-elect Rodey has filed written
briefs and arguments before the sec
rotary OF state. the attorney general,
and the committee on foreign rela-
lions of the United States senate. be-
sides furnishing copies to several SEN
ators not on the committee. and the
Colrado delegation in congress. Be
sides this he has SPOKEN to many Of
ficials at Washington against the
measure. and has devoted a large part
of his time for about a month
past working against the bill. The peo-
pie of New Mexico from Las Cruces to
Embudo should hold meetings and pro-
test against this iniquity. and send the
adopted to congress for it's
Interested parties at Ell Paso. Texas,
chief among whom is Colonel Arson
Mills. United States official who has
become intensely partisan against New
and Colorado about the matter
and who now resides in Washington
and is occupied solely in fostering this
bill, are aiding the Mexican govern
ment in every way possible in it's de-
mands for damages against our gov
ernment for large sums of money for
alleged injuries to the agricultural in
terests of citizens of Mexico on the
south bank of the river below Ell PaSo
These parties are trying to induce our
government to build a large dam just
above Ell Paso. at it's own cost. and
give half the water collected there to
and prevent everybody living
above the dam from ever hereafter
appropriating any water not already
The passage of law
to this effect will of course forever
paralyZe New Mexico. If the Elephant
Paso. it will supply the whole Mesilla
valley. including Ell Paso. and land
for quite a distance below it on the
American side with plenty of water
without reference to the people of
Mexico to whom we owe nothing
The Mexican government claims.
that because the treaty of Guadalupe
provides that from the south
line of New Mexico to the gulf. where
the center line of the Rio Grande is
the international boundary that the
navigation of the river shall be free
and common to the vessels and citizens
Of both countries. and that neither
shall withuot the others consent con-
struct any work that may impede or
interrupt in whole or in part the exer-
Else of this right. that is the right of
navigation: that this government
must not hermit the construction of