Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-08-07

tHt HtttihSy 6thtini VI tue thitcu
States, in 1895 | think, he decided
against it, and announced the doc
trine that appeals to the good sense
OF every person, whether such per-
son is a lawyer or not, that is. that
there is nothing in the community of
nations that obliges one people TO bur
den their catchment areas with any
servitude In favor OF the people OF
another nation to the detriment Of
themselves. He also announced II as
his opinion that there was nothing In
the treaties between the United States
and the republic Of Mexico that
obliged the former to in any manner
deprive its own people OF water for
the benefit of the citizens Of the re-
public Of Mexico.
II II had not been for the manage
ment Of the Elephant Butte Dam Co,
particularly DR.. N. r.. Boyd, who kept
watch of the parties interested in this
international dam for more than
three years, at a time when New Mex
leo was paying little or no attention
to the matter, the Stephens bill would
long ago have been law. Or. Boyd
spent 1880 per month for more than
three years in living at Washington,
and employing counsel fighting these
parties who were trying to get the
Stephens bill passed. and he prevent
ed them many times from getting rid
ers inserted in offensive looking leg
islation that would have accomplished
their purpose and been the ruin Of
New Mexico. This territory has new
er paid a cent Of that money back 10
DR.. Boyd. The national government,
without a Bit OF right In law or equity,
i%nstigated by the interests that are
AID Rodey on International Dam. !.
behind this International dam, has
prosecuted DR.. Boyd and his company
with litigation for the | asst seven
years, and now the government has
a bill TO forfeit all his rights and the
rights Of hts company. after he has
spent two fortunes trying TO give an
irrigation system to the Mesilla val.
ley. Some day the history OF that
matter will be wpitten, and people who
understand little about 1t now will see
the outrage that has been perpetrated
against the Elephant Butte Dam com
pany under cloak OF national author
ity. | unhesitatingly pronounce the
battle that has been waged against
the Elephant Butte Dam company,
and know whereof | speak. as an out.
rageous conspiracy that never ought
have been tolerated for . single mo-
ment; and II our government treats
the company right, or intends to do
justice at all. It will compensate the
Elephant Butte Dam company In
some proper way before It takes Its
property and consumates Its ruin.
Now that we have the irrigation law,
II might be well for government
TO control the entire Rio Grande, blu,
1t ought to do SO only after having
paid for all previously acquired pri-
vate rights.
II Is not wise at this time for FL
Paso. or any Of the interests behind
the international dam. 10 force this
matter. There ID . great law suit
pending between the state OF Kansas
and the state Of Colorado In the 81.
preme court OF the United States.
which when determined will settle
the question as to what. II any, inter.
state rights exist az to interstate riv-
ers with reference 10 the a~ppropria.
tion OF water, New Mexico should
employ counsel and Join the litigation,
because her rights with reference to
the waters OF her own catchment
areas will be forever settled In that
suit.
New Mexico. because OF the long
residence within her borders OF tho
farming Pueblo Indians. has the most
ancient right to the waters OF the Rio
Grande--inhnitely better than that Of
the republic Of Mexico. or Of the
state Of Texas, Apart from this. New
Mexico should insist upon the appar-
emily proper doctrine that there Is no
such thing as an international prior
appropriation OF waters, and that
there Is nothing in the community OF
nations obliging thee people Of one
nation. or any part Of t. to deprive
themselves Of any comfort or neces.
sity for the benefit VI people not be.
longing TO that government. however
humane Il might be TO do so.
Its advocates propose To build this
international dam at q cost Of per
haps 81. 1000, 900 to this government: 70
cede a piece OF Tho public domain Of
the United States to the Republic of
Mexico so that the southern end Of