Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-08-30

For four years Delegate Roaey hai
stood between New Mexico and tht
land sharks who are vorking Ter 4 na
tlonal appropriation Of 5000. 900 for
dam III ri raao, and incidentally 4
deprive the people u Che greater parl
Of New Mexico Of their vater rights
The state department has been favor
able to The claims of Mexico for dam
ages which are ID be llautdatel Nj
building the proposed international
dam and giving onehaif Of the Watei
to thar republic although Attorney
General Harmon has ruled that Moxit
"a has 10 equitable claim agaInat
tho United States. either BY treaty
right or by the comfy 81 nations. n
The waters Of the Itio Grande
and thai Il would be unjust % say
tho least. 10 deprive the citizens IL The
United States OF wafer or any other
rights FOR the benefit of foreigners.
still the claim for damages by Mex
leo has grown from Sc, 00o. 900 10 500.
100000. and the Texas delegation III
congress, the Mexican government
and the land sharks ut E1 Paso VIII
make q determined effort during the
next session III congress III secure
Legislation 10 build a dam az III pase
with an initial appropriation OF $4,000.
600 and an eventual expenditure ont
of the irrigation fund OF 10000, 600 II
must be remembered that every III.
ternationai dam bill thus far intro
duccd and every bill that will DO In.
troduced. bears the provision that not
an additional drop Of water Is to be
appropriated by the people Of New
Mexico from the Rio Grande and IT'S
tributaries above El Paso. The meas.
ure therefore affects Santa Fe, Taos.
Abiquiu, Albuquerque and every settle
ment and farm from the source OF the
Rio Grande TO Ei Paso. and along
every D or its numerous tributaries.
In other words II Is proposed to re:
tard all further development along ir.
rlgation lines in the greater part OF
New Mexico for tho benefit OF land
spectators At u paao and the people
living on the Mexican side OF tho Rio
Grande. How immediate this danger
looms up. ia indicated by the follow
Ing correspondence between Delegate
d. s. Rodey and the department d
the interior.
Albuquerque. NJ NJ. July q. 1904,
The Honorable Secretary Of the In
terror. Washington. u. q.
sir-I desire 10 cali your attention
70 the condition Of the Rio Grand,
valley fl New Mexico With rcfercnc.
10 wafer for irrigation The peopl,
from Albuquerque south ID ri PAS
have been practically without wnte
for irrigating purposes this entir,
summer. owing 70 the continuct
drouth There Will. u~nquesuonably
be suffering among tho people. d
most Of them in the lower end OF IN
valley arc poor farmers. who have n
other means o. support than iron
their small farms.
The reclamation service has recent
ly been considered the project o
building q diyerting dam In the lowe
end OF the valley with a view 10 turn
ing the water on The fields. that IL no
available 10 TIM residents: and. also
with q view OF employing the labor o
the valley ID constructing such L dam
and thus giving the poor people /
chance 10 support themselves this fan
This indeed would be a blessing II 1
could be done, and ! hope N viii i,
done.
7 desire TO call your attention. Mr.
Secretary 20 the condition of thn MI
Grande valley In New Mexico undei
the reclamation service. Tho tcrrltor,
and It's people are Tied hand and foo