Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-24

$1J0.O0O building: twelve modern and well
equipped schoolhouses, a public library,
and other evidences of culture and refine
ment.
There are two new hotels. both Of
them quite pretentfous. There are
several banks with large deposits, and
ing and agricultural machinery in the
United States has a branch house or
an agent here.
The future prosperity of Ell Paso.
however. depends upon agriculture.
The mines may give out. but the soil
never, and it only needs the irrigation
that the reclamation service is now
preparing to furnish to become one OF
the largest producing sections In the
United States.
The source of supply is the wide
watershed of the Rio Grande. which
rises in the eternal snow banks of the
Rocky mountains in Central Colorado.
flows southwark through the middle
of New Mexico, and then turns east
ward at Ell Paso. where it becomes the
southern boundary of the United
States. until it empties into the Gulf OF
Mexico. Numerous streams born IN
the mountain SHOWS contribute to Its
volume of water, but after the snow
melts and the spring floods are over
most Of them shrivel up to tiny rivu-
lets. or else go dry altogether.
Work of Reclamation Service.
In order to conserve the spring floods
and furnish a perpetual supply OF
water when it is most needed the re-
clamation service is building a dam set
in a narrow gorge of the river 40
miles north of Ell PasO. 1t will be
1.4OO feet long and 275 feet high; will
create a lake covering 10000 acres OF
kold
water: that is enough to cover an area
of $500, 900 acres one foot deep.
There are other contributory dams for
the regulation of the flow of water and
for its distribution over an area of $780,
OOO acres, of which 5000 acres lie In
old Mexico, 10000 acres in New Mexico
and the remainder in Texas. BY a. treaty
between Mexico and the United States Tor
the division of the waters of the Rio
Grande, which belong to both nations
equally. the United States agreed to de-
liver 1000 acre-feet of water a year to
irrigate $1,000 acres on the Mexican side
Of the boundary. and that will be done
in good faith. For this work Congress
has appropriate da million dollars direct
ly from the Treasury. The owners of the
remaining $4,000 acres will pay the rest
of the expense at the rate In ten annual
inStallments, but no person VIII be al
lowed to have water for more than ICY
acres, that being the maximum allowed
by law.
Already large portion of the land has
been taken up and is being cultivated for
all kinds of grain, forage plants and vege
tables No crop ever fails and there is a
market for everything that can be raised.
Effect of Mexican Revolution.
The Mexican revolution has been a
seriously interrupted the business Of the
city. Railway connections on the south
have been practically cut off. The entire
state Of Chihuahua is paralyzed: there is
not thing doing.
The Mexican Central railroad Is torn I'D
for more than three hundred miles, and
the FL Paso and Southwestern, which
runs toward the Gulf Of California to i'm
portant mining properties, is completely
dfsorganized. This. of course. compels a
general suspension of mining and trade
and many hacienads have been abandon
ed. Several towns have been destroyed;
others are In possession of the insur-
rectos. The city of Chihuahua Is in a
state of siege. and Juarez, which lies
across the river from Ell Paso and is con-
nected by a trolley line. is in state of
hysteria.
1t is not an organized revolution, how
ever There is no central authority, no
head or junta directing the movement of
troops, but the state of chihuahua and
d
state of terrorism. They are swarming
with bands OF guerrillas, bandits and out
laws, each under its own leader and
operating on its own account.
Francisco 1. Madero. who was can
didate for president Of Mexico against
Diaz last December. started the move
ment, but cannot direct it. He woke up
the monster of disorder and destruction,
but cannot control It, No one can speak
for the guerrillas, for almost every band
10 for odx
command of irresponsible persons. in
Guiding several deserters from the United
States Army and other American ad-
venturers, who are we'll known as bad
men" I'm San Antonio, Ell Paso. Tucson
and other places along the border.
One OF the most energetic Of the guerrilla
leaders was recently a freight conductor
on the Southern Pacific railroad. 1 read a
letter from him to one of his former crew
advising him to come down and join the
revolution. He said he had already
NOR than ten thousand dollars worth
of plumber slowed away in a safe place,
and knew where to lay his hands on
500, 600 more.
Diaz Is Powerless.
The question is. why does not Diaz put
this movement down? And the answer Is
that he would if he could. but Is power
less. His rurales. or country police, are
loyal. but are too few in number. His
regular army is insufficient. and he dare
not withdraw the garrison from any post
for fear of outbreaks. The entire popu-
lation is so imperilled and agitated with
the present movement that the slightest
excuse is likely to provoke insurrection
anywhere. Diaz dare not attempt to raise
q volunteer army. because it could not
be trusted. Already there has been much
trouble with the regular troops in Chi
huahua because Of their sympathy with
the insurrectos. There have been sew
eral mutinies, and the officers are COM
pelled to use the greatest tact and diplO-
macy in order to get any work out Of the
troops. And even II an army could be
depended upon, it would require a hun
bred thousand men to suppress the out
laws in Chihuahua and Sonora. because
of the mountains in which they could
find refuge and the sympathy OF the
peon classes throughout the entire state.