Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-09-06
CONSIDER LOCAL
CANAL SITUATION

the members of the Chamber of
Commerce resulted yesterday after
noon in a committee being appointed
to investigate the present situation
on the canal, in order TO see what
can be done to provide the farmers
with water. Four farmers and a
business man of Brownsville con-
stitute the committee and they will
meet today at one o'clock to work
on the matter. They are George
Federolf, A. n. Tandy. Col. d. P.
Gay, Fred Rusterberg, and ". E.
McDavitt.
1t was brought before the meeting
that the sale of the system of the
Brownsville Irrigation Co. will take
place on Oct. 1. at Houston, and II
anything is to be done it must be
done at once. The suggestion for
the appointment of the committee
was made by Judge w. E. Hawkins,
who stated that they should investi-
gate the entire subject under con-
s~ideration, and advise and submit
some Gan which in their judgment
would prove best.
Col. d. P. Gay stated that he had
direct information that the trust
rpmpany that holds the indebted
ness against the irrigation company,
will positively sell the canal and all
rights. The law, he said, would not
permit the trust company to operate
it. and they intend to sell the system
piece-meal if need be, to get their
money out of it.
r. G. Wharton, who represented
the Ohio & Texas sugar mill, stated
that the company had very little idle
land, and that they were the largest
individual users of water on the
system. Mr.. Wharton went into the
history Of the system, and called at
~tention to some of its defects. He
said that the system had to be solo
under the hammer to rid itself OF {
lot Of bad contracts handed down tc
it by the former company.
Mr.. Wharton stated that his PEG.
pie would be glad to subscribe a ta1
for the upkeep of a canal system. anc
that such a system would have t
be kept up by a tax on all the land
cultivated or uncultivated. He also
suggested a rental for the amount
of water used. He was Of the opin'
ion that it would prove best for the
company to be sold under the ham
mer. and then reorganized upon q
different working basis.
Judge Hawkins, in making hi:
motion for the appointment OF q
committee, suggested that the com
mittee employ a lawyer, and that
the expenses of the committee DC
borne, one-half by the farmers and
one-half by the Chamber of Com
merce. His motion was carried
without dissent, and the committee
was then appointed by President j
B. Scott of the Chamber Of Com
merce. That all present were will
ing to pay an annual water tax on
all their lands, was evidenced when
Col. Gay moved that every farmer
stand up and show his willingness
to do so.
1t was suggested that an irriga-
Ition district be formed. and an cleo
ton held to vote bonds for the pur-
pose of buying the present system OF
constructing a new one.
All suggestions made during the
meeting will be considered by the
committee.
w. s. Blackshear. speaking as a
farmer, and a citizen of Brownsville,
stated that he had heard criticisms
of the indifference of the business
men Of the city to the farmers. TIC
said that what's every mans bust
ness is nobody's business but that
he had talked to merchants, bank
ers and others, and had lever seen
people more willing to come to the
aid of formers when they were in
need. The farmers offered a vote OF
thanks to the business men for the
interest they have taken in the mat
ter.
-O--
SCHOOL BEGINS MONDAY.