Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-08-19
SECRETARIES PLAN
CONSERVATION MEET
AT BROWNSVILLE MIDWINTER
FAIR IN JANUARY
Will Urge on Two Governments the
Need Of Conserving Rio Grande
Water for Irrigation Purposes.
Preliminary Meeting in October.

Preliminary Meeting in October.
At the meeting Of the Rio Grande
Commercial Secretaries Association.
held at Mercedes Saturday after
noon, it was decided hold a con
vention Of citizens of the Valley and
Of interested citizens in Mexico, in
this city during the Midwinter Fair,
for the purpose of discussing the
conservar ion OF the waters of the
Rio Grande river for irrigation pur-
poses.
A preliminary convention to ar
range for the larger convention is to
be held in Brownsville October >.
Citizens of the Valley will be asked
to attend and take par. For this
preliminary convention, the COM
mercial secretaries will meet at Nc
Allen on the 9th of this month %
arrange details.
The association turned down a
proposition from the San Antonio
Chamber of Commerce in which the
latter organiza ion desired that the
Rio Grande association join it in
making a display at the Chicago
Land Show, to be held from Novem-
har % ~ naoao, ha. .
San Antonio, it seems, is endeav-
Oring to have all the territory tribu-
tary to it. north, east, south and
west, make displays under its name.
The Rio Grande association does not
believe that the crops of the Valley
were Of the same nature. season and
all, as that of the other sections, and
50 turned down the proposition. The
expense to the association would
have been from $4,000 TO $4,000
The discussion Of this matter took
up most of the time of the meeting.
Dr. w. F. Cole Of Harlingen read
a paper and offered a resolution ask
ing that the association call a meet
ing to be held at Brownsville October
;, to devise ways and means to ac-
complish the following objects:
First-To petition the federal
government, in conjunction with
that Of Mexico. to proceed at the
earliest moment to conserve and dis
ribute the waters of the Rio Grande
for irrigation purposes.
Second-To outline some neces-
sary legislation to make our irriga-
ton laws more effective and just.
Third-To devise ways and means
to impress the federal government
with the Importance of securing
deep water at Brazos Santiago.
This paper was endorsed by the
association and the meeting called
in accordance with Or. Coles sug-
| gestions.
Following is DR., Coles paper:
Gentlemen Of the Commercial
| Secretaries Association. am
pleased to address you, the represen-
-atives- Of the commercial associa-
tions of the Lower Rio Grande Val
associations made up Of the
most enterprising, patriotic and best
citizens Of every community in the
VALLEY. Therefore, I beg that yor
will call a convention to meet il
the city Of Brownsville, Texas, OF
IOctober ;, 1912, to devise ways ant
means to accomplish the follOwin!
objects:
"First-To petition the fedora
government. in conjunction witt
that of Mexico, to proceed at tn
earliest moment to conserve and dis
tribute the waters Of the Rio Grand
for irrigation purposes.
Second-To outline some nee
esSary legislation to make our irri
{ cation laws more effective and just.
! Third-To devise ways and mean
TO impress The federal governmen
with the Importance Of securin
$ deep water at Brazos Santiago.
g In moving in this matter, ! do
I because other more able do not CON
g forward az This time. The tin
J seems opportune. We have il
e creased in wealth and population
:. and our commercial organization
n have developed unity Of interest
# With the cooperation Of the pre-
we may be able to push all Of The
K to a successful issue.
lie The federal government has e
II pended more than forty millions
Is dollars on irrigation projects we
Id of the Missouri river, but not @
to cent in Texas. The governme
O. never owned any public lands
re Texas. but it controls the waters
n the Rio Grande. because it is
is nayigable stream and because il
An internat nal boundary. TheI