El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-27
Matter Is Discussed in Mass
Meeting and Strong Peti-
ton Against It Is Pre-
scented From Clint.

scented From Clint.
II is possible. even probable. that the
taxpayers Of FL Paso county will not
be asked TO vote the proposed 100000
bond issue on February u. for the pur-
pose Of constructing a Ievee along the
southeast to the town Of SOcorro-
An advisory vote. which was evenly
divided was taken at a meeting held IN
the 34th district court room Friday
night 20 determine the sentiment OF
those present relative TO the proposed
issue.
I Sam Gfuett, representing 5S taxpay-
ers Of Clint, Tex. presented petition
protesting against the proposed issue.
1t is possible that enough Of the 10
signers Of the original petition viii
withdraw their names 50 that the bond
issue VIII not be called for.
County judge A. S. J. Eylar opened
the meeting by explaining its purpose
and was selected as chairman TO pre-
side over the proceedings.
Richard L. Burgess was the first
speaker, but stating that he had out
Aneo MS policy through me Hera 4.
and did not care TO go further into IT.
He said that the property owners would
nave 10 consider the conditions OF the
river during two OF three seasons and
not only during one flood season. Fur
Their he said that TO say only the peo-
pie on the river were interested IN the
proposition was too narrow
letter from. ". NJ. Reed district
engineer OF the United States recla-
nation service, was read in which he
said that after the construction Of the
Elephant Butte dam there viii be no
danger OF sufficient water coming down
the Rio Grande to cause floods in FL
PasO-
Engineer FOIett'a Idea.
~. W tolett. consulting engineer
for the international boundary (Water)
commission, declared that the revet-
msnt work done on the Mexican side
Of the river had been constructed at
cOsL OK 50 a foot, and that Il did not
throw the water onto the American
side He agreed that the construction
Of a similar leVee along the American
side would aid in keeping the river in
s straight course, but il would cost
too much and the time to take Up the
strengthening of the river VIII be after
the construction OF the Elephant Butte
dam, he thought
In 1897, the people were padding
boats near the courthouse sQuare-that
was on account Of the floOdgate,' ne
said.
come across the 7. p tracks IS II did
in 1872" p. J. Hadlock asked engineer
River Bed Is Deeper.
1T would have TO have water about
eight feet deeper IA the river now, be-
cause the river bed has been cut down
q number Of feet since that time, said
Follett There is no probability on
earth that water would run down that
channel Of the santa. Fe- But. OF course
II the people can afford 10 spend 50
70 $40 a running foot straight down
this valley on each side OF the river
that would be wen and good, but the
cost would be great and I don't think
you could get 1t"
pilings the engineer said You can Z
ten where the river win got may
90 one way and 1t may 90 another
The soil melts before II like sugar IN
water. ana any attempt 70 straignten
EhB stream increases Che-Iall and con-
secuently increases the eroding pow
er, and the river soon tends to seek It's
natural course Ggain- 50 Tar as can
see from an engineering standpoint
the piling that has been punt On tne
Mexican side has not mad any Lnlng 70
do with forcing the cutoff made tive
years ago which began a mile above
the piling
He said that during October Of 1911
the rise in the river was considerable
and that about 4eeQ cubic feet per sec
ond flowed below the elephant BUTTE
etructed AT the time. the amount com
Ing down the river would have been
about one-third o. an ordinary flood.
r. F. Burgess asked II IL we're not true
that since the construction Of the Ma
coffin cutoff the river had not gained
the length that il had lost above To
this M Follett replied yes and said
that il was trying to regain the SIX
miles below that il had lost above as
q result Of the building Of this cutoff
Martinez Favors Bonds.
Felix Martinez, pleading for the bond
issue said that there should be an
evidence Of. public spirit and every man
should not want everything for himself
nor oppose the issue because il would
benefit others de said that a tree,
washed down the river, had thrown the
waters into the American bank last
year but he and others by protecting
their land at WOodlaWn had thrown
the water across to the Mexican side
Of the river.
Il don't think We ought to have
$500 GOO I think $50, 900 would be
enough for the purpose" he said Il met
the mayor one day on the street. ana,
by the way, we have not been political
friends and suggested to him that We
should have some protection on the
river. He suggested that We have an
Improvement district W went 70 the
chamber OF commerce with the propo-
sitfon and we couldn't raise enough
Protest From Clint.
Then Judge Eytlar suggested that the
other side he heard from and sam Gil
lett. presenting the petition OF protest
from Clint said. gu are doing the
county commissioners g wrong TO ask
them to call this election. There is no
power as I understand fl by which you
could construct q levee along the river
There is no provision for r1prapplng
the river according to law ana II the
would not then you would De en5olneo
from using county road PONDS Tor tne
purpose InLeuuel. = d1H l--ti1I. ~ ~
have signed the petition to withdraw
their names from #.
I am willing t. pay my part. but
we cannot ask the people Of the coun-
there s. danger at the cutoff. pile In
rock The santa Ee protected It's tracks I
that way. We can vote bonds to protect
the county road and believe there IS
enough money In the county treasury |
to protect the river bank.
J. y. fCaEnpbeu SAID you people are 1