Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-12-21
IMPORTANT STEP
FORWARD IN THE
CANAL PROJECT
Chairman OF Commission for Equitable
Distribution Rio Grande Water Assured
Matter Can be Pushed Regardless Of
Mexican Situation.
SEC. PIPES SAYS SURVEY CAN
BE MADE ON THIS SIDE NOW
Wires and Writes Commission That There
is Nothing in Way TO Cause Delay in
Proposition for Impoundng Waters Of
the Rio Grande.

Canal men. farmers and others i'm the
Lower Rio Grandc VALLEY are watching
with interest the progress of the Shep.
pard Joint resolution through the senate
Tor survey of the Lower Rio Grande
a. to the praclicability of proper plans
for imIoundins its flood waters. The
resolution j. being urged in the House
~ Representative John y Garner. who
l. placing the matt'4. before the proper
rummittcr with the assistance 81 John W.
Gaines. chairman ~ the commission for
The equitable distribution uf the waters
~ the Rio Grandc
:. \. Pipes nf Mission. secretary ~ the
GRAVITY Irrigation Association nf the
Lower sin Grandr VALLEY. Saturday night
received the following message from Mr.
Gaines:
Wire mc Immediately. aud write
fully whether or not il il practical
for the United States engineers. il
authorized Ia examine and survey
the Lower Rio Grandc aS 10 the prar.
iicabilitv Of proper plans for i'm
pounding the flood waters therein.
which yesterday Congressman Garner
and ! urged before committee: that il,
the Sheppard resolution Would or
would not such examination immcdi.
aicly aid our people aud government.
and later bc useful to both nations in
adopting a water plan aud treaty.
The practicability of making Shch q
survey without Mexico Joining il now
the only doubtful point. apparently
rms message WAS tranSmatcd over long
distance last night by Mr. Pipes 10 See
riarN OI;ricn ~ the Chamber of CON
'nrrcc ~ brownsville After advising
with various mrn il was decided that
here Was absolutely no obstacle in the
wav at this time Ia prevent the prosecu
non II the work on the American side.
II being claimed that with conditions
lnieicd on the Mexican side that country
VII JON the movement inaugnratrd on
I hr American side. owing 10 the fact that
here are irrigation projects nn that side
which would benefit bv the same plau
hat J. being urged on this side.
Speaking Of the Sheppard resolution.
Nr. O'Bricn said today:
This l. the first step toward the
building of gravity canal. aud with
~ accomplished the project that is nj
timaicly hoped for il half done. Sec.
rciarv Pipes of the asSosiation has
worked faithfully and aS>idnouSly for
THIS undertaking aud col -. l.. Cav.
an officer in the association has AT
tended the meetings regularly. Much
pressure has been brought 10 hear on
hr. Gaines to convince him that the
fniure of the Lower Rio Grandr Val
ley depends upon the completion Of
me gravity irrigation project. What
y needed i cheaper irrigation and
more certain irrigation.
The survey III this time would IL
simply 70 find ont the feasibility ~
the project and that can 49, made
without the necessity ~ referring the
matter ~ Mexico. When conditions
nave become adjusted in that country.
The matter viii be- taken ~ with
them. They have irrigation projects
on their side. notably that ~ Rio
bravo the SncceSS ~ which will hc
~ much dependent upon a cheaper
amt more permanent irrigation svs
tenn ~ are those on the American
side"