El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-04-05
NEW COMMITTEE
ON I He CANAL
Mayor Says City Needs New
Water Supply; Ell Paso
Committee Named.

c. " Bassett. George r. LeBaron. j.
". Kirkpatrick and c. A. Martin from
FL Paso. and some man from Las
Cruces, to be named by the Mesilla
Valley Water Users association and
the Dona Ana County Farmers in
stitute viii form the new high line
canal committee
This was decided at a meeting held
Friday morning in the office OF mayor
Chas- Davis at the city hall. attended
by the mayor; j. A. smith. president
Of the FL PasO Valley Water Users
association; alderman J. p. O'Couuor.
Otis G. Coles and j. W. Kirkpatrick.
president and vice president Of the
chamber OF commerce; Robert
krakauer, @ n. Bassett, representa-
tive r. NJ Dudley. Geo. R. LeBarOn. G.
A. Martin and secretary A. W Reeves,
Of the chamber Of commerce
Mr.. Coles announced that he would
appoint Messrs. Kirkpatrick and Mar
tin to represent the chamber Of com
merce; mayor Davis named Mr.. Le-
Baron to represent the city and Mr.
Smith named Mr.. Bassett 10 represent
the Fl Paso Valley Water Users asso-
citation
In Accord With Recent Act.
This is in accordance with the re-
cent decision Of the chamber Of com
lnerce which decided 70 place the high
line canal affairs in the hands OF
new committee Of five-Jwo from the
chamber Of commerce. one from the
CITY and one each from the two water
users associations. Messrs- Bassett,
Kfrkpa trick. Martin and LeBaron
were all members Of the old high line
canal committee. Messrs- krakauer
and Dudley, two other former mem
bers, stated that they could not serve
on the new committee
As soon as the Mesilla valley people
name their representative on the com
mittee, organization viii be per
fected and a chairman VIII be Sc
Iected-
Mayor Approves Committee.
Mayor Davis said he would extend
the committee every help and cooper
alton and said there was a great need
for securing a permanent water sup
ply for the city that could be fur
uished al reasonable cost He said
each Of the two new wells now being
put down south Of Austin Terrace
had been a success and that water OF
good quality had been secured at q
depth Of 1900 feet I'VE can furnish
a million gallons OF water day from
and we have two new wells in op-
Grafton on the mesa but some cay
Fl PasO must get a new supply OF
water-one that is cheaper and great
er in volume That is in my mind,
the most important question now
city Bonding Power.
Discussion was brought out that
il this years tax valuations are s6o,-
000 00U, which they are expected 70
Re. FL PasO as a municipality could
bond itself for a little over two mill
lions as the present bonded debt Is
about $500, 900. but this would use
up the city's bonding power and
" ould increase the tax rate almost 20
the limit OF 80.
Mayor Davis said. however, he be-
lieved the administration would be
able 20 cut the present rate a little
this year and that even with q $4,000
900 bond issue. the tax rate could stil
be kept below 81
save on Water.
What II the tax rate is increased. /
II we can cut the water rate 10 more
than offset liz" asked Robert kr1-
kauer. Il fully believe We could cut
the water rate more than We would
Increase the tax rate. Let US say for
argument that a man pays taxes on
home assessed FOR $500. HIS in
creased taxes would be about SIS a
year. II he uses anything like the
home he can save 81 a month on his
water bill. with cheap water from the
dam He would be ahead SO a year" Z
tt was agreed. however, that the
preliminary details cannot be con-
cluded in less than six months OF a
issue would not necessary have 20 /
be considered at present.
LAWSON GOES TO DAM.
Z. II. Lawson. reclamation manager, I
went TO the Elephant Butte dam Fri /