Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1921-05-05
Z ENGINEERS
HERE TO Study
RIVER PROBLEM
Members OF international
Commission Inspect Rio
Grande Banks

henry l. oOIDlu Oi I'll dSO, 1bl-
sulting engineer of the International
Boundry commission arrived in the
city yesterday, and is a guest n the
Miller.
When asked whether his visit had
any connection with the gravity canal
project, he said that it did not. other
than that he felt deeply interested
in all irrigation movements. He said
he was here 10 investigate several
complaints from land owners along
the Rio Grande on account of erosion
of banks.
''These investigations" continued
Mr.. Corbin, ''will be made jointly
with Mr.. Julio Quiros. first engineer
of the Mexican Boundry commission,
who arrived in the city last night. Our
first investigation viii be this morn
ing at the Southmost Plantation east
of the city. which is said to have suf-
fered because OF some obstruction To
the water flow on the Mexican side
of the river near this point After
this we will proceed along the Rio
like nature. and also to look over
some new bancos that have formed
since the last banco survey in the fall
of 1918 and spring fl919."
Mr.. Corbin. in discussing irrigation
conditions along the Rio Grande, said
he was now compiling data. which ne
had gathered very carefully, to be is
sued in book form.
''This report. continued Mr.. Cor
bin, Twill include reports on every
pumpin plant from the mouth Of the
Rio Grande 70 the mouth of Devils
ports of the conditions of each, the
canal mileage of each canal system.
the number Of acres under each svs-
TEN. together with a report on the
crops grown and the kinds grown IA
each locality will be contained in TINS
report which | will submit To the
boundry commissioner, Mr.. Hill. for
his approval and publication. ] am
quite sure that this report Will prove
interesting to the people Of the Rio
Grande Valley where such rapid pro-
gress has been made in irrigation
matters"
In discussing the duties of the
Boundry commission, and his work on
the commission, Mr.. Corbin said that
a good active, energetic commission
with ample funds 20 90 on, would be
n power for the good of both c0un-
tries. Ii would not only foster the ex-
listing commercial relations now en-
joyed by the two peoples. but cement
and strengthen the ties of friendship.
Mr.. Corbin made a reconnaissance
survey of the territory extending west
of Mission and 10 a point near Roma
in 1919 for the purpose or ascertain
ing the practicability of tapping the
Rio Grande with a canal and irrigat-
ing the Lower Rio Grande Valley by
gravity. While all the levels were run
and a mass Of data secured. which
was turned over 10 the Boundry com
missioner. this report has never been
made public. Later in the same year
Mr.. Corbin made a careful investiga-
tion Of reservoir and dam sites along
the Rio Grande and Devils rivers for
the purpose Of imnounding the flood
waters az these streams Ia hc used
by gravity in the irrigation of the
Valley lands. Tbs report. also. has
not been made public
Mr.. Corhin'S first visit "a the Val
Icy was in the early spring az 1915.
when he. together with Mr. Stewart.
his aSsiStan, AZ the time, spent several
davs between Roma and Zapata. in
veStigatng possible dam sights in the
Rio Grandc. "a well as reservoir sites
for the storing ~ storm amt flood
waters FOR irrigation His visit at
that time was made possible through
'hc Efforts of the Lower RIO Gaadc
Valley Gravity Irrigation association.
which had recently been formed w
Mission to promp, the gravity project.
Since tina, visit, Mr. Corhin has been
very deeply interested IN the develop
ment of the Valley. ll.S frcqunt visits
t. this section aud all along the Rio
Crande has given him a.. intimate
knowledge Of every pumping plant.
i,S condition. ~ well aS the canal
mileage Of every canal svstcn along
a