Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-11-16
MAXWELL SEES
ASIATIC MENACE.
IN OLD MEXICO
Declares There Is a Plan to
Annex the Colorado RiV-
err and CoIonize the
Land With 0rientaIS.
Special to The journal.

DpFClhl 10 Inc bOuEulls
Santa Ee n. NJ, Nov. 15.--Scau-
ming the great stretches of the ba-
sin OF the Colorado river basin
with the trained eye of veteran
in reclamation, George II. Max
we'll finds in the plans of American
spectators a sinister design to
annex the Colorado river to Mex
ico," and, through colonization Of
a million acres of fertile land in
the sister republic, lay the foun-
dation for an Asiatic menace which
will be infinitely worse than the
threat Of floods, which annually
terrorizes Arizona and California.
Mr.. Maxwell is the executive di-
rector of the National Reclama-
ton association, with headquarters
in Washington, d. c., and has been
actively identified with irrigation
and reclamation work since 1899
He has been in Santa Fe as an
observer, studying the work Of the
Colorado river commission as
closely as it is possible to study
deliberations which are proceeding
in executive s. ssion.
Opposes Boulder Dam.
lie is opposed to the Boulder
canyon dam project, but holds
there Should be no delay in af-
fording the imperatively needed
flood protection for the Yuma pro-
tect in Arizona and the Imperial
valley Of California. His opinion
is that there should be no effort
at this time to force compact
between the seven states inter
ested, as to the adjudication OF
the water rights. for this compli-
eating of apportioning the waters
with provision of flood protection
is serving simply to delay the more
important matter of providing
flood protection.
He sees in the project to con-
struct a great power plant a sub
tly conceived plan of American
spectators, interested in the gi-
gantic agricultural industry in
Mexico, TO make impossible the
use Of water for the irrigation Of
moro than 100000 acres in Ari-
zona and California, while water
for the irrigation of a much great
er area will be made available for
Mexico.
Labor for the cultivation Of this
vast area will be recruited from
China and Japan, thus forcing
American industries and American
labor into cut-throat competition
with the cheap labor of Asia, he
emphatically warns. The importa-
ton and use of such cheap, for
eign labor would constitute an "ag-
ricultural cancer" on the American
continent, It is feared.
Flood Control Plan.
Instead of building the Boulder
canyon dam, Mr.. Maxwell said his
long study OF the subject showed
the best and most practicable plan
is to use the Dayton Miami river
flood control plan on the Gila
river, building the Sentinel reser-
voir without delay, as an emer-
gency flood protection; to build the
Bulls Head dam as similar flood
control structure; to construct the
Glen canyon dam solely for flood
protection, leaving out of consld-
Grafton all thought of reclamation
or development of power.
These fears and suspicious are
in no wise concurred in by Arman-
do Santacruz, chief engineer for
Mexico on the international BouE-
dary commission, with headquar-
ters in FL Paso. Mr.. Santacruz
also is here as an interested specta-
tor. He is In favor of the Boulder
canyon dam, and points out that
the recommendation of Arthur r.
Davis, director of the United states
reclamation service, is in favor OF
Boulder canyon.
VIII Follow just Course.
Mexico, OF course, is desirous OF
having its water rights recognized,
and feels sure that in dealing with
so great and honorable a nation
as the United States, nothing less
than q Just course will be followed
by this government, the Mexican
representative is confident.
A tract of some 100000 acres
of land, below the border, is now
under cultivation, and the increas-
ing Of this area under cultivation
will not mean the importing OF
Chinese and Japanese farmers ana
laborers, Mr.. Santacruz is quite
certain. Mexico has laws to re-
strict the entry of Asiatics into
Mexico. Mr.. Maxwells fears are
largely imaginary, having no foun-
dation in fact or the real circum-
stances, Mr.. Santacruz believes.