Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-04-23
RECLAMATION
PETITION SENT
: LEGISLATURE
Over 1900 Hidalgo County
Residents Want Law for
Contract With Reclama-
tion Service

Over 800 resident Of IIidalgo county
have signed their names Ia petitions
calling upon the special session of the
legislature to pass bin authorizing
counties or districts 10 make contracts
with the L. :. Reclamation Service TO
supervise flood control work and this
petition has been sent To Austin Pro
moters of the plan. which would result
in the L.. - Reclamation Service Sc
curing supervision of flood control work
In the Rio Grande Valley. express the
opinion that the passage of the measure
is practically foregcne conclusion. as
II Is expected 10 have the support Of all
members from districts in which flood
control or reclamation work Of every
description i contemplated.
ITO the Members Of the Thirty
Enghth Legislature Of Texas:
The Undersigned are residents and
property owners residing in the County
of Hidalgo and State of Texas.
~Your honorable body al the last
session passed an act RENTING all taxes
due To the state from said county for
period of twenty five years conditioned
upon the said county voting bonds with
which TO construct flood protection works
in said county.
The undersigned are duly appre-
ciatiye of the generosity OF our state
and are desirous of using the funds so
provided in the most efficient manner 10
secure results which will fully justify
the expenditure thus made possible by
your action We are mindful Of the
fact that the United States Reclama-
tion Service has established a re-
cord for efficient and economical con-
struction Of reclamation works through
out the West unequalles in the history
Of engineering. and which has attracted
the notice of the whole world. Further
more. the United States Reclamation
Service has been employed by the citi-
gems Of the Lower Rio tsrande Valley to-
make thorough examination Of over
flow conditions in the Valley and to sub
init plans for the construction of suit
able flood prevention works. These
plans have now been laid before the
people of the Valley in the form of re-
port. which goes into the question with
considerable detail. and which have been
approved by the State Reclamation De-
partment.
1T is the desire Of the undersigned
that the construction of all flood pre-
yention works provided for by the net
referred to. be placed in the hands of the
United States Reclamation Service 1t
has been represented To US that the ex
listing laws might not make sufficient
provision for this, and We therefore
respectfully petition the honorable
members Of the legislature 10 pass law
which will fully empower the county
f.sl slasAt.-
tiles to enter into contract with the
United States under such terms and con
ditions as the laws Of the United States
will permit for the construction of ali
or any portion Of the works 10 be under
taken in the county Of Iiidalgo.
The passage Of this measure Is very
essential, regardless If what action is
taken in connection with the proposed
remitting Of state taxes in Hidaigo
county, was the opinion expressed By
a local attorney. While l doubt very
much if the Hidalgo county tax exeinp-
tion bill prove of value III relieving
the situation by providing funds for
flood control work. the passage of the
measure diEyctiy authorizing countiet
or districts to enter into such contracts
with the II. =. Reclamation Service, will
mean that practically every county in
Y which such work il carried on would
avail itself of the opportunity TO make
such contracts. and the Reclamation
Service will give them greater value
for the money expended than could be
secured through any other agency"
Petitions will pot be circulated IN
Cameron or Nillacy counties. az these
counties have not yet attempted To Sc
cure remittance of state taxes. but the
commissioners courts in both counties
are expected TO pass resolutions endors-
ing the measure.