San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-22
MEX|CANS FOR
FLOOD CONTROL
On RIO GRANDE
Government Working Out
Plans for Equitable Dr.
vision of Waters.
ENGINEERS GET DATA
Mexican Engineer Urges
U. S. Congress to Act
Promptly.

Br0wnsyille, Tex, April 22.-Ihe
Mexican government will present no
obstacle to working out plans for an
equitable division of the waters of
the Rio Grande and for flood control
on the lower reaches of the river. in
compliance with the bill recently ia
ttoduced by Congressman Garner, ac-
eerding to a statement made by Al
frando Santacruz Jr.. member of The
Mexican international boundary conf
rsission, who has been in the Lower
Rio Grande Valley several days con-
ferring with engineers, including
George Curry, member of the Amer
ian boundary commission.
1.-THE Mexican government is anx-
ioas to cooperate with the govern
nent of the United States in this
work" Senior Santacruz stated. "The
object of the Mexican commission is
to work out an equitable basis Tor
the division of waters. and we are
anxious that the American govern
rent shall also include in its bill pro-
visions for a study of the flood con.
troll problems of the lower river"
The Mexican government has had
q commission of engineers at work On
the Rio Grande for the last three
years, the Mexican engineer stated,
adding that his government has al
ready collected vast amount of data,
which will prove of great value when
an American commission is appointed
to take IN the work with them. Pro-
visions for this work were made by
the Mexican government four wears
ago and from its inception there has
been no cessation of the commissions
activities.
Urges Quick Action.
On the American side of the river
the idea has prevailed that the Next
can government would insist upon a
division of waters upon the basis OF
their origin, thus giving Mexico the
advantage, but Santacruz intimated
that this was an error and that the
Mexican government will accept the
utility demands as a satisfactory basis
for division or in other words, each
nation will be entitled to a volume Of
water in proportion to the territory
which will be developed. The Next
can engineer pointed out that if this
Ian is adopted it will eliminate much
of the detail work which would be
necessary if the division is made upon
nc basis of the origin of the waters.
Relative to the bill now pending in
Congress, Santacruz expressed the
hope there would be no delay in Sc
curing its passage, stating that it is
very necessary this work be completed
at the earliest possible date in order
f. that both the Mexican and American
governments would have a basis upon
which they could work for the future
Development of what is considered the
most fertile sections of both repub-
lies.
Confident Bill Will Pass.
George Curry. member of the Amer
lean International boundary. commits
sion, expressed himself as confident
that the measure introduced by Con-
gresham Garner will result in an in
fernational agreement which will eff
fectually settle all controversy relat-
ing to the waters of the Rio Grande.
and he also expressed the opinion that
the measure should include porvision
) relative to the study of flood control
in conjunction with the study of water
division.
"The American boundary commits
funds for the last three years with
stated, "and unless funds are pro-
vided the work cannot be accomplish
ed" With his assistants, Mr.. Curry
has made a preliminary survey of the
stream from Brownsville to FL Paso,
but without authorization by Congress
they have been unable to cooperate
with the Mexican engineers or avail
themselves of any of the data secured
on the side of the Rio Grande.
Both the Mexican and American en-
-Gineers asserted that from their study
of the river they are convinced that
proper conservation would provide all
the water necessary for irrigation on
both sides of the stream. and that
conservation would TO great extent
: solve the flood control problem. How
3 ever, to secure this, action by the
american Congress is necessary. to be
followed by treaty making the
NECESSARY provisions for cooperative
action by both governments.
Diplomatic relations between the
two countries have been resumed and
There is no reason for further delay, {"
Mr.. Santacruz stated. The way has
been paved for the carrying out of
this work. which is of great import
aIlce to both countries, and | am sure
the Mexican government and the Mex-
dean engineers will welcome an oppor
sfiinity to cooperate with the govern
sment of the United States.
The greater part of the water reach.
ing the lower sections of the Rio
sGrande come from the Rio Concho, the
pSalada and the San Juan, all OF
(which are Mexican rivers, but under
the plan for division of the water nto-
posed by the Mexican engineer. this
will not be a factor. and Mexico will
mike no special claim because of the