San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-03
RICH EMPIRE
AWAITING
T|LLERS
Pioneer Citizen Points to
Great Projects Ripe
for Action.
By ALBERT STEVES SR.

The earliest civilization we know of
antedating Christianity, had for its
basis, cultivation of lands by means
Of irrigation. Ninevah. Babylonia,
Thebes, Memphis. Alexandria, were
daughters Of the Euphrates and Nile
rivers, these mighty streams supply
ing the water for the rich lands that
Yielded beautifully and gave the peo-
pie opportunity to improve their
lot.
How many San Antonians are
aware that this city is at the
threshold and nearer than any other
large center of population to an ir-
rigable area far greater in extent and
possibilities than the lands of the
Euphrates and the Nile in the days
Of the ancient cities above mention
ed!
Specifically, the irrigable area at
our door is far larger and capable
Of greater productivity than the areas
that formed those old cities and gave
the first civilization a boost.
ARE WE ASLEEP:
Yet a railroad man who recently
visited this region remarked:
San Antonio can not see what is
coming in the next few years and is
not an active competitor of other more
distant cities in the development of
this great empire. More distant cities
will develop the Rio Grande Valley
and the other irrigable districts, al
though San Antonio is nearer as the
crow flies
Is that correct? Are we asleep 10
our opportunities? Are we depriving
our city and our children of a natural
birthright by callous indifference TO
the possibilities Of this vast re-
gion,
/ hope to make plain in this ar
ticle the real situation as ] see it.
after lifetime of residence here and
many active years in business. Be
cause. sooner or later, we people of
San Antonio have got 10 write an an
swer TO these questions. We can not
forever disregard them. If we delay,
we will seek TO act when it is too
late and other cities are reaping the
reward Of enterprise.
SHOW WINDOW.
The Magic Valley. or as many cell
it. the Lower Rio Grande Valley. is
but the show window Of the largest
undeveIoped irrigable area in the
world.
The development in the Rio Grande
valley since 1912. and which has TO-
day approximately 100000 acres under
irrigation and intensive cultivation,
with taxable property of approximate
" S10O.00O.O00. was brought to the
attention Of the big financial centers
of the East through the /. c. G. hear
ing held at Brownsville last October,
when two of the largest railroad sys-
TENS in the United States met in COM
petition for the gateway to this wealth.
The outsider sees only the lower
Rio Grande valley. It is the show
window of South Texas. But we who
know conditions, understand that this
immensely rich and fertile valley. great
as II is-and / would not detract one
iota from its possibilities-is only a
sample ROOM TO the great storehouse
Of natural resources TO be developed
eventually. Nor do the man-made
boundaries OF Texas and Mexico stand
up in the development OF these re-
sources. They pay no heed to boun-
Diary lines for nature has put them on
both sides Of the Rio Grandc with
lavish hand.
OPEN COLLEGES.
Under the able leadership of Presi-
dent Gales. agricultural colleges are
being established in the states of Mex
leo, and the latest and most scientific
methods are being taught Mexican
workers employed on this side Of the
border also are learning by actual ex-
perience, the methods in use in re-
claiming and irrigating and filling
these lands. Young. ambitious Next
cans are flocking into the colleges OF
Mexico and the southern republic will
nrofit from this in the years TO come.
ia Forbidden Zone Laws" in Mex
leo are nothing more than Mexico's
efforts 10 preserve and protect these
wonderful fertile lands along her Dor
ders. Mexico has her eyes especially
on her side of the lower Rio Grande,
where her lands are moro level than
on our side but quite ms fertile.
Our government. during the World
War. gave impetus TO irrigation de-
vclopment when military engineers es-
tablished the feasibility OF succession
Of dams on the Concho. Pecos. Devil
aud San Juan rivers TO irrigate an
area totalling 100000 acres.
This is probably the greatest unle-
vcloped. irrigable area in the civilized
world today and stake great enough.
we're it in Europe, for empires 10
strive after. This survey. made at n
cost of about 100000. further shows
that Ga per cent of the waters of the
Rio Grande originate in Mexico and
about 80 per cent Of this irrigablc
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