Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-06
CALIFORNIAN
CONFERS FOR
COOPERATION
Irrigation Man Ayers
Interests Same and
Seeks Aid of Valley
In Boulder Dam
Especial to The Heraldl

-
SAN BENITO, July Incorporation
OF California and the Lower Rio
Grande Valley in the Boulder Dam
project, in settlement Of questions of
international water rights, and in
seeking protective tariffs on Mexi-
can produce was indicated in confer
ences here Thursday afternoon be-
tween Ira Aten, q director Of the
California Imperial Valley Irrigation
district, with Valley men.
Nr. Aten made the trip here 20
confer with Valley residents regard
ing cooperation in matters Of water
conservation and use, and while here
expressed the belief that most Cali
f%ornians, and especially the growers
are with the Valley in seeking a
tariff on Mexican vegetables.
He conferred here Thursday after
noon with W. w. Houser, manager of
the Valley Water Users association,
and other officers Of that ~organiZa-
ton. and also with w. +. Anderson,
member of the international Waters
commission, and Frank Robertson,
manager of the San Benito Irrigation
district. He also talked with j. +.
Bell, manager Of the San Benito
NAdAuUGE VI AUAAALlEANGs VA NAG A4AAAA
question.
Interests Coincide
THE interests Of California and
the Valley on water questions are
harmonious in the main Mr.. Aten
said. "The Imperial Valley is seek
ing passage Of the Boulder Dam bill
to conserve water. reclaim lands, and
permit further development. We are
willing to consider, and usually in
clude the demands Of other sections,
If they will make those demands
known. The Valley wanted a change
in regard to supplying water to Mex
leo, and that change was incorporated
in an amendment to the bill. As il
stands now / understand most Valley
interests are in favor Of il.
"If Arizona, Nevada and other
states which are fighting it will
make some concrete requests, and tell
what they want, we would be glad "a
meet and settle matters with them
But we are not going TO turn the pro-
ject over to power interests. We are
told by engineers that the power
which will be generated nj the dam
"a be made TO pay for it in 80 years
Southern California needs the power
and will pay for it. There is no rea.
son why we should not keep il 4 pub
lie project"
Agree on Water
Mr.. Aten said that California and
the Valley have reached a joint
agreement on matters pertaining "a
international water questions, and
that they have both favored the at.
titude of the international water
commission, to settle the Colorado
river, and Rio Grande water ques.
tons jointly. Eve have both agreed
to let the commission settle these
things" he said, for we are salts
fled that the commission will settle
them to the best interest Of both
sections"
Mr.. Aten explained that the grow
ers in the Imperial Valley are in
favor Of q tariff on Mexican toma-
toes and lettuce, aud other farm
products. He said that special finan-
cial interests in Los Angeles, inter
ests which are financing the tomato
growing industry in Mexico. appear.
ed at Washington to oppose the high
er tariff.
There is not as much conflict be.
tween the Mexican and California TO.
matoes as between Mexican and Val
ley, or Florida tomatoes, he said
California tomatoes are harvested II
the fall, and in the late spring. anc
none Of them come on the market
during the time that Mexican toma
toes are moving.
Favors Tomato Duty
"Still We are in favor Of any tariff
measures that will help the Valley
or other growing sections Of this
country" he said.
The California man arrived in the
Valley Thursday morning. and i
making his headquarters 81 McAIlen
He will be in the Valley until Sat.
urday, and Will spend considerable
time talking with Mr.. Anderson. Mr.
Houser, and other Valley residents
who are interested in water ques-
tions.
The Valley has worked for the
Boulder Dam bill, having at n time
sent several persons TO Washington
10 aid in the attempt to secure its
passage.
The bill is TO come Up again as
soon as congress CONVEX and Mr.
Aten expressed the belief that it,
passage will be only a question Of
time.
To See Irrigation
Much objection to the all-Ameri-
can canal is raised" he said. aWe
have worked out our own project.
spending ten years at il, and We have
followed the advice of reclamation
engineers and others in this part OF
H. The ana need not be built now.
ard 70 all inteuts will probably NOT
be built for ten or fifteen years. But
II IS necessary to make a reclamation
project Of the bill. and when the
canal Is built. il will re paid for
eventual by those property owners
who are benefited BY il. The build
ing OF II will wait the decision Of the
reclamation engineers"
The Imperial Valley man experts
70 look over the irrigation projects ~
n valley before leaving this sec
ION, ana said that he is well pleased
with the Valley from his first visit 10
b.
The necessity or a tariff on Nex-
'can tomatoes 10 protect the indus
try IN the Valley. and the hone az
California support in SECURING +bis
eariff was Impressed upon Mr.. Aten
by Mr.. Bell. ct simply means that
the industry Is at stake" Mr.. Bell
said. with out a tariff Mexico can
force rs 70 give up growing Of to-
matoes. IL is one OF the most i'm
portant agricultural problems fac
ing the Valley row. and residents Of
the section are gradually lining m
70 support Il. whether they grow to-
matoes or not"