Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-02-14
RECIPROCITY
IN DIVISION OF
WATER URGED
Representa- tive Con-
nally Favors Post
ponement of Action
On Boulder Dam

WASHINGTON, ID. C., Feb. l5.-Ac-
tion on the Boulder Canyon dam
bill. which has been postponed to
March Is, should be deferred until
the apportionment of water of the
international streams from Cali
fo-nia to Brownsville has been set
tied with Mexico, was the view ex-
pressed BIZ Representative Tom Con-
naily Of Texas in a recent Snter-
veiw.
Repres entEtions arc reaching Wash
:ngton from the Rio Grande Valley
that unless the United States con-
firms the rights of Mexican land
owners to use Of water from the
Colorado river with a satisfactory
agreement protecting the rights oil
Texas users Of waters Of the RIO
Grande, serious injury will be done
the American irrigation interests
along the international streams.
Consideration Of the Boulder
Canyon dam bill has been postponed
until after March Is in the hope that
the interested states along the Colo
RADIO may come to some agreement.
Near the close of the last session the
bill was the basis Of a spectacular
tUHlNeA III ~ tAANG y - -
its defeat.
Important to the Valley
Representative Connally stressed
the importance Of the measure 10 the
Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, and as
serted that the issue should be adj
justed with Mexico while the United
States is in position to do SO.
waters of the Rio Grande are
vital to Texas, and some permanent
agreement regarding their apportion-
ment ought 10 be made said Mr..
Connally.
"Two-thirds Of the water os the
Rio Grande comes from the MeX/
can side, through the San Juan,
Salado and Conchas Rivers. Prac-
tically the entire normal flow of
the river is now appropriated by
Texans for irrigation purposes. II
is estimated in irrigation systems IN
the Magic Valley. The value Of that
property and the prosperity of the
entire Valley are dependent upon as
suranee that the supply Ayater VIII
be permanent.
Mexico Uses Water
"All the water Of the Colorado
river originates in the United States.
Yet | saw last fall about 200. 900
acres Of land in Mexico just below
the California border irrigated from
the Colorado. The owners and gov
of Mexico will insist upon
an assurance of its continued use.
Neither the Boulder Canyon bill
nor any other legislation by which
the continued use of water from the
Colorado will be accorded Mexico
should be enacted without a proviso
that the use Of the waters OF the
RIO Grande as now appropriated shall
be recognized and secured 70 the
people of the Rio Grande VALLEY, or.
unless the government of the United
States and Mexico agree that both
the waters Of the Colorado and the
waters OF the Rio Grandc shall be
aprortioncd by an international COM
mission.
"The United States should never
confllm to Mexico the use Of the
waters of the Colorado without SINH
lar confirmation 70 our citizens Of
the use of the Rio Grande. Ny view
is hat the state department should
enter into negotiations with the gov
eminent Of Mexico and endeavor TO
obtain "a treaty confirming the rights
to the waters Of the Rio GranGe in
Texas. users. in exchange for a fair
allowance of water 10 Mexican own
ers or the Colorado.
"The committee on foreign affairs,
of which / am a member. for years
has been providing legislation to
a-.ge anu measure the flow Of Tia.
waters Of the Rio Grande in coop
Grafton with Mexico with a view TO a
final agreement between the two
governments respecting appropri-
alton. That agreement should be
made before the United States sur
renders its strategic position"