Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-11-25
Especial to The Herald)

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SAN BENITO, Nov. 25.-The De-
partment Of State will prepare for
submission to congress in the de-
ficiency bill an appropriation lover
ing cost Of a full study of flood
control on the Lower Rio Grande
by the American section OF the In
ternational Water Commission,
United States and Mexico, according
TO information received here.
l.. NJ Lawson, American member
Of the commission. will be author
lied to proceed with the study II
and when the necessary funds are
made available by congress.
The information reaching here
was in the form OF a copy Of a letter
from the secretary Of state to John
Garner. congressman from this dis
trict. through whom petitions from
Valley county commissioners courts
and associated water districts ask
ing the study were presented. The
Department or State referred the
matter TO Mr.. Lawson for his ap-
proval which was given.
Bill In December
The deficiency bill viii be submit
ted to congress a. its short session
IN December and the fund would
become available as o as this
measure is signed by the president.
Full study Of the flood control
situation in the Rio Grande delta,
surveys Of existing works on both
sides Of the river, design OF such
additional works as may be needed
TO afford adequate protection from
flood damage and estimates OF costs
thereof, also suggestions as TO prop
er participation Of the Mexicans and
Americans In the costs OF these
works and a plan for the mainten-
ance and operation of the flood con-
troll works through international CO.
operation, would result If congress
makes an appropriation available
for the proposed study.
A resume Of the flood control
situation was given The Herald by
w. Z. Anderson, consulting engineer
to the commission. TO make clear
why Observation-Disclosures Of Valley
flood control works was imperative.
The nature OF the situation de-
mands coordination Of flood con-
troll works on both sides OF the river
and their maintenance and regula-
ton BY a common authority, ne
said.
Resume Given
This delta Is typical OF such
formations as are due 10 deposits OF
silt and sand from waters overflow
ing the banks of a river. The river
extends down through the deltaic
plain on q ridge that has been built
up by the sediments from the over
flows. so that flood waters escaping
over the river banks flow away in
to the lower country and in part
reach the sea through secondary
channels. In times of major floods,
such as that OF 1922, the water
spreads out in some places. as much
as forty miles from the river.
This river running down on tins
ridge through the delta forms the
boundary line between Mexico and
the flood waters escape over both
theh flood waters escape yer both
banks and spread out over the lands
of both countries.
The capacity of the river chan
mel decreases rapidly as II passes
from the head of the delta 10 the
Gulf Of Mexico. IN 1922 about one
sixth Of the flood flow at the head
OF the delta was carried in the can
mel az Brownsville ana probably not
more than one tenth reached the
mouth Of the river. So. a compar-
atively small flood causes overflows
along the lower river and in large
flood there are overflows all the
way up through the delta.
IN this condition, restraint Of
flood discharge IN any locality in
rreaseS overflows elsewhere. Thus,
q levee built 20 protect a certain
community forces more water over
the banks at other places, particul-
ariy, those opposite or further down
stream.
"As development Of the lands
proceeds levees were built here and