Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-08-30
ORGANIZATION
LACK CAUSE
OF FAILURES
CBy Start Coz -spondent)

tBy Sta Coz 7spondenO
SAN BENITO, Aug. 2e.-Volun-
tary organizations to conserve Rio
Grande waters have been failing
ever since 1906 due t. lack OF sup
port, said Frank S. Robertson,
temporary director Of the proposed
Lower Rio Grande Water Con-
servation District, In explaining
why an organization supported by a
small tax Is now being sought.
A study Of various efforts made
10 secure an adequate an6 perma-
nent supply OF water for the VAL
lev shows that these volunteer or
CARNATIONS not only have f.iled be-
cause Of lack OF support but that
they did not represent all OF the
people as the proposed district
would.
Limited support
These organizations represented
only a limited number Of persons
and interests in the Valley where
as II the proposed district should
negotiate with the government In
an effort TO have 1t build storage
dams on the main stream Of tie
Rio Grande and TO coordinate
flood control works on both sides OF
the river II could truly say that II
represented all those WHO would be
benefited from use Of the water for
domestic, municipal and irrigation
purposes. All persons thought TO
derive any or all Of these benefits
are included in the proposed district
which comes up for a vote OF the
people Thursday, Sept. 3, Mr.. ROD
ertson said.
AS early as 1906, literally before
the Valley was in its teens, the
question OF an adequate water
supply was agitated, q study Of the
history Of this section shows. At
that time, B. r. Yoakum Of the
Frisco railroad; John Hays Ham
mond, Sr., New York; Thomas II.
West, president OF the st. Louis
Union Trust Co, a Mr.. Bixby, pres
ident Of the American Car Co., st.
Louis and a number OF other
capitalists connected with the FRS
co and Rock Island railroads, be-
came interested in the develop
ment of Valley land by means OF
irrigation. In Mexico was a SIM
liar group OF Mexican capitalists
who planned TO develop the lands
along the lower Rio Grande n
some of its tributaries in Mexico.
Together these groups had water
concessions on the Rio San Juan,
Rio Salado, the main stream near
Laredo and the Big Bend section
and on the Concho.
Necessity Realized
They realized the necessity for
storage on the main stream and
had surveys OF dam sites made at
a number Of points. But before
they could put their plans into
execution the Diaz government
from whom the Mexican interests
had secured their concessions was
overthrow and on thE side in
dependent development retarded the
efforts Of the American syndicate.
Necessity for impoundment OF
waters OF the Rio Grande, one OF
the things which the proposed dis
trict hopes 70 bring about in order
to assure a steady supply, was thus
early realized, Mr.. Robertson point
ed out. That vas IS years ago ana
the Valley, although 1t has had a
number Of voluntary organizations
since then, is scarcely any nearer
a solution TO the problem, he said.
In 1907 r. j. Hand OF San An
tonic began advocating construc-
ton OF q storage and diversion
dam across the Rio Grande west
OF La Grulla with a series OF grav-
ity diversion canals on both sides
OF the river.
Ten a later Selig D~eutschman
OF San Antonio became interested
IN the Hand project and organized
the Rio Grande Conservation
Assn which applied TO the govern
ment for advice and assistance.
Among the members OF this aSso-
ciation we're not only r. B. Creager
Of Brownsville, but a number OF
other Valley people and a large
number from San Antonio.
This association applied to the
government for advice and assist
ance and in response. ID. G. Kenny,
consulting engineer Of the reclaim
alton service was directed TO make
a preliminary examination Of the
conditions and possibili-
ties OF the Valley.
Plan Impractlcable
After a somewhat hasty recon-
Nuisance in company with the In
tarratioral Boundary commission