Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-07-28
VOTE SOON

Il
CONTINUED from Page One)
or rs cents on the dollar for your
irrigation bonds because of the pre-
seriousness OF your water rights and
supply. Capital needed for the de-
veIopment OF a new country Is pro-
badly the most tlmid that you have
TO deal with and II you assure a
sufficient and permanent supply OF
water for irrigation purposes you
win be able 10 get 100 cents on the
dollar for your irrigation bonds
You have too many fights and
NO not agree enough among your
selves" he asserted in pointing out
the necessity for organizing.
Frank 5. Robertson, OF San Ben
ITO. member OF the districts tenn
porary board OF directors and secre-
fRry OF the Joint Association OF
Cameron and Hidalgo County Wa
ter Improvement districts for eight
years. testified that the joint as
ISOLATION did not have a legal en-
tity and could not function as well
as the proposed district. The aSSo-
citation has only the power to make
suggestions. he testified. Neither
are all the irrigation districts of
the Valley represented in the aSso-
citation and Il could not make re-
quests or the government for aid
on the ground that it represents
the entire Valley. ne said.
Aided Appropriation
II was shown that the proposed
districts directors hal O. big part
in getting a federal appropriation
for Rio Grande surveys to be made
for the International Water COM
mission. 1t was stated that the
federal government would not have
made this appropriation II IL had
not been told that the Valley was
In process OF organizing. L. M. Law
son, II s.. member of the Interna-
tional Water commission, Sen. Tom
ConnalIy and others have urged or
approved formation OF the propos-
ed district. Connally having said
On his recent trip that IL was the
biggest move to be started in this
section within the last ten years.
One q~uestiorer wanted TO know
why the water commissions sur
veys would not be sufficient to Sc
u federal aid. III. L. Yates of
Brownsville told him that II was
merely the function OF the COM
mission TO report Its findings but
that II there was any urging TO be
done to get the government 70
build storage dams and other struc-
lures 1t would require an orEaniza-
ton such as the proposed district
TO keep after the proper officials
No Competition
s. z. Magnes OF Edinburg was
afraid that undeveloped lands
would be developed In competition
with existing growing areas IL an
adequate supply OF water is as
sured. A. w. Cunningham OF Har-
lingen, member OF the board, told
him that II was not the purpose OF
the district TO irrigate lands, 10 de-
vclop lands or invite development,
merely 10 assure a constant supply OF
water in the river for those who
need IL. MIR. Yates pointed out that
IL the Valley did not develop its
lands that Mexico perhaps would,
dfprivifig this section OF its sup
On OF water.
Mr.. Yates pointed out that the
Valley spent many thousands or
dollars q year for insurance against
fire and other disasters and that
the amount asked for assuring an
adequate supply OF water. on which
wealth OF this section Is bu :, is
comparatively in~flnitesir.al.
IF this matter Is not decided
now. you will spend more money
than Is being asked for operating
this district in the courts fighting
suits 10 see who owns the water"
Mr.. Yates asserted. 1T is better Ia
try to aSsure a supply or water than
to fight for what's left" he added.
1T Is not only a matter OF provid-
ing for the future but OF assuring
our present supply"
Favors Proposed
Frank Phillips or San Benito de-
clared that although he did not
want his lands included In the dis
trict that he was not opposed 10
creation OF the district and would
vote for Il.
J. RI. D.shman. VINO farms 800
acres near Combes without irriga-
ton. said that although he prefers
to dry farm" and never expects
to irrigate that he would not mind
paying a five-cent tax 20 help the
Valley assure itself ar adequate
water supply.
1t was pointed out that IL Is hop
ed 10 get government aid within
four years for building a series OF
storage dams and that this Is a
propitious time because the resi-
dents OF both Mexico and the Unit
ed States are engineers and can
understand the Valleys problems.
Mr.. Cunningham said that the
proposed district would have the
right or eminent domain or the
privilege OF condemning sites neces-
sarv for erecting dams. He declared
that this would not leave the gov
eminent ut the mercy OF the land
owners 40 the proposed dam sites.
Question II vital
Bert Epstein. president OF the san
Chamber or Commerce and
head OF a committee further COM
posed Of ]. =. Bel and Raymond