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

Grande waters have been falling
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
TO secure an adequate and perma-
nent supply OF water for the VAL
lev shows that these volunteer or
CARNATIONS not only have failed 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 snouio
negotiate with the government In
an effort 10 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 vho 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.. Rob-
ertson said.
AS early as 1906, literally before
the Valley was in its teens, the
question OF an adequate water
supply was agitated. a study OF the
history Of this section shows. Al
that time. B. F. 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 Fris-
co and Rock Island railroads, be-
came interested in the develop
ment of Valley landI 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 and
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 Coneho.
Necessity Realized
They realized the necessity Tor
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
overthrown and on thu side In
dependent development retarded the
efforts Of the American syndicate.
Necessity for impOundment OF
waters OF the Rio Grande, n OF
the things which the proposed dis
trict hopes to bring Lbout IN rde
To assure a steady supply, was thus
early realized, Mr.. Robertson point
ed out. That was IS years ago and
the Valley, although 1t has mad a
number Of voluntary organizations
since then, is scarcely any nearer
n solution to the problem, he SAID.
In 1907 r. j. Hand OF San An
tonic began advocating construc-
ton of a storage and diversion
dam across the Rio Grande west
az La Grulla with n series OF grav-
tty diversion canals on both SIDES
of the river.
Ten years later Selig DeutSchman
os 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
~ brownsville, but a number OF
other Valley people and q large
number from San Antonio.
This association applied to the
rovernment for advice and assist
ance and in response. d. G. Kenny,
consulting engineer Of the RECLAIM
alton service was directed to make
a nreliminary examination Of the
irrigation conditions and POSSIBLE
ties OF the Valley.
Plan Impracticable
After a somewhat hasty recon-
naissance in company with the In
ternational Boundary commission,
Mr.. Hand, and a committee repre-
senting the conservation association,
Mr. Kenny reported Hands plan
,ronracticable. He asserted that
this. however, did not imply that
suitably constructed dams could not
be constructed at some point 70
impound waters and distribute
them.
Upon receipt Of Mr.. Henny's re-
mort. Assistant Engineer w. r.
Parkhill was directed to recon-
noIter the Rio Grande watershed
below Preside for reservoir sites
and Feb. rs, 1919, a contract was
entered between the association and
the government for a cooperative
examination Of the Lower Rio
Grande project. each side agreeing
to contribute $4,000.
Victor z. Lieb was assigned &c
conduct the Investigations under a
plan Of operations agreed upon be-
tween representatives Of tie re-
clamation service and the aSSocia-
ton.
In November. q board OF en-
eineers reviewed the data collected
by MI. Lieb and reported that:
"The results OF the work so Tar
accomplished appear to us to fully
confirm previous impressions that
IL will be essential for TIE inter-
ests Of the Valley to take concerted