Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-07-28
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or rs cents on the dollar for your
irrigation bonds because OF the pre-
cariousness Of your water rights and
supply. Capital needed for the de-
velopment OF a new country Is pro-
baby the most timid that you have
TO deal with and II you assure a
sufficient and permanent supply OF
water for irrigation purposes you
win be able to get 100 cents on the
dollar for your irrigation bonds.
You have too many fights and
Ado not agree enough among your
selves" he asserted In pointing out
the necessity for organizing.
Frank S. Robertson, OF San Ben
ITO. member OF the districts tenn
p0rary board OF directors and secre-
tary 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 it could not make re-
quests OF the government for aid
on the ground that It represents
the entire Valley. he said.
Aided Appropriation
II was shown that the proposed
districts directors had q big part
In getting a federal appropriation
for Rio Grande surveys 70 be made
for the International Water COM
mission. II was stated that the
federal government would not have
made this appropriation II II had
not been told that the Valley was
In process OF organizing. l.. nj. Law
son, II 8. member of the Tnterfla-
tional Water commission, Sen. Tom
Connally and others have urged or
approved formation Of the pr0pos-
ed district, Connally having said
on his recent trip that ii al the
biggest move to be started In this
section within the last ten years.
One q~uestsoner wanted 10 know
why the water commissions sur-
reyS would not be sufficient to Sc
cure federal aid. II. l.. Yates OF
Brownsville told him that It vas
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 TO
build storage dams and other struc-
lures it would require an organiza-
ton such as the proposed district
70 keep after the proper officials.
No Competition
S. z. MagneSs OF Edinburg was
afraid that undeveloped lands
would be developed in competition
with existing growing II an
adequate supply OF water Is as
sured. A. w. Cunningham OF Har-
lingen. member OF the board. told
him that IL was not the purpose OF
the district to irTigate lands. to de-
velop lands or invite development.
merely to assure a constant supply OF
water In the river for those who
need II. Mr.. Yates pointed out that
IL the Valley did not develop its
lands that Mexico perhaps would.
q priving this section OF its sup
On Of water.
Mr.. Yates pointed out that the
Valley spent many thousands OF
dollars a year for insurance against
fire end other disasters and that
the amount asked for assuring an
adequate supply OF water. on which
wealth of this section is bu is
comparatively infinitesir-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 to see who owns the water"
Mr.. Yates asserted. 1T is better to
try TO assure a supply OF 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
U present supply"
Favors Proposed
Frank Phillips OF San Benito de-
cared 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 1t.
j. III. D.Shman. who farms 800
acres near Combes without irriga-
ton. said that although he prefers
to dry farm" and never expects
to irrigate that he wotsld not mind
paying a five-cent tax 10 help the
Valley assure Itself an adequate
water supply.
It 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.
MIR. Cunningham said that the
proposed district would have the
right of eminent domain or the
privilege OF condemning sites neces-
sarv for erecting dams. He declared
that this would not leave the gov
eminent at the mercy OF the land
owners at the proposed dam sites.
Question IL vital
Bert Epstein. president OF the San
Ben'to Chamber ~ Commerce and
head OF a committee further COM