Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-08-23
ORGANIZATION
NEEDED FOR
COOPERATION
CBy Staff Correspondent

assurance OF an adequate, perma-
nent supply Of water in the Rio
Grande is the main objective OF the
proposed Lower Rio Grande Water
Conservation District, one OF It's
more immediate activities would be
TO prevail on the government 10
coordinate existing flood control
works to secure full effectiveness IN
times OF high water and 10 con-
struct such additional works as
deemed necessary. according 10
Judge Z. c. Couch. chairman OF the
temporary board OF directors.
Studies OF flood control and plans
for additional works are progress
ing vigorously now under a con-
gresSional appropriation ade
available 10 the American section
or the International Water Commits
SO and a report may be expected
before the end OF the year. Since
.le commission Is only a Iact find
Hg body it will then be necessary
for officials TO 20 before the gov
eminent to show definitely the
need for flood control works and
coordination and TO secure appro-
priations for construction. The
proposed district would perform
this function. Mr.. Couch stated.
Representation Needed
UNLESS representation Is made
by a proper organization We are
not going 10 get such help" he
asserted. IF II Is, however, we
have every reason to expect that
our national government will &C
cept the responsibility for flood
control on the Rio Grande and
make proper appropriations there
for.
Particularly is this expected be-
cause OF the international situation
involved. 1t is clear that IL We
proceed with efforts at flood con-
troll as We have in the past there
Is a grave probability Of develop
ing International complications.
IN order 10 have proper flood
control on this side IL Is necessary
that works on the Mexican side
should operate effectively. The
reverse Is equally true. Mexico
might have its works OF adequate
capacity and in fully proper condi-
ton and We neglect TO have ours
in shape for carrying off quanti-
ties or flood waters and the result
would be damage TO the Mexican
side. In other words. failure on
either side would hurt the other
side.
The American government has
-.--gw.-l -, n.arD.asFu Crf,N fnr
Mississippi river flood control. And
SOS 00. 900 OF the Boulder Dam
! appropriation is for flood control
features and will not need to be
reDaid unless there are surplus
Vk0fits from operation OF the dam.
In he Fl PaSo valley, represent
atives Of the two governments have
agreed 10 20 into river rectilica-
ton or strengthening work Of a
flood control nature costing Sill
100000 largely because Of the inter
national situation and desire OF
the American government to avoid
international complications due 10
flood damage.
Coordinate Control
ct also Is hoped 10 have an in
ternational commission appointed
to coordinate control OF the flood
control works in order that full
effectiveness may be had. Under
present conditions not even al the
works OF the American side are
co-ordinated. Cameron and Hidalgo
counties voted SO, 0 900 in bonds
for works which are fully as e.
fective rs could be expected for that
amount OF money. The system, has.
however. no control works at the
to the floodways 70 which
would assure letting out OF a certain
amount OF water.
The works are owned by two
counties and no method OF CO.
ordination OF maintenance between
them has been worked out because
their interests are not identical.
Cameron county would like 10 have
as much water disposed OF above
as possible and Hidalgo county
would like TO have as much pass BY
and into Cameron county works a.
possible. To operate this unit, 4
proper amount or water should be
let out at al points and floodwayS
kept clean.
part or the water should be
taken out on the Mexican side.
Valley representatives went into a
discussion with representatives OF
Mexico. and they agreed TO take
ont one third or the flood waters
60 the other two-thirds to be
taken care OF on the American side
The MeXicanS have been working
towards this end but have not
progressed very far. During the last
rise. no water went out between
Saliseno and Matamoros.
International Problem
an order that the control works
function properly. some OF the
water should be taken out on both
sides. We have had enough eX-
perience to show that flood control
cannot be handled separately and
voluntarily. The only way is through
international cooperation.
at was largely through the &C
tivities OF certain Valley people.
MANY or them identified with this
conservation movement. that the
water commission received a liberal
appropriation from the American
government to study the flood con-
troll system and plans for con-
structing adequate additional works
and for proper maintenance and
operation Of such works through an
international commission.
ut IS not known how much the
rost OF adequate flood control
works would amount TO but It was
estimated by the U. s. reclamation
service in 1923 that q complete
rvSto,, m the American side would