Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-08-30

star, had been away for two
months on a European vacation.
Note the doggy attire she was
wearing on her arrival in Man
haitian.
citation in It's dealings with the re-
clamation service during this pc
Rod. Due TO the lack OF finan-
cial support, this association was
unable TO accomplish fully its end.
Finances Failed.
There have since been other VOL
untary organizations which have at
tempted to deal with the situation
but have been unable 10 do SO
principally because they have not
had enough financial support 20
sustain them, Mr.. Robertson said.
Although 1t did not have con-
servation as It's main objective, the
old Water Users Assn, had con
Servation features but also went the
way Of other such organizations be-
cause OF a lack Of continued finan-
cial support.
There was organized in 1920. &C
cording TO Mr.. Robertson the Joint
Association of Cameron and Hidalgo
County Water Improvement Districts
which is still functioning. Although
1t has protested every new water
grant and taken a great many other
actions from time to time 1t has been
unable, through voluntary com
mitteeS, to effect conservation Of
waters through storage.
The mafl accomplishment OF the
joint association was TO secure the
passage OF a resolution by the State
Board Of Water Engineers in 1926
TO the effect that no further appli-
cation for the appropriation Of
waters OF the Rio Grande or its
tributaries for irrigation would be
accepted for filing except when in
the opinion Of the board applicant
proposes TO provide ample storage
Of flood waters for his needs.
In other words the board ~recogniz-
ed that normal flow Of the river had
already been appropriated and that
other newer districts were entitled
only to storm or flood waters or
such waters which otherwise might
flow unused to the sea- MI. Robert
son said.
Local storage over large areas
would mean great losses from
evaporation, seepage, etc, and re-
tanning structures on the main
stream are the only permanent solu-
ton to the problem Of providing q
sufficient supply Of water for all, 7
Mr.. Robertson asserted.
Protests Of the older districts
against later water grants has plac-
ed them on record so as TO better
protect their rights in the event
litigation takes place. And Id Is better
70 supply water for all than to fight
for a deficient supply" he declared.
Organization Favored.
The joint association which IS
composed OF the boards OF directors
Of a majority of Valley irrigation
districts and n private company,
has within this organization a con-
s~ervation committee composed If
n man from each member district.
This joint association has gone on
record as ~favoring the organization
OF the proposed conservation dist
rict. II also will defray part OF the
cost OF holding the election Thurs
day.
"All OF these movements and or
CARNATIONS have notF been able to
accomplish the desired ends because
they were not sufficiently financed
and not the proper type Of organiza-
ton TO deal with the federal govern
ment and secure its assistance" the
director said.
The proposed district would have
the power TO levy a tax not eX-
ceeding five cents on the hundred
dollars valuation for carrying On
negotiations with the government.
The money would be used TO hire
experts 70 gather the necessary data
or 70 take data already gathered and
present IL TO the government in the
proper way so as 10 receive its CO.
operation.
1T has been shown that the gov
eminent in the past has provided
storage and other dams when the
matter was properly presented, one
Of the most outstanding being the
Boulder Dam for which an ap-
preparation OF SITS. 100000 was c
ed without cost to those who will
benefit from ii.
Proposal Not New.
IRA Aten. member OF the board OF
directors OF the Imperial Valley
California; Irrigation District, told
members OF the JOINT association
here several years az. that forma-
ton Of a district along the lines Of
the one now proposed was the only
way 10 accomplish the desired end.
IL. M. Lawson, American member
OF the International Water Commits
sion. U. S. and Mexico which has
the power only TO gather facts. also
urged formation OF such a district
10 help him protect the rights Of
Valley water users, when negotia-
tons are entered into with Mexico
over division Of waters Of the Rio
Grande and its tributaries. The pro-
posed district in fact probably will
make use OF the wealth of material
now being gathered by the commits
sion under congress .onal appropria-
ton in urging the government TO
build the dams for US" said Mr..
Robertson.
we have every hope, II the mat
ter Is presented by a representative
organization. that the government
will do this because OF the interna-
tlOnal features involved he stated |