Smyrna times., 1932-04-27
RIO GRANDE RIVER
SHIFTING BOUNDARY
One Might Retire in U. S.
and Awake in Mexico.

Washington.-'Ne that a band
of mounted cattle thieves rode
across the Rio Grande into Texas
recently, probably presents a pic
ture Of this southern boundary river
Of the United States far different
from that conjured up by a look
at the map" says a bulletin from
the National Geographic society.
ION the map the Rio Grande has
the appearance, in its lower reaches
at least, Of being as wide as the st.
Lawrence or the Detroit rivers,
along both of which large ships ply.
In flood times the Rio Grande is
wide. full river; but during por-
tions of the year, owing to little
rainfall on its tributaries. seepage
into the sandy soil. and appropria-
tion for irrigation purposes. its wa
ters dwindle away until narrow
stream remains. lodging in and out
among wide expanses of sand.
Quicksands make crossings danger
Gus in places. but at other points it
is simple matter to ride or wade
from bank to bank.
Easily Waded at Times.
Because the river can be so cas-
lily crossed at times of low water,
United States and Mexican officials
have had stubborn problems along
certain sections of the Rio Grande
In the enforcement of immigration,
traffic. prohibition, narcotics, and
other regulations. The problems
are heightened by the fact that the
American side of the river is not
uniformly developed and that most
of the Mexican side is unutilized.
At some points on the American side
the huge irrigated gardens and
fields and citrus groves of the low
er Rio Grande valley reach to the
river, representing land in the high
est degree of cultivation. But at
other points the river bank and a
zone ten miles or more In width is
covered with a growth Of mesquite
and other bushes, and Is virtually
uninhsbited. Chinese and other
aliens secretly entering the coun-
try, and smugglers In both direc-
tions hide In these wilderness spots,
and when overtaken often shoot II
out with members of the border
patrol.
"Wake Up In Mexico"
"The Rio Grande In flood times
has been equally a problem to the
United States and Mexico. When
the river rises unduly it eats away
the fine sandy alluvial soil as though
1t were brown sugar. frequently
forcing new channels across the
narrow necks where the stream
loops. When this happens, the bits
of land cut off ('bancos.' they are
called), are thrust into an alien ju-
risdiction. Many a river-bank resi-
dent has gone to sleep in the United
States and walked up next morning
In Mexico.
"All along the lower Rio Grande
at one time were numerous bits of
of United States territory on the
Mexican side of the river, and frag-
ments of Mexico in the United
States. The situation became so
complicated that the two govern
ments finally agreed that since In
the long run the shifts of territory
from side to side were about equal.
new channels would be taken as
marking the boundary. where the
bancas were small. 1t was provid-
ed, however, that IL fragments of
territory exceeded 61S acres or hav-
ing 200 or more inhabitants shall be
cut off by the river, they shall still
belong to the country from which
they were torn, the old channel re-
naming as the boundary"
hanny life of country folk. kissed