, 1935-03-20

-
completed and construction OF "El
Azucar" intake will be started" $751;
600.
Sabinos river. state OF Coahuila
canals. CThis river Is a tributary 70
the Rio Salado and I think comes
in below the Don Martin dam,
$49, 900.
Total s4.7l4.O00.
Then there is another on, the Rio
Mantle in the state Of Tamaulipas
which I am unable TO locate just
now, and which may or may not be
a tributary to the San Juan, Sl5S.OOO.
Which II the latter Is included would
make a total OF S4.872. 900.
This work Is all being by the Mex
lean government under direction Of
its national irrigation commission.
You can use this information in
connection with the Lower Rio
Grande Valley authority bill, as II
has a vital effect on our water
supply, and accentuateS the neces-
sity for a treaty covering the equit-
able use of the waters OF the Rio
Grande between the two nations.
This brings TO my mind another
I reason for pressing for a settlement
Of our water division with Mexico.
II seems likely that the present
| government in Mexico, at least that
part OF 1t which Is concerned with
these international water questions,
is an ideal setup for favorable con-
s~ideration Of the subject
The present secretary OF foreign
relations. Is ST.. Portes Gil, a native
OF TamaulipaS and former preSl-
cent OF the republic and late attor-
ney general. Sr. Gil has long been
interested in RIG Grande develop
ment and when he was governor
came to San Benito 70 discuss tnese
very matters, and when ne was
president he expressed himself as
desiring to facilitate a settlement
OF the Rio Grande questions.
Sr. Sanchez Mejorado Is now the
consulting engineer for the Depart
ment OF Foreign Relations, an Of
/ ficer who has principally TO do with
! the international water questions.
Sr. Mejorado is probably the best
known engineer In Mexico. he was
for many years the engineer on the
lower Colorado river. particularly 10
I charge OF irrigation development,
! then director OF the national Irrlga-
ton commission and member OF the
International Water commission,
later secretary Of the Department
Of Communications and Public
Works. ard afterwards was director
OF Mexican railways. Then ne was
minister TO Germany and lately
minister TO England. No man IN
Mexico Is better informed IN the
Rio Grande matters or more anxl-
Gus for their proper settlement. he
X not only competent, but his very
assertion impreSSes one with his
sincerity and desire TO do the falr
thing between the interests OF the
swo countries.
ST. Gustavo Serrano recently was
made International Water commits
sioner and now has an office In
Juarez and Is in charge OF all border
water matters. except the e Paso-
Juarez valley river rectiflcation,
which is still in charge OF the
boundary commissioner. ST.. Serrano
was for a long time boundary COM
missioner anu Was a AlCtAADNA Va GtC
n~Iternatio. o. Water commission. Al
forwards he was Secretary OF Com
m~unications and Public Works ana
lately ambassador TO Guatemala.
ST. Serrano Is also thoroughly IA
.niliar with the international water
questions. The position Of interna-
tional water commissioner Is a new
one. or an old one recently revived.
This organization, with respect 10
the Rio Grande questions. Of such
thoroughly informed and eminently
qualified men may be taken 70 in
dicate a desire on the part OF the
Mexican government to close up
these questions, at least. it offers
an opportunity to proceed with them
without further delay. which OUT
government should take advantage
OF.
With best regards. I am
Sincerely yours.
y s. ROBERTSON