24 THE IRRIGA TION A GE. 



evident, and doubtlessly his untiring devotion to the cause of the 

 Mexican farmers on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande, and his 

 energetic opposition to the just demands of his countrymen in New 

 Mexico dependent upon their farms for a livelihood, meets with 

 gratifying recognition in Mexico. 



The bulk of the lands of the Rio Grande valley are at present 

 without water. The irrigation, such as exists, is inadequate, and the 

 farmers in the valley to a man support the company. Petition after 

 petition, signed by ninety per cent, of the land owners in the valley, 

 supporting the company's undertaking has been presented to con- 

 gress in vain; General Mills' discreditable attempts to commit the 

 United States to an expenditure of between 15,000,000 and $6,000,000 

 in carrying out the needless impracticable International Dam scheme 

 being apparently of paramount importance in the estimation of the 

 department compared with so common-place a thing as justice to the 

 English investors or decent regard for America's reputation for fair 

 play and good faith. 



The company's undertaking to create the largest artificial lake in 

 the world; to impound for the use and benefit of American citizens 

 the flood waters of the Rio Grande, now allowed to run to waste; to 

 make lands now worthless equal in value to the best fruit lands in 

 southern California; to expend vast sums in colonizing the Rio Grande 

 valley and in developing its splendid natural resources; to create a 

 revenue producing, tax paying property capable of providing pros- 

 perous homes for thousands of families, has, it would seem, been con- 

 sidered of no value to the nation in comparison with the laudable am- 

 bition of the International Damischemers, plotting to rob the United 

 States treasury. Could anything be better calculated to bring Amer- 

 can institutions into contempt than this deplorable exhibition of offi- 

 cial unwisdom and glaring disregard of public interest? 



The Government's seemingly unscrupulous support of the Inter- 

 national Dam schemers' plot for plundering the treasury would per- 

 haps be less culpable and offensive to public morals if it did not tend 

 to convince the world at large that the current suspicions of things 

 American are justified by facts. 



The company's financial supporters in Great Britain are naturally 

 indignant at the brazen attempt to wreck the company, and they look 

 upon the injunction proceedings as wholly unjustifiable and as a 

 shameful example of official persecution. Needless to say the govern- 

 ment's attitude towards the company is a great blow to American in- 

 dustries seeking capital abroad. The apparent official disposition to 

 support Genera] Mills in his efforts to invalidate the company's titles 

 in the interest of the International Dam scheme has excited among 

 British investors much bitter criticism of things American; the at- 

 tack upon the company being most unfavorably contrasted with Great 

 Britain's friendly support in the recent Cuban difficulties. 



