No. 493.
Mr. Evarts to Señor Navarro.
Washington, June 15, 1880.
Sir: I have the honor to solicit your most earnest attention to a matter of vital importance to the citizens of the State of Texas engaged in agricultural pursuits on the eastern shore of the Rio Grande.
A statement of the facts as alleged is given in inclosed copies of correspondence, consisting of a letter addressed to the Secretary of State by the governor of Texas, and the inclosures therein contained being the statement of the county judge of El Paso County, and petitions signed by several hundred citizens of San Elizario and Socorro.*
The trouble complained of appears to be the result of the action of the Mexican population on the western shore of the river in diverting, into ditches dug for that purpose, the small quantity of water that finds its way down during the dry season, thereby totally depriving the agriculturists on the eastern or Texan shore of the means of irrigating their crops, and thus cutting off their sole means of livelihood. As this is not only in direct opposition to the recognized rights of riparian proprietors, but is also contrary to that good feeling and harmony which ought to exist between colaborers in peaceful pursuits, and might, moreover, if permitted to continue, result in bitter feeling and possible breaches of the peace, I most earnestly request, in these high interests, that you will have the goodness to bring the matter to the attention of your government with a view to procuring a cessation of the annoyance complained of.
[Page 784]I shall be happy to co-operate with yon in any way tending to produce the desired result, and have, to that end, already instructed the minister of the United States at Mexico to put himself in communication with your government on the subject, and should the facts prove upon investigation to be as stated, to endeavor to have the injustice complained of put an end to.
Accept, &c.,