Mr. Gresham to Mr. Romero.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your note of the 12th ultimo, in relation to the use of the waters of the Rio Grande River in Colorado and New Mexico for irrigation and other purposes.

Having referred your previous note of September 10, last, in regard to the same matter, to the Secretary of Agriculture for examination, I am in receipt of the response of that Department, stating that it is by no means certain that the low state of the Rio Grande at Ciudad Juarez and vicinity is due to the utilization of, water for irrigation along the upper course of the river to a greater extent than heretofore. A failure of the supply has frequently occurred at Ciudad Juarez in the past, and this is satisfactorily explained by the drought that has prevailed over the headwaters of the Rio Grande for the last two or three years, and over the territory around El Paso for six or eight years. The evidence in the possession of the Department of Agriculture does not show any material increase in the utilization of water for irrigation on the Upper Rio Grande for several years past.

Your present note of October 12 has been in like manner referred to the Secretary of Agriculture with a recommendation that the matter be investigated.

Accept, etc.,

W. Q. Gresham.