They were informed by the Commissioners that they considered it very problematical that even if such a change had taken place it could be conclusively proven, but if the attorney for the American contestants would write out a definite petition in few words stating that they desired to prove a prior counter avulsive change and giving specific dates and facts to substantiate same the Commission would refer such petition to the Joint Consulting Engineers and request that they give an opinion as to whether such prior avulsive change could have taken place, and if they express the opinion that there was even the probability of such change the Commissioners would hear the evidence of competent scientific witnesses, with maps, tending to prove such avulsion, but that they would hear only such evidence as was competent.

Whereupon Judge Falvey, on the part of the American contestants, agreed to send in immediately, in the afternoon, a short petition to that effect.

The Commission then adjourned.

[Acta.]

EL PASO, TEXAS, Noviembre 27 de 1907. La Comisión Mixta se reunió á las 10.30 a. m. en la oficina de su Sección mexicana.

Previamente enterados de los planos y de los Informes de la Comisión Mixta, se presentaron ante ella el abogado F. A. Falvey y los señores W. B. Latta, Roberto Krakauer y G. B. Le Baron, querellantes americanos en el caso, y habiendo iniciado el Comisionado americano que uno solo de entre ellos fuera designado para llevar la parabra, el abogado Falvey declaró que él representaría á dichos litigantes americanos durante la audiencia.

El abogado Falvey dijo que este caso les ha tomado por sorpresa y pidió que la Comisión aplazara su estudio de él hasta que pudieran presentar sus testigos, declaraciones é interrogatorios.

El Comisionado americano, á nombre de la Comisión y despues de discusión madura, informó á los opositores de que los Ingenieros Consultores han rendido un Informe que ilustran con numerosos planos hechos por diversos ingenieros titulados de ambas Naciones, en los cuales se muestra la formación progresiva por acreción, realizada en los últimos cincuenta años, del terreno en disputa, y en ese Informe opinan que se trata indudablemente de un banco determinado por un procedimiento avulsivo. De dicho documento, así como del examen personal del terreno practicado por los Comisionados, resulta fuera de toda duda sensata que este case de cambio entra en la categoría de bancos eliminables en virtud

del Tratado de 1905; pero, no obstante, si los soponentes americanos pueden ofrecer pruebas en contra de tal clasificasión, los Comisionados están dispuestos á escucharlas, siempre que sean de tal naturaleza que basten á destruir las presentadas por los Consultores, esto es, que deben consistir en planos y opiniones científicas análogos á los de los Ingenieros, pero de mayor fuerza que ellos, pues están decididos ambos Comisionados á no admitir en la materia testigos, declaraciones ó interrogatorios de personas no

científicas.

El abogado Falvey, á nombre de los oponentes, expuso que no estaban en disposición de objetar los hechos establecidos por los Consultores en cuanto al cambio avulsivo de 1898; pero que alegaban y creían poder probar que hubo un previo cambio avulsivo en sentido opuesto en 1897.

Los Comisionados replicaron que consideran muy problemático que se pueda probar tal cambio, en caso de haberse efectuado; pero que si el representante de la parte americana les presenta por escrito una petición breve y precisa para que se les permita probar un previo cambio avulsivo en sentido opuesto, con datos y fechas suficientes para discutirla, tal petición será transmitida á los Ingenieros Consultores unidos para que éstos opinen si puede haberse efectuado ese primer cambio avulsivo, y que si los refeidos Consultores juzgan siquiera posible semejante cambio, los Comisionados accederán á recibir pruebas de la avulsión consistentes en planos y en testimonios de personas científicas competentes, pues no aceptarán testimonios de personas que no lo

sean.

El abogado Falvey, á nombre de sus representados americanos, convino en presentar desde luego, en la tarde del mismo día de hoy, una breve petición á este efecto.

Se levantó la sesión.

[Joint Journal]

EL PASO, TEXAS, November 29, 1907. The Joint Commission met at the office of the Mexican Commissioner at 10 o'clock A. M.

The Commissioners directed that a copy of a letter from the following American contestants: Mrs. Allie D. Clardy, by W. W. Turney; W. B. Latta; Robert Krakauer; Louis Hammer; Geo. B. LeBaron; Leigh Clark and Felix Martinez, together with a copy of the reply of the Commissioners, be attached hereto and made a part of these proceedings.

The Commission then adjourned.

EL PASO, TEXAS, Nov. 27, 1907.

To the Honorable

The INTERNATIONAL (WATER) BOUNDARY COMMISSION,

El Paso, Texas.

GENTLEMEN:

We, the undersigned, are the owners of and interested in the ownership of Collingsworth Surveys Nos. Thirteen (13) and Fourteen (14), and Bennett's Surveys Nos. Eleven (11) and Twelve (12), situated about four miles more or less East of the Court House of the City of El Paso, Texas, said land being situated in El Paso County, Texas.

Not until Friday or Saturday of last week were the undersigned notified or had knowledge of the fact that your Honorable Commission would undertake to determine the question of boundary so as to affect said lands; that the first information given any of the undersigned that the Commission would consider and determine whether said lands were Mexican or American lands was on Saturday of last week, when the undersigned Leigh Clark ascertained that the Commission had the matter of said lands under consideration, when he notified the attorney for Mrs. Clardy and also notified Mr. W. B. Latta; that on said last mentioned day the said Leigh Clark stated to the Commission that personally he knew nothing as to where the channel of the Rio Grande was, prior to the year 1897, and that he could not personally testify because of the fact that he was not interested in said lands until after 1900, and knew nothing of the details concerning same.

The undersigned respectfully represent that since said day they have appeared before your Honorable Commission and have requested a reasonable length of time in which to procure testimony, documentary, record and oral, in order that they might present their case and claims to the Commission in an intelligent and succinct way, but that they were informed by the Honorable Commissioners that oral testimony, or the testimony of living witnesses familiar with the facts and the changes of the river for many years last past, would not be considered by the Commission nor would evidence in the shape or form of affidavits made by said witnesses be considered, and that they were informed by the Commission that it would take conclusive testimony and evidence on the part of the undersigned, of a documentary nature, to overthrow the opinion then and now entertained by the Commission, and that such evidence should be produced at once, or within a few hours; that in the nature of things it would be impossible

within so short a time for the undersigned or their counsel to procure and formulate testimony to substantiate their contention as to the location of said lands with reference to the International boundary, but that they could do so if given thirty (30) days time from this date, which time they respectfully request, in order that they may present the facts as they believe and are informed exist, and which will show that the land comprised by said surveys and all of the land lying south of said surveys and the channel of the present river, is, and has been, for many, many, years last past, American land, and it is not now and never has been territory of the Republic of Mexico.

These claimants and those under whom they claim and those from whom they purchased have been in actual, peaceable and adverse control and possession of all of said surveys of land and all parts of same, using, occupying and cultivating said lands or portions thereof, as said surveys were originally platted upon the ground and patented by the State of Texas, for more than (40) forty years last past, all of which facts and claims, the undersigned, if given the opportunity, will be able to establish, they believe, to the entire satisfaction of your Honorable Commission.

The surveys above mentioned form a part of what we understand is characterized by the Commission as being the "Banco de San Lorenzo".

We were informed at this morning's session by your Honorable Commission, for the first time, that the Mexican claimants to this land had filed their claim with this Honorable Commission nine (9) years ago, but the undersigned assure this Commission that none of them had received any notice, either personally or by publication, from these claimants, this Commission, or any other source, of said adverse claims, until the said claims were ascertained by the said Leigh Clark on last Saturday, the twenty-third (23rd) day of November, nor were they aware of the fact that there was an adverse claim, by individuals or by the Republic of Mexico to said lands, notwithstanding the fact that they, and the parties from whom they purchased have been, for the last nine (9) years, and long prior thereto, the holders of the record title to said surveys and actually paying taxes thereon.

The undersigned respectfully represent that the land owned by them collectively is of great value to them, and they feel that they should be granted an opportunity to show and establish the fact that said land is not now and never was Mexican territory.

They therefore respectfully request that they be given a reasonable time in which to procure and present evidence in proof of the facts above set forth, and they suggest that thirty (30) days be the minimum time in which they can be prepared to present their case.

The undersigned further respectfully request the Honorable Commission to advise them in writing whether they will be given the time requested to make said preparation and to present the facts as above set forth, and if the Commission will not give them the time requested, the undersigned ask to be notified in writing what time, if any, the Commission will grant them.

Respectfully submitted.

Mrs. Allie D. Clardy, by W. W. Turney,

W. B. Latta,

Robert Krakauer,

Louis Hammer,

Geo. B. Le Baron,

Leigh Clark,

Felix Martinez.

EL PASO, TEXAS, November 29, 1907.

Messrs. W. W. TURNEY, (representing Mrs. Allie D. Clardy), W. B. LATTA, ROBERT KRAKAUER, LOUIS HAMMER, GEO. E. LEBARON, LEIGH CLARK, and FELIX MARTINEZ.

GENTLEMEN:

The Joint Commission begs to acknowledge receipt of your communication of the 27th instant. We enclose you copy of our Joint Journal of November 27, 1907, by which you will observe that your communication is not such a petition as we understood we were to receive.

The Joint Commission wishes to be informed whether or not you desire to rely upon the claim set up by your representative, Judge Falvey, at the meeting of November 27, 1907, and spread on the Journal of that date, copy enclosed.

The Joint Commission will be in session at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, November 30th, at the office of the Mexican Commissioner, Masonic Building, and will hear whatever you have to say in the matter.

Very respectfully,

ANSON MILLS,

American Commissioner,

F. B. PUGA, Mexican Commissioner.