WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION JH

Mr. Freming. Quite similar to our own.
The Cuarrman. There is quite a disturbance in that valley.
Mr. Scunerper. Is that a long-staple cotton? :
Mr. FrEmMiNG. Yes, sir.
The CuairMaN, There is a very substantial tariff asked on that
cotton.
Mr. Fueming. Yes, sir.
Mr. Box. Is that produced above the boundary of New Mexico?
Do our people in the Texas Valley below—do they produce longstaple
 cotton, too?
Mr. Fuemine. This cotton, sir, which we produce is not known as
long-staple cotton.
Mr. Box. I understand it is not the full length but longer than the
average?
Mr. FLeming. It gets a premium because of its staple.
Mr. Carman. Mr. Carwell, who represents a district in Texas,
similar to ours, is not here. He had a committee meeting overon
the Senate side, but I would like to suggest that the conditions which
prevail in that portion of the Rio Grande Federal irrigation project
of which they form a component part as we do in New Mexico, have
a condition similar to our own. They grow the same crops and have
a similar labor situation.
Mr. Ramey. I do not exactly understand your proposition. You
are the general manager of what?
Mr. FLeming. The Elephant Butte Irrigation district.
~ Mr. Ramey. Who owns that land? In whom is the title? Is it
mn different persons?
Mr. Simms. Every man owns his own land.
Mr. Ramey. Do any Mexicans own any of that?
Mr. FLEMING. Yes, sir.
Mr. Ramey. What per cent?
Mr. FLemine. You do not mean aliens?
Mr. Ramey. No.
Mr. Freming. Oh, any number of Spanish-speaking people, residents
 of New Mexico, own the land.
Mr. Ramey. You spoke ahout taking back the land. Does that
happen often?
Mr. Freming. We now have, in the Elephant Butte irrigation
district, probably five or six hundred acres in small parcels, ranging
from 2 to 50 acres, the taxes on which have become delinquent and
the tax deeds are now in the possession of the county—have been
bought in.
Mr. Ramey. When it reverts back, it reverts to the county?
Mr. FLeming. Bid in by the county. }
Mr. Ramey. No private person or enterprise gets that?
Mr. Femina. No, sir.
Mr. Ramey. It comes back into the county?
Mr. FLEMING. Yes, sir. i }
Mr. Ramey. What percentage of the Mexican population, who
have become American citizens, have lost these lands?
Mr. FLeming. The delinquent lands?
Mr. Ramey. Yes.