Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-04-23
THE WATER SUPPLY.

To the Editor OF the New Mexican.
CHICAGO, April IS, 1851 have just
read a brief communication from Mr.. P,
E. Harroun in reference to the water
supply OF the Santa Fe river, Having
lived upon the bank of the river for sew
eral years, and having since had ex-
perience in the examination and meas
urement OF streams for irrigation, am
satisfied that his estimate is far too low,
rather than too high.
Major J. w. Powell, director Of the
geological survey, was recently given
hearing by the committee on territories
in reference to the general subject OF irri-
CATION, and was particularly struck with
the estimates made in reference to the
water supply of the Jemez river. His es-
Inmates were carefully made, and the
allowance OF water was certainly ample
for the number Of acres he proposed to
irrigate. In brief, he estimated by unit
which he calls an acre foot that is, body
of water which will cover an acre one loot
deep, and allowed that quantity Tor the
irrigation OF each acre during the season.
He found that the Jemez river, which is,
as you know, smaller stream than the
Santa Fe, flows sufficient water during
the year to irrigate l55 900 acres, ii proper
provision is made for storage.
These figures are suggestive OF what
may be accomplished if anybody will take
the trouble and the necessary steps for
an organization to utilize this water upon
the fruitful mesa lands to the south and
west of Santa Fe. 1t is an instance OF
vast natural resources literally running to
waste, while the amount Of expenditure
necessary to utilize them is entirely with
in the capacity even of your citizens. If
not 30, it only needs to be properly or
ganized and presented, to command all
the capital necessary to carry it to com
profitable employment for their money.
With the examples before you Of v hat
has been accomplishment the Archbishp's
garden, and by Messrs. Boyle, schumann,
Manderfeld and others, and with the
uniform success which attends fruit grow
ing in that valley, it seems like almost
criminal neglect on the part of your peo-
pie to disregard this opportunity.
Any one who will study the history OF
irrigation during the past few years in
California, Utah and Colorado will Be
surprised at the results obtained. Take,
for instance, the Bear valley reservoir in
San Bernardino county, Cal, where the
water is 80 scarce that the waterway from
the mountain reservoirs to the main reser-
voir is stone-paved and cemented for
seven miles to avoid any waste of water.
The dam is 300 feet long on top and sixty
feet high, constructed of large granite
blocks laid in Portland cement, of which
300 barrels we're used in the construc-
ton. The water from the main reservoir
is carried by iron pipes to smaller reser-
voirs and distributed from them through
cement pipes, all to economic the water.
With only 5000 acres Of land available for
the results have been such that
q thriving community has been estab-
lished there, and the stock of the COM
pany, which represented an outlay of $21
per share, now sells, as valued upon its
earning capacity, at from 1925 to $3.50 per
share, with its water rights. -
The MERGED reservoir is another rep
undertaking. Five years were
in the construction of this work. |
From $50 to 1000 men, and from 200 to
500 draft animals were constantly em-
ployed during that time. The reservoir
is supplied with water from the MERGED
river by canal twenty-seven miles long,
100 feet wide at the top, seventy feet wide
at the bottom, and ten feet deep. 1t cost
81 500 900 cash, but with 10000 acres OF
and available, the expenditure is fully
justified.
The Sweetwater reservoir cost above
Il 900, 900, and it waters several thousand
lcres OF land about National City and San
Diego. The water shed is not nearly so
arge as that in Santa Fe, and the water
las to be carefully economical by dis
ribution through iron pipes.
There are hundreds OF enterprises of
reater or less magnitude throughout the
rrigable region almost uniformly success
Ill, and nearly all Of them present greater
difficulties than would have to be over
ONE on the Rio Santa Fe. As an old
itizen OF Santa Fe, formerly identified
With its business affairs, and still feeling
indy toward it, it would certainly afford
ne great pleasure to see some one take !
be Initiative In utilizing the water now
INNING to waste, which could easily be
lade convertible into bountiful supply
national currency.
CHAs. w. GREENE.