Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-09-09

consider this matter, viz: the (onstruc-
| ton of reservoirs for the proper storage OF
| the storm waters which every year run to
waste, the most important question now
under consideration y tie American peo-
| PIE. Without some system OF storage ana
| equitable distribution Of water it seems
| Inevitable that 4 vast number OF larnls III
! the lower valleys OF our rivers VIII have
| TO be abandoned Tor want OF water, be-
cause new population is settling up
he mountain region and the waters OF
the rivers are being diverted at their
source SO that the ordinary flow OF times
past never returns TO the old chanl.cl. Ii
is little more than the storm and sur
plus water which even now reaches the
lower valleys. | have personal knOwl-
edge OF the Nile in Egypt, the steppes OF
the Danube the Hoogly in India ana
other countries with climate similar to
| New Mexico, where irrigation is depended
upon fol the production OF the crop, and
! | need hardly remind the senate commit
tee that these countries are the gran
aries OF the earth. The government
already has reliable statistics which show
that there is regular rainfall in New
Mexico to be depended upon, aud there
are great natural facilities for making
reservoirs in the deprCssions and basins
which are numerous all though the
mountains and mountain plateaus. The
Santa Fe river when in flow furnishes
water enough for ten times the land now
under cultivation, ii that surplus wafer
we're conserved and utilized. All The
rivers and streams in the northern part Of
the territory are equally capable OF greatly
| extended utility, | think it IS 10 eXa9-
geration to say that with system OF
storage reservoirs for the preservation ana
| distribution OF water which now runs to
waste the population Of New Mexico
would in ten years be five times greater
than it now is Prosperity waits upon
abundant water supply.
CHNs. H. GlLDERsLEEvE
stared that he had devoted large part OF
the last two years to the study of irriga-
ton and the reclamation OF arid lands in
New Mexico, Three years ago, he said,
the legislature Of New Mexico passed a
good law on the subject OF irrigation based
upon the most modern and progressive
|
water rights and colonization. Since
tlat time the witness said lie Lad inCor-
porated several irrigation enterprises and
had laid the same before eastern capital
lists. lie found great deal OF ignorance
| throughout the east on the subject OF irri
cation. Far seeing, conservative capitol
lists were investigating the subject, now,
however, and are looking with an en-
couraging degree of favor on such enter
prses in New Mexico as foundation. for
legitimate investment. Referring to the
| Rio Grande valley the witness said he
had spent much time in investigating it,
both as to the water supply and the
amount OF lands susceptible OF irrigation,
As to the quantity OF water his Judgment
WAS based upon inquiries made OF the old
est Inhabitants OH the river, and he found
that during the months OF March, April,
May and June occurred the seasons OF
high water; that the volume Of water run
ming to waste during those months was
as large rs the Mississippi ordinarily, and
gate half the lands in New Mexico. lie
said about 1000 900 acres OF land between
Pena Blanca and El Puso could be rem
dered susceptible OF irrigation, and from
reports and surveys made one,half of that
amount would be first class agricultural
land; that large areas lying Oh either
side Of the river belonged to people
claiming the same under Mexican or
Spanish grants and the grant made by the
United States to the a. Il l.. Railroad
company OF the 100000 acres he
thought about tWo-thirds comprised these
grants, the remainder beinG United States
government lands. The witness had con-
versed with the grant owners, including
the a. Il p. Railroad officials, and he
found them willingt give one-half OF their
land to any company that Wouil bring the
same under risation and insure them
supply OF water during the irrigation sea-
son. The A. & Z. company and many
grant owncrs have signilied their willing
ness to do this by contract already made.
Mr.. GildersIeeye stated in his judgement
the operation oil the. alien act, restricting
the holdings OF corporations to 5000 acres
orl less worked injurousIy TO New Mexico,
the conditions here being different
from those OF any other state
or territory in the arid regions. While
the people were willing to subsidize local
corporations by grants Of large areas OF
land to encourage the construction OF
storage reservoirs and inigaling canals,
such corporations under the operation OF
the alien act were precluded from avail
ing themselves OF these voluntary con-
tribntions, and in the judgment OF the
witness New Mexico should be exempt
from the injurious operation OF that act OF
congress. He had found growing SEN
timent among eastern capitalists that as
the arid lands are being offered by the
government at $l,25 per acre, and will,
by the investment Of individual capital
in the constructions OF canals and reser-
vOirs, be made worth from $2j to $50
per acre, the government should mani
lest the same disposition TO encourage
such enterprises us the private citizens OF
New Mexico are individually willing
to do-tllat is to give one-half the
lands that corporation will put
under irrigation. Mr.. Gildersleeve
also stated that lie had caused to be made
an examination Of the Santa Fe river
which runs through The city OF Santa Fe,
taking its rise at point about twenty-five
miles due east OF the city in the noun
tains. The report of his engineer was to
the effect that Il storage reservoir could
be constructed about one mile southeast
OF the city that would have sufficient
capacity to hold water for the irrigation OF
the valley lands adjacent to Santa Fe,
comprising about $50, 00) acres. The larger
part OF these lands is government prop.
erty; the soil very rich and prolific ia the
production OF all the cereals, fruits and
vegetables. During the early spring
months great oceans OF water running
through the city 80 TO waste and are util-
lied for no practical purpose; that the es-
innate OF his engineer was that the con-
struction OF such u reservoir would cost
oil ol,f &Dhl lll