Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-12-11

ld5O JuS Ol tnC anCltnL river DGt. II
> country ascends from the
BLACK RIVER TO THE CANCN,
thirty miles, by gradual sore, with
lighter and more pliable sandy soil. Th
canon, formed by the ancient bluffs of IT,
Pecos coming together, extends to Seyc
G Rivers. Here begins the second agricu
tural section OF the Pccos valley, OF a quit
different and remarkable quality. Ihi
stretches from
SEVEN RIVERS 70 ROSWELL,
still skirting on both sides the pecos rive
and broadening out into plain contain
ing on the east side $4,000 acres of agri
cultural land. 1t is a country of springs
and marshes in the midst OF wide, leve
and fertile plains. These powerful springs
or lagoons, at short distances across the
plain from west to east below Roswell,
form deep streams with rapid flow, from
thirty to sixty feet wide, constituting the
HondO river, branch of the PeCOs. This
is the water supply Of the upper system Of
canals of the Pecos Irrigation company,
which is here entirely independent OF the
Pecos river. Equal attention has been
given to the construction OF this upper
canal. The land bordering upon it has been
as eagerly located by investors as that be-
low. The difficulties encountered in its
construction, which is nearly completed,
have been less than in the lower system.
upon which our interest in this gigantic
enterprise is for the present now Centered.
~ hip1 of I,p
extends from Fort Sumner to the noun
tain region northeast of Santa Fe. 1t is a
country devoted to cattle raising, and on
account OF the changed character Of the
Pecos river i'll suited to agriculture.
THE pECos RIVER
is the foundation of this great corporation
enterprise. Until recently few have
known its remarkable qualities. Within
the domain OF New Mexico it runs for
about 400 miles. Having its sources in
the Santa Fe and Taos mountains, its flow
is inconstant and uncertain and subject
to droughths till it reaches The springy
region OF Roswell. 1t has been dry dur
ing the present season only III the upper
sections. From Roswell to the Delaware,
for sixty-five miles, it is fed by springs
with an artesian flow issuing from its
deep banks or from the bed of the stream.
Below Roswell the strong currents of the
Hondo give an ever unCeasing volume to
the swift and deep current of the Pecos.
But for its steep, high banks the Pecos
would flood the great plain. Below this |
canon | have been surprised in Compar-
ing its ordinary current with the Rio
Grande, which, at repeated crossings, /
have found it to exceed in width and ra-
pidity. 1t is in fact series OF rapids, at |
all fordabIe places, two and half feet at
the greatest depth and from seventy to |
100 feet wide, with current so swift as
to make uncertain steps for the horses.
This is the product OF springs in the dry
est season ever known. Add to iC the
usual mountain supply OF water, and the
flow is ample for the canals and the fill
ng and replenshing OF the glpat storage
of the system. At. one cross
ng Of the Pecos ten miles betpw Eddy,
where the river was divided n island,
found one stream sixty feet wide aud
,wo and half feet deep and the other
orty feet wide, with equal depth and swift
hess Of flow.
HISTORY.
This portion Of the PecoS valley borders
N the Staked llains Of Texas. 1t las
'een q paradise for cattle men, Their
nerds by tens of thousands have fed on
Is rich grass since 1870. Before that
t was the domain Of the Apache and
avorite hunting ground, rich in game, as
t is Low. The buffalo, antelope, deer,
Wild horse and all varieties OF smaller
,ame like grouse, quail, ducks, geese and
aCk rabbit have, in unnumbered thOus-
lnds, here had their habitation and range.
The Eddy brothers entered this coun-
ry as cattle men, and with one or two
qualy large cattle companies occupied
he range. The great herds Of the V. Y.
\. Cattle company roaming from the Pc
os to the points sixty miles east on the
'taked Plains, are proofs of its fertility and
ho prosperity of the business in their
lands.
Mr.. C. B. Eddy had long seen the sur
passing value of this region for an agricul-
ural country, and began series of irri-
eating bitches five years ago, taking the
water, in ditch twenty feet vide, from the
vest side OF the Pecos and constructing
orty miles OF laterals on what is now the
4aguna Vista property of the Hagerman
irrigation company. Another di;C Ch
welve miles above carried across the
liver in tlume to supply the town site OF
Eddy, covered also the private farm OF
Mr. Eddy, containing 5000 acres on the
vest side.
CHARLES ". GREENE.
To the foresight and sagacious conprc-
tension of G. W. Greene, esq, now Of
Chicago, but formerly editor and manager
If the New MEXICAN, is due the concep-
ion OF the larger enterprise. To him,
reversing the Pecos valley, came the
hought Of uniting in one great system
he waters of the upper and lower sections
If the Pecos valley and ploWing it with
Itch which should Gkceed in extent and
control OF country t#e property and fran
;hise of every other irrigation corporation =
n the United States.
1t was the insistent and enthusiastic
application OF Mr.. Greene which finally
Induced Mr.. G. B. Eddy to enlarge his
llready grand idea and extensive system
If bitches, covering $4,000 acres, to one
hat should be eight times larger, and
'aise the Pecos valley to prominence rs
he most fertile region OF the southwest.
THE GREAT HYDRAULIC WORKS.
AS We have driven pthe valley toward