Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-01-25
Possibilities OF New Mexico.
D. D-rL y r. t.,

Possibilities of New Mexico.
By Ralph s Tarr, Texas.
Southern New Mexico, though practi-
cdAy desert waste, Is even pow a region
OF much economic value, which presents
great possibilities. Il may practically
be divided in 20 tkr, traces, each having
Its particular indIssry-the mountain or
mining IL act, the plateau or cattle coun-
Try, and the valley or farming region.
Inc mountains contain ore OF untold
value "a account of the remarkable
e'enne5s of climatic conditions, cattle
falslng Is of great Importance, being
hampered only by the scarcity of good
watering places. The RIO Grapde, sup
phed by melting SHOWS and rains from
1ae Colorado mountains, furnishes a con
slant stream OF water which, wherever
the alleys are broad, is turned aside and
/ spread over them 10 raise the crops which
| otherwise would not grow. A few other
streams, much smaller, serve the same
purpose; but other than these limited
tracks CT lrrigable land there is no farm
Ing land in ali the vast New Mexican
territory, except some mountain valley E
wher= limited crops can be raised.
The whole great territory Is vast de-
$500 "ANAi L4EI dAu SAlSiI GA Sho3S OA TIE
river banks, and on every side mountains
rising out of the far reaching plateau.
For nine months in the year co rain
molsiens the parchec soil, and during
the three remaining months there are
only occasional heavy showers. There
are no prolonged storms; The SKY is sell
dom clouded, but day after day the bright
sun pours down from the clear blue
I i
that is held IN the soil. The cause of
this extreme aridity lies in the fact that
we have mere basin shut in on every
side b. high mountain peaks which pre-
sent all moisture bearing winds from
either ocean from passing their boundar-
les. The plateau is elevated five thous
and feet or more above this. On &C
count of the great height in spite of the
southern latitude and of the absence of
clouds, the country about the mountain
base has a most perfect climate. Day
after day the sun shines clear and bright
neither 100 hot in summer nor too cold
in winter. Blankets are necessary for
comfort at sight the year around. Snow
falls only a long intervals, when an inch
or so mag cover the ground at the base
of the mountain, the out line of heavier
fall 10 the region above.
If water were present it wo7ld be gar
den spot, and how to supply the detclen-
| cy is the problem uv der consideration.
During the summer the rains in the
mountains are numerous and often OF
such violence that mountain torrents rush
down the canyons carrying every thing
before them and exceeding ont on the
plateau for many miles before being
soaked up by the spongy toil. These
canyon arroyes, which IN tlm,s of heavy
cloud-bursts ara ii ! d with rushing
tumbling currents, sooh become dry. In
the spring, when the accumulated winter
snow begins to melt, these streams become
active again aud their activity lasts d
| month or more; then they are dry Az ain.
70 dam back this water and keep 1t from
hurrying away and wasting itself OF the
desert land is the problem the survey
recently provided for by congress has TO
deal with. When this is accomplished
farms will take the place of cattle ranch
es, the gardens the place of the desert.
The expenditure of money WI be large,
but the returns will undoubtedly more
than repay the outlay. The government
owns the lands, ard they are Of little
value; hence, 1t Is the duty of the govern
ment to improve them, If possible, so
that they may be of use TO the people
Farming by irIiga ion has proved a snc-
cess in every country where it has been
tried. The preliminary expense of build
ing the reservoirs is so great that private
companies have not entered into the IN
! dertaking; but if the government expert
ments are a success, no doubt private en-
| terprises will add to the area of reclaimed
| land.
When the system has been well estab-
lished, and orchards and farms dot the
| desert, other beneficial results may be ex-
| pected. The water, instead OF falling and
! rapidly disappearing, will be little by lit
! tie spread over the land and allowed to
evaporate gradually. The vegetation too
which has been artiacially grown upon
that region, will tend to prevent rapid
| evaporation. Under the present condi-
| ton much of the rain which falls in such
| torrents runs Immediately into the rivers
and thence to the sea, thus getting out
side of the desert region. If now there
is a covering Of trees and coating OF
sod in place of the barren sand, more OF
| the rain will be held in the region. We
are OF the road to great possibilities.