Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-31
Possibilities of New Mexico.

Dy y. ldTT, Ie8aS.
Southern New Mexico, though practi-
cally desert waste, is even row a region
of much economic value, which presents
great possibilities. Is may practically
be divided into three traces, each having
its particular iudUstry-the mountain or
mining tract, the plateau or cattle coun-
try, and the valley or farming region.
The noun tains contain ore of untold
ye}Us. o. account of the remarkable
j eveDuess Of climatic conditions, cattle
railing is Of great Importance, being
! ham psred only by the scarcity of good
wateriLg places. The E.o GraBde, sup
piled by melting SHOWS and rains from
the Colorado mountains, furnishes a con-
slant stresm Of water which, wherever
the alleys are broad, is turned aside and
spread over 5bem TO raise the crops which
urberwise would not grow. A few other
streams, much smaller, serve the same
puFrc s.; but other than these limited
track CT irrigable land there is no farm
ing land in ali ths vast New Mexican
territory, except some mountain valleys
where limited crops can be raised.
The whole great territory is a vast de-
sert with here and there an oRsis on the
river banks, and on every side mountains
rising out of the far reaching plateau.
For nine months in the year co rain
moistens the parched 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
heavens, akiug every drop of moisture
that is held in the soil. The cause of
this extreme aridity lies in the fact that
we have here basin shut in ou every
side By high mountain peaks Wich 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 most perfect climate. Day
after day the sun shines clear and bright
neither too hot in summer nor too cold
in winter. Blankets are necessary for
comfort at night the year around. Snow
falls only at long intervals, when an inch
or 80 mag cover the ground at the base
of the mountain. the out line of heavier
fall in the region above.
If water were present it would be gar
den spot, and how to supply the defcien-
cy is the problem up 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 everything
before them and extending ont on the
plateau for many miles before being
soaked up by the spongy soil. These
canyon arroXas, which in times of heavy
cloud-bursts are filled with rushing
tumbling currents, soop become dry. In
the spring, when the accumulated winter
snow begins to melt, these streams become
active again and their activity lasts a
month or more; then they are dry again.
To dam back this water and keep it from
hurrying away and wasting itself on 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 will be large,
but the returns will undoubtedly more
than repay the outlay. The government
owns the lands, aid they are of little
value; hence, it is the duty of the govern
ment to improve them, if possible, go
that they may be of use to the people.
Farming by irrigation has proved sue
tried. The preliminary expense of build
ing the reservoirs is 30 great that private
companies have not entered into the I'M
dsrtaking; but if the government expert
nents are success, no doubt private en-
terprises will add to the area of reclaimed
and.
When the system has been well estab-
ished, and orchards and fans dot the
desert, other beneficial results may be ex-
pected. The water, instead of falling and
,apidIy disappearing, will be little by lit
lie spread over the land and allowed to
,vaporate gradually. The vegetation too,
which has been artiscially grown upon
hat region, will tend to prevent rapid
Under the present condi-
ion much of the rain which falls ia such
orrents runs i'm mediately into the rivers
md thence to the sea, thus getting out.
ide of the desert region. If now there
. a covering Of trees and a coating of
cd in place of the barren sand, more of
he rain will be held in the region. We
re on the road to great possibilities.