Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-02-02
A FARMER TALKS.
@. H, MoHenry, of the San Juan
Speaks Of Water Legis-
lation.
Suggestions on an Important Subject
Will the Law Makers
ACt2

Capt. c. II. McHenry, we'll known
pioneer settler Of the famous San Juan
valley of northwest New Mexico, is in the
city in response to summons to serve as
Juror in the district court.
In a little chat with the NEW MEXICAN
to-day he said that material progress is
being made in San Juan county. Inmi-
grafton is rolling in at a very satisfactory
rate, and the settlers are we'll to do peo-
pie from Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Colo
RADIO and Kansas. Many improvements
are in hand, and as all advance is based
on the growth of horticulture, agriculture
and stock raising, it promises to bessub-
stantial and lasting. He says all the
farmers as a rule are alfalfa feeding their
stock this season and they find it pays a
fine cash return. He himself has been
offered cents pound for his alfalfa fed
beef cattle.
WATER DEVELOPMENT
is the order of the day with his people.
They realize they must first have water
in abundance before they can consistent
ly invite immigration. In addition to
those already in operation, Colorado
capital is now going into two new bitches
that will reclaim $4,000 acres of land.
Speaking of water and water rights Mr..
McHenry said great interest is felt among
the farmers as regards any action the
PRESENT LEGISLATURE
may take OH this subject. He said the
law rs it exists to-day had been rendered
burdensome and complicated by too much
tinkering at the hands of careless legisla-
tors, and he thought there was chance
for some member of the present assembly
to distinguish himself and forever make
his name respected by the farmers and
fruit growers-and their name is legion
of New Mexico if he will either carefully
overhaul and
SIMPLIFY THE PRESENT LAW
or secure the enactment Of such legisla.
ton as will remedy the many evils now
complained of. He thinks the public
water ways" should be defined, once and
for all, and that the water consumers
great and small ahould have their rights
defined and not longer be subjected to
| the bleeding operations of irresponsible
mayordomos and conniving justices Of
the peace. He thinks the water commits
sioners idea good in some respects and
| bad in others.
THE HOUSE BILL
now pending, No. 81, which provides fol
three commissioners and treasurer, per
hitting the use OF proxies at elections and
setting forth that no man shall serve as
commissioner unless he owns twenty
acres of land on the ditch-this bill, Mr.
McHenry says, if passed will work great
hardship to the agriculturists and fruit
growers of perhaps every region of New
Mexico, save possibly the Mesilla valley
He thinks all would prefer the presen
law to this proposed one. He says unless
the existing water statutes are to be com
pletely
ovERHAULED AND REMoDELED,
something after the modern idea now
governing in Colorado, Arizona or Cali
fornia, that the most expedient thing t.
be done is to simply change the law as i
now stands so that the men who serve al
mayordomos shall be responsible upon ,
sufficient bond, say $500, in case they dt
not equitably distribute the water unde
their charge. This and other simple al
terations in the law will suffice at present
thinks Mr.. McHenry.
| A SUGGESTION.
In this connection the New MExIoAr
would suggest that this question of waite
rights and management is among thu
most important subjects for legislation a
the hands of the present assembly. The
committees having this subject in hant
could well afford to take the time ant
pains to call before them such men as Mr.
McHenry, Col. Fountain, Hon. Trinidad
Alarid, DR.. Andrews, H. r. Whiting, Dor
Edwardo Martinez, Geo. Cam, and mer
of that experienced class, and get theil
views ON the subject with view to fran
ing a new and simpler law that woulc
| ,s,ao@ ,ll tbo of fba fip,ou