Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-08-31


definite lines, supervised in each CON-
monwealth by a central authority and the
whole arid region under the control Of
proper national officers. 1t is not sup
posed that the president himself has the
knowledge or the time to properly attend
to the mass of detail that would be de-
volved on him, therefore some such officer
as Capt. w. A. Glassford, for instance,
should be appointed to do this work. Too
much attention can not be given to this
idea, as the tendency of the country is to
run away with its opportunity. In the
headlong desire for boom" they over
look the fact that there are millions of
acres now under ditch for which cultivat-
ors can not be found nor can any cultiva-
ton be done thereon for want of popula-
tion. In New Mexico this is realized; and
it is also understood that If the ideas of
the "cessionists" prevail these lands would
be almost valueless to the companies that
have reclaimed them because the immi
grafton would naturally be to the newly
opened estate lands" We can not help
feeling kindly to the companies who have
come in the face of every uncertainty and
reclaimed vast areas of our deserts, and
New Mexico at least is not disposed to
desert her first friends.
INTERSTATE WATERS.
The qsestion of the power and rights
of a state rivers and streams that
rise within '1ers and flow on into
the domain commonwealth has
been deemed -reat Importance
| that it's consideral. Ids deferred to a
separate but brief chapter of this report.
AS the law stands there is no shadow of
doubt but that the state in which river
heads has the power, if it be a scientific
possibility to impound every drop of its
water for its own use or for sale to neigh
boring communities. The states of Colo
RADIO, Wyoming and Montana, control the
headwaters of all the important inter-
state streams. How far this may deter
the process of reclamation on lands under
their borders is a mooted question. If
the country were new and uninhabited,
there is little question but that the proper
method would be to begin settlement
! as near the headwaters as possible. But
be nothing to do but petition the various
legislatures to provide for the creation
and meeting of an Interstate commission
who shall examine into and report upon
the facts as they exist; and recommend
to the legislatures of the several states in
terested some definite policy. The pre-
sent bill pending in congress for COM
mission to distribute the waters of the
Rio Grande is piece of nonsense be-
cause it dees not provide for repre-
sentation of Colorado. 1t is just one of
those pieces of political buncombe, the in
terjection of which into the serious
problem that confront US, that can not be
to seriously reprobated. The limits of this
paper do not permit that detail of the
facts even should be made. It is only
possible to recommend to the congress
some action on the line herein set forth,
or some other policy as in its wisdom
may seem fit. That this burning ques-
| ton should receive careful consideration
is the overshedowing consideration. The
Deming convention in this territory was
called for the special purpose of consider
ing this vital question, SO far as it relates
to the Rio Grande; but Colorado WAS
omitted from the call. 1t was pointed
out that everything would be useless with
out her adherence to our resolutions, and
the matter was only cursorily discussed
and abandoned. This congress should
weigh the whole matter and come
to some general conclusion.
NEW MEXICO.
A word may be pardoned here to dis
play some of the advantages of New Mex
leo. From an irrigators standpoint the
country is divided into four we'll defined
areas, the San Juan, the Canadians, the
Rio Grande and Pecos valleys.
San Juan is unique in the arid region
in that it possesses greater abundance
of water than land. The problem here is
not to find the water but the land on
which to use it. It is estimated that there
is constant flow of water sufficient to
irrgate 100000 acres, and that there ID
available now only about 1.-THE of that
amount. The Navajo reservation includes
large area that should be opened to
civilized use as the Indians have no need
of it. San Juan is one of the garden
spots of the world, and although it is fifty
miles off railroad it has already a
thrifty self-sustalning population. Those
who are hunting investments should e1-
anime this country.
The Canadian valley is the scene Of
operations of the Maxwell company.
Here a series Of canals and interlocked
lakes are turning the sheep and cattle
ranges into smiling gardens. The COM
pany has great advantages as it owns
outright the broad expanse of tho Max
well land grant with its forests, mines,
ranges and farming lands. The works
are of the most substantial character.
The Rio Grande valley in New Mexico
from the garden county of Taos" to the
fertile MesiIa valley on the south is ro-
mantle, beautiful and teaming with oppor.
Turtles for safe investment. Here irr
cation has been practiced by the Mexi-
cans for $50 years ard for ages be-
fore their advent by the Pueblos. Its
broad valley should be one magnificent
garden. As heretofore stated several i'm
portant enterprises are under way.
Some idea of the great work already
done in the Pecos valley can be gained
from the following statistics. This de-
velopment dates from 1890:
Total length main canals. ...... ........... 121
| Necessary main laternls...... 273
Farm or SUBJ aterals. ........,............. 800
Total ........,....... ................. 1894
| CUBIC FEET.
Capacity o, completed reservoirs. 7,CG000o,OOo
Capacity OF projected reservoirs 6,00OCC0,000
|
Total storage. 10, 00O COO, 0C0
Flow of water in the Pecos additional
to storage 1000 cubic feet.
Estimated increase of population since
1896, $4,000.
No description Of the country short of
a volume would be adequate.
| AN INVITATION.