Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-08-31
THE ARID LANDS.
Statistics Showing the Splendid Pro-
gress New Mexico is Making with
Irrigation Enterprises.
Report Of the New Mexico Commits
sion to the Third National
Irrigation Congress.

Following is the report of the New
Mexico irrigation commission appointed
by the National Irrigation congress at
its Los Angeles session, and which will be
laid before the congress at its meeting IN
Denver next week:
Gentlemen: 1t has been impossible
for the New Mexico commissioners to
hold a session of that body. Considera-
BILE, however, has been accom- plished by
its chairman in personal interviews with
a majority of the commissioners. A
general policy was mapped out and the
undersigned, chairman, was authorized to
shape the written report.
HISTORICAL.
Two conventions have been held in
New Mexico to consider the best policy
to be pursued relative to the reclamation
of the public arid domain within the ter
ritorial boundaries. The first and more
important of these was called to meet in
Las Vegas, March 16 and II, 1892, and
was numerously attended. The gist of
their deliberation was tersely embodied
in the closing paragraph of memorial
adopted, as follows:
"The irrigation congress was clearly of
the opinion that the lands could be util-
lied in the interest of the people, re-
claimed and made habitable and produc-
tive, better under the states and territories
than by the general government; but to
avoid any question of Misrepresentation,
all agreed that the title should remain in
the United States until reclamation is
actually accomplished"
The memorial advocated the creation
of state board of irrigation commits
sioners or supervisors, who should report
to the governor of their state or territory
when any work is completed; who upon
receipt of such report should make a
thorough personal examination of the
same, calling to his aid such engineer as
sistants as he deemed advisable, to enable
him to make full and accurate report,
showing whether the contract of reclama-
ton had been complied with or not, and
if so whether there was water that could
be utilized by the system of canals, stor-
age reservoirs and laterals to irrigate the
amount of land shown upon the maps and
by the field notes of the board of irriga-
tion commissioners and he shall report
&r,% ha lort Of ho T1pi+ ol
States. The president after satisfying
himself of the truth of the facts, "shall
issue patent to the state or territory for
the land reclaimed"
The memorial further suggests that in
assessing the values of the reclaimed
lands for sale to settlers, "the total value
80 fixed shall be the actual cost of recla-
nation, with the annual tax
for repairs or super ,ision and no more"
1t may be remarked that this action
was had at time when the spectators
were most rampant in their advocacy of
cession Of the arid lands under the pro-
visions of the Warren bill, then pending
in congress, and so keen was their disap-
pointment that New Mexico refused to
indorse their schemes, that the actual
plOSCCuiHEo WClO anu uh ASoo'
ciated Press dispatch was some how sent
out announcing that New Mexico had
Endorsed the Warren bill. This fact is
referred to because some delegates to
| this congress may be in error as to the
actual intent and work of the Las Vegas
convention.
Following this the Both legislative as
sembly Endorsed the memorial of the Las
Vegas convention and appended thereto a
solemn declaration that New Mexice was
opposed to the cession of the public
domain within her borders except on a
basis of actual reclamation.
The Deming congress held November 7
and 8, 1898, was even stronger in it's gen.
eral attitude, as the policy outlined there
would have forced the immediate forma-
ton of irrigation districts similar to
those of California. Whether or not this
congress is entitled to great weight as a
factor in present deliberations is ques
ton. The attendance while large was
dominated by few specialists and the
writer is not certain that it voiced the
general ideas of the territory, except in
so far that it declared against the prin-
ciples of ceding the public domain prior
to the approval by the United States of
the works Of reclamation.
TERRITORIAL LAWS.
The general law of the territory is that
all water courses, large or small, are to be
considered in the light of public acequias
or irrigation canals.
Chapter XXI, of the session laws OF
this territory approved February ID, 1898
is as follows:
Section /. "That all irrigation bitches
canals and reservoirs hereafter construct.
ed for the purpose of storing or conduct
ing water for irrigation purposes shall be
exempt from taxation for the period OF
six years from the commencement of such
construction; and all irrlgating bitches
canals and reservoirs heretofore construct
ed, the extent, carrying capacity or water
supply of which is increased by enlarge.
ment or additional construction of the
same, or other reservoirs, bitches or can.
ais to be used in connection Herewith
shall be exempt from taxation for six
years from the commencement of such
additions or enlargements."
1t will therefore be clearly seen the
while New Mexico strenuously opposes
the adoption of the Warren bill, hereto
fore the basis of the movement in favor
of land cesson, at the same time he'
laws are framed SO as to give capital
the best and most favorable opportunity
for Investment. 1t may as we'll be under
stood, however, that the sly taunt that
New Mexico is afraid of her own legisla-
ture has no force with US. There is hard
ly a thinking man who would place such
responsibility as the parcelling out by
charter of untold wealth upon such a
heterogeneous body as a Legislature and
expect good to come of it. New Mexico
elects as good legislature as any other
community; but prefers that the title to
her undeyeloped lands should repose in