Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-03-01
IRRIGATION
ALL IMPORTANT
Governor Otero Taking Especial In
terest in the Work--Need Of
Arid Regions,
CONCERTED ACTION FAVORED
Matter to Be Brought to Attention of Con
gress-More Just Distribution of APP
preparations to Be Secured-Con
troll of Streams Necessary.

troll OF Streams Necessary.
Irrigation is, without doubt, the para
mount question before the people of the
southwest to-day. Governor Otero Is
taking especial interest in the work and
is lending the most strenuous efforts in
its furtherance. He favorS some sort of
concerted action on the part of the
| states and territories which have here
tofore been ignored in the work of bring
ing congress to a realization of the needs
of the arid regions. The governors OF
New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Cali
fornia and others will doubtless organize
and cooperate for the protection of theil
regions in tn, matter, and they will be
| heartily assisted by Senator Warren OF
Wyoming. who has always contended
| that the question was one of magnitude
which warranted a broad view by all
| who are working for the advancement
of their particular sections.
Governor Otero says concerning the
question: 'Governor Murphy, of Ari-
IONA, has previously urged me to co
operate in the matter, but we already
have matters pending before the legis-
lature which are along the lines sug.
gested by him. The memorial intro.
duced by Hon. G. A. Richardson in the
council covers the ground fully so far as
New Mexico is concerned, and will show
that we are alive to the wants and needs
of the southwest. Senator Warren has
long advocated a plan to cede the pub
lie domain to the various states and
territories, but he is now apparently in
favor of measures which will tend tC
induce congress to give the arid regions
their Just dues from the river and
harbor appropriations and do away
| with the necessities Of such regions APP
| pealing to outside capital to open the
lands which are now practically value
less.
'The central states, apparently, 40
not want the west to have her share of
the appropriation, alleging that the di-
verting of water from the head of sup
ply will injure them. Scientific investi-
CATION, however, is gradually exploding
this fallacy and giving evidence that
the control of the water supply in the
west will benefit the farming regions of
the middle states in times of drought, as
well as furnish a steady and equable
water supply for navigation.
"During the last session of congress
the secretary of agriculture appeared
before the committee on appropriations
of congress and secured an appropria-
%ton &c M1n nnn fov ipu0cfioo tionc unHnp
the agricultural department for the ben
eft of the arid states. The secretary of
agriculture became decidedly interested
in the work, and requested for this year
an appropriation of $50, 1000, to be made
available Immediately. The house Of
representatives cut the appropriation
down to $40, 900, but the committee on
irrigation in the senate recommended a
compromise of $35, 900, with the provi-
sion that $40, 900 of the amount shall be
made available during the fiscal year of
1S9S-99. The appropriation will really
stand at $20, 900 for the year 1895 and
$25, 900 for the year 1900. The idea is
to apply this money for experiments in
the arid regions, and in view of the rap
idly growing sentiment in the matter, |
AuNC III hcsiuuiSy u saying oh"o oho
work will be prolific of much good.
While New Mexico may not be directly
benefited in the immediate future,
the time is evidently not far distant
when she will exercise as much import
ance in irrigation matters as the states
and territories which have been working
for relief for many years.
"a great deal of apprehension seems
to exist on the part Of the surrounding
section relative to the objects of the
present work before congress. / have
been asked to join in a move to request
the cession of public lands to the terri
tory in order that we may invite capital
lists and make such propositions, as will
tend to induce them to invest the funds
necessary to open this region to home
seekers and levy a sufficient license to
repay them for the money invested. 1t
strikes me that such a plan would give
capitalists a hold on the homeseekers
for a great length of time, and that is
not the object Of the present move to Sc
cure a portion of the river and harbor
appropriation. The present move will
result in the opening by the gov
eminent of the lands owned by it, and
will enable hundreds of thousands of
to take up government
lands which a be profitably settled
under irrigation and are now %valueless.
For instance. in the territory of New
Mexico, there are today 100000
900 acres of land which will
be available as homesteads If
under irrigation. If coded to the
territory these lands which are now
valueless will have to be taken care of
by the territory and inducements will of
necessity be offered to capitalists to
place them under water. BY the me-
presented by Mr.. Richardson,
the United States will undergo this ex-
pense and will place the lands at the
disposal of the homeseekers without
them to pay tribute to capitalists,
would be required If coded direct to
The states and territories.
"When Senator Cockrell desired to
place Senator Warren, of Wyoming, on
record relative to the matter, Senator
Warren said: I consider the appro-
D~riation asked for, the most important
in the agricultural bill. This is
not a local proposition nor a local want
II a narrow sense, nor Is it narrow In
my sense. 1t is a very broad subject
Ind a burning one with many people
Ind localities. 1t is fallacious to think
hat it applies only to the strictly arid
Irrigation will benefit all parts
# the country, each and every state in
The Union, If only a knowledge of its
application and benefits be properly
l do not think l over
tate its value when l say that irriga-
ion and reclamation of land is the