Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-01-04
Need Of irrigation Reservoirs.

-AAN
| Mexico is a system of irrigation reser-
of ample capacity to furnish Wa
ter for the thousands of acres of semi
arid land which, when touched by the
magic of moisture, yields abundant
crops of grain, vegetables and fruits.
The mining industry has attained a
point where it is no longer problemat-
zeal. the raising of cattle and sheep is
one of the principal sources of income
of the inhabitants Of the territory, but
farming in it's varied branches is not
keeping stride with other industries, or
| with the settlement of the territory, for
lack of facilities for distributing water,
of water there is no lack. From ev-
plant, THE streams are fun. but we
have no means for storing the water
for future use" The traveller on the
Santa Fe road down the Rio Grande
valley annot but marvel at the wealth
of verdure, the extent of c~ultiVa,vd
lands in the umlner time. the same is
true of the Taos, Mora, Santa Fe and
other valleys in the territory. Where
can there be found a more enchanting
place than the Mesilla valley, with its
great orchards, its miles of alfalfa and
grain fields? All because water can be
placed where it is needed and desired,
| Where can there be found a country so
sure of crops outside of an irrigated
section? Water is king in New Mexico,
and the man who can command an un-
failing supply is independent, the lord
of all he surveys
Had it not been FOR the dog in the
Manager tactics of the people to the
south Of the territory one of the great
est irrigation reservoirs in the world
would have been nearing completion at
Elephant Butte by this time and a be-
ginning made toward supplying that
which is so necessary to the territory.
But the Rio Grande is not the only
| stream from which water can be secur-
ed in quantities sufficient to reclaim
great areas of desert and make them
furnish homes for thousands of people.
bitches heading into running creeks
aud rivers are good so far as they so,
but they are dependent upon the
amount Of water which comes from the
mountains and in case of a light snow
fall in the winters, run dry, bringing
DISAPPOINTMENT and losses to those who
look to them for moisture. In the
u.Z,.o.u, ,1,l l,,,it,r tho hpipf pa N Y
season there is more water than is
needed, than can be used, but ii runs to
the gulf and is lost to the farmers.
Could that surplus be caught and held
for use in the crop season, there would
be more than enough for the tillable
land in the territory.
There are innumerable families look
ing for homes in the mild climate OF
New Mexico, but they cannot live on
pure air and bright sunshine. A major
ity of such home seekers desire to, live
on farms and could they be assured OF
an unfailing supply of water. Wouio
only too gladly cast their lot with the
people of New Mexico and aid in the
development and upbuilding of the com
monwealth, To secure thisc class of de-
sirable immigration reservoirs are I'M
lucrative. "There is a large field for PROF
table investment in the territory in IT.
rigation plants and systems, but it vii
require business sense and Judgment tt
make ii successful. Colorado n Cali
fornia have succeeded in making ilri-
cation systems pay and there is no rea
son why New Mexico is not as good g
section for such operations as those TWO
states. But there is one drawback. The
very men who are the most extensively
interested in the territory seem to lacR
confidence. they do not work together
they do not blow their own horn louc
enough to be heard across the borders
Nothing succeeds like success, ano
could one large irrigation reservoir be
constructed and made successful II
New Mexico, there would be no further
trouble: the rest would come almost OF
themselves. What is needed is a little
git up and git and 1899 is the best
time in the world to git"