Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-07-08
DELEGATE R0DEY
is ALERT
He Made Argument Before the Secretary
of the Interior and Director of the Geo.
logical Survey to Secure Irrigation
Works for New Mexico.
GOOD PROSPECTS THAT NEW MEXICO WILL
GET THE FIRST IRRIGATION ENTERPRISE

Special Correspondence New Mexican.
Washington, D, c., July 5.
On the third instant, Delegate Rodey
preparatory to leaving washington,
went to see the secretary of the inter-
Tor. and the director of the geological
survey, to urge New Mexicos claim to
have at least one of the first irrigation
enterprises located in it under the new
irrigation law. He made ten minute
argument before the secretary of the
interior on me subject, and that official
listened to him With very serious at
tention. and promised to give the mat
ter attention. Mr.. Rodey presented
views of the subject, which, perhaps,
the secretary had not heretofore had
called to his attention. Before the di-
rector of the geological survey, and
Professor Newell OF that bureau, Mr..
Rodey had sort of joint hearing to-
gether with Congressman Newlands of
Nevada, and Mondell of Wyoming, and
argued the question out. Mr.. Rodey
contended that New Mexico and Ari
zona. being still territories, the govern
ment had most control there and would
not be hampered by intricate state laws
or regulations, or state irrigation engi-
propriated public domain in those ter
ritories than elsewhere, that they had
larger tracts of arid lands that were
particularly available, ETC. That to be-
gin the first enterprises there would
avoid the pressure by senators and
representatives from the states to nave
them placed in their jurisdiction. etc.
Congressman Newlands suggested that
it would be better for the department
to start the first enterprise in places
where people were already living, ana
where water had failed, ana where
large amounts of property would pe
,ost unless the government came 10
their aid. Mr. Rodey admitted this was
a. good point, and stated that IL tna'
should govern, that then New MeAico
was entitled by all odds to the first en-
ternrise because the Rio Grande val
lev was thickly settled from the COLO
RADIO line south, and had been so settled
for more than 900 years, and that no"
the river was dry from Albuquerque
down to the mouth of the Concho below
Ell Paso for many months each year,
and ll,at q Dig dam at White ROCK
canon near Pena Blanca, or one farther
down ths river, would be of immense
benefit at the present time, and couio
he finished without interference of any
sort in a very short time. When the
subject of the international dam was
referred the delegate gave all present
eo-m;nute lecture on the subject that
certainly enlightened the people pres
emf not excepting the geological survey
mon IF would not be at all surprising
if New Mexico should get one or the
first irrigation enterprises started py
the government under the new irriga-
ton law. The government officials DO
not like interference by state engineers,
and they are already being annoyed by
senators and representatives of the
western states, and they may get rid
of them all by not deciding for either
and going into the territories with the
first proposition.