Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-01-16

RESERVOIRS
Commission Of fIrrigation Has
Changed the Policy First
Pursued.
SETTLERS WANT MUCH LAM
The New Plan Will be of Great
Benefit in Future Years.
Letters to Secretary
Hitchcock.

The Commission of Irrigation Of New
Mexico has somewhat changed the pol
icy it pursued soon after its organiza-
ton, in the location of lands looking to
| the storage of water and the reclama-
ton of lands Hereunder.
The request for the location of reser-
voir sites and the lands adjacent there
| to, which might be reclaimed by the
application of water, has been some
what disappointing to the commission
and in view of the fact that there has
been great demand IN some portions
of the territory for government lard
by actual settlers, and much Of the bert
land Of the territory being acquired or
segregated from the public domain in
that way 1t appeared to the commits
| sion that it should not delay longer the
| location of those lands which had been
granted to congress under the act of
June 21, 1898, for the establishment OF
permanent reservoirs.
The commission determined at its
| recent meeting that it likely would
serve the territory better in locating
valuable lands, that would become
more valuable and which could be sold
in future years and substantial fund
acquired thereby which could be used
either in the construction Of reservoirs,
or in the investigation by proper engi-
neering corps of the possible storage
opportunities and the application of
water in the development Of it's arid
lands. This also would involve possi-
bly, the study somewhat of her soils,
which would result in better UNDER
standing of the most profitable prod
ucts which could be raised by those en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits.
TO this end, the commission at It's re-
cent meeting passed upon applications
pending before it, and has recommend
ed to the United States land board che
location and segregation Of such lands
as it has designated for the above pur-
poses.
The commission has also undertaken
a very great work in the development
of the arid lands of the territory in thai
it directed, by resolution, that it's Off
GERS address a communication to the
secretary of the interior asking thai
certain localities in the territory ant
certain streams, and the soils of certain
valleys be examined for the purpose O.
getting the benefits Of the recent con
gressional legislation known as "Tht
arid land law" This communication
, will be followed by others upon the
same subject from time to time, call
ing the secretary's attention to othe
. localities than those now contemplated
for investigation.
The commission also, through its Off
GERS addressed letter to the secretar!
of the interior, calling his attention tt
. the fact that the suit, now pending II
. the courts of this territory and whicl
a has been before the supreme courts o
+, the United States known as the 9TH
q Elephant Butte dam case," would like
ly seriously interfere with the prope
a investigation of the conditions for tn
. storage Of water and the reclamation o
lands in the Rio Grande valley, as
had been informed that the suit pend
: ing would delay Investigations. II
:, therefore, has requested the secretary
by such commendation, to use his in
fluence with the department Of justic
to secure the speedy and final deter
mination of the questions involved /
J, that suit. The letter on the first name
subject, the first to be sent, is as fol
: lows: o~t
Hon. e. A. Hitchcock,
= Secretary Of the Interior,
II Washington, D. c.
Sir: BY resolution adopted at tt
meeting Of the Commission of Irrigs
tion Of the Territory of New Mexic
II held at Santa Fe, January 12. 1908, tt
officers of the commission were dire
ted to address a letter to you asking Il
% an investigation, by the proper autho
ity, to be made of the Pecos Valley
g the Territory Of New Mexico. as to Il
water supply Of the river Rio Puerc
ei the soil of that valley and as to Il
available storage reservoir sites. SUI
~ investigation to be made between t
point where the Santa Fe railro
crosses that valley on the north, al
the town of Carlsbad in the county
Eddy on the south.
The irrigation commission Is con
dent, from information which 1t h,
cN that the soil, the water and the rest
al voir sites, which afford conditions
storage in that valley and upon tn
river. would justify such Investigate
VI by proper authority of your departme
looking to the application Of the rece
congressional act in reference to the
rigation Of the arid country.
ne Very respectfully,
DO G. A. Richardson. President
'e- George w. Knaebel, Sec
The letter on the Elephant Butte d.
- case is as follows:
Hon. e. A. Hitchcock,
- Secretary Of the Interior,
Washington, D. G.
avE Sir: The Irrigation Commission Of
Territory Of New Mexico is iimpres
r I %ho& = oor%ofn ooon ,1nvu v,ondino II,