Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-12-18
Judge Long
Discusses Grant
Concluded from page -

iHtht1 III I'M 1&bAubs1 i8Ai1Shb 80 &,i
the water fiowage. but he said the
department would not regard such csi
dence or act upon II, but would take
measurements Of its own, He also
promised TO recommend the depart
ment 10 place guages to measurs the
water iowage.
After his examination, and early in
August, Mr.. Earl g. Marsh Of Wash
ington was sent by the department TO
examine the country, install measure
ments and report. ! spent W days
with him, showing him the extensive
drainage naturally flowing into the
reservoir and the ease With which
these two rivers could be turned in.
| also sent surveyor Rice to assist In
Installing his measurements, which
were placed ut various points in the
G%aliinaa, the Sapello and Manuelitas,
He also expressed the belief that the
government would accept nothing less
than the result Of water measure.
ments. 20 get the average normal guam,
tity.
All these government experts OK.
pressed the belief that the depart
ment would be very careful: that 1t
did not want TO make a mistake by
the expenditure OF large sums Of
money until satisfied there was wa
ter to effect the irrigation. That Is a
reasonable and sensible view,
In the August letter, published No
vember IL In The Optic. II will be
seen that the board offers TO do what
ever the department asks 70 insure
the repayment Of expenditure and ne
cure the work. The department hal
not yet responded to this offer.
The board a not coerce the secre
tary of the interior, 1t has appealed
10 him In every reasonable way, an
there la no reason to doubt. In thu
end work will begin, but not until III,
department can be satisfied we hav'
the water. When our flood seasol
comes the water guages will prov
that We have.
In the meantime, the board ha
! sought 10 induce private parties an
, promoters 10 undertake the work.
j have personally written 70 man
|, whom / have heard might be interes
i I'd and have requested many Of on
/ citizens To take a hand and make q
/ effort 10 aid lis. So, also, has M
Reynolds. Our work did not stop wit
! efforts to interest the government.
! any responsible party can be found :
!. undertake this work the board WI
moi wait on the department. and ha
I often SO announced. It is far easier I
!, say Why Don't you build the reese
yoir Z than II Ii 10 induce capital I
!, make the Investment II effort WI
!. build ii. in reasonable time II Will !
!. done.
furnish you herewith such OF u
!. correspondence as | have. With th
! facts / have stated. this %correspon'
. ence VIII show that everything TIL
! could be has been done. On beha
OF the board I take the liberty 70 \
!, wife. The aid and cooperation OF q
= citizens In securing an early con
: mencement OF this work, II beseecl
= ins the department, soliciting capita
: lists. furnishing data, securing u
presence OF government experts an
showing them over the ground IL G
I fort, II has been made What MOI
! can be doneg
y We have asked the department
{. name what II wants We have e
c dcred 10 secure the government 60
/ satisfaction. Now. II some enthusia
Tic citizen who believes a work ~
! this can bc secured on short motif
4 viii point out a better way, the boai
!. Will hasten % follow 4
l. In the meantime Il may well !
borne IN mind that time and effo
have also been consumed in scttlti
/ tho question Of the western houndar
about which there was disputes
regulating the use OF timber ~
Y checking MS wholesale destructi,
and appropriation 70 private uses.
securing the actual delivery Of q
= patent for the grant. anu In nunerol
matters of unavoidable aud neccssa
:. detail.
a transition from the old methot
when every one cut and appropriate
= for his y proity at will, witho
:, regard 20 ownership or the comm
good. 10 d newer system, when Z
interests Of all are to be subscrys
can not be worked out In a day.
/ venture the assertion that mo
toward a beneficial and satisfacto
solution Of this great problem b
been done In the past eighteen mont