Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-08
IRRIGATION.

NO subject DelOre the people Oh new
Mexico in general and Las Vegas in
particular, equals in Importance that
of irrigation. We may boast Of our
climate. II beats the world. We may
proclaim the wealth of our ranges,
the inexhaustible reausr houses OF
our mountains, but after all we con
fess to ourselves that the basis OF the
surest and greatest prosperity Is ag-
riculture. People point TO Colorado as
a state that has grown great through
the development Of its mines. 1t is
a fact not generally known that the
value OF the manufactures Of Colorado
Is far In excess Of that Of the products
OF her mines. and the income from her
agricultural resources Is much greater
than that from her mines and her
mar ufactures combined.
safore New Mexico a become a
state, perhaps before she can
a state at all, her agricultural
irces must be developed. That
sac has q great agricultural future,
who a doubt? Her streams carry
% utter waste ten fold more water
han has been spent in Transforming
the face OF southern California from
the dreariest Of deserts TO II great
garden Of bloom and beauty. The ir-
rigation possibilities Of New Mexico
far surpass those of Colorado, Arizona
or Wyoming. No western common
wealth has been so richly endowed
What with the Rio Grande, the
Pecos. the Canadian, and hundreds Of
perennial streams that spring from our
forest crowned mountains there Is al
most no limit TO what New Mexico
may accomplish by means OF irriga-
ton.
In consideration or conditions and
difficulties, she has already accomp.
lished much. In consideration of pos
sibilties. she has accomplished little.
Irrigation has wrought wonders in the
beautiful southern vale Of the Pecos,
forcing back the wilderness, and re-
claiming what has been wrung from
fto ralaut1aeo ,rraa intn rooI,,e -
loveliness and productiveness. There Is
no greater miracle in this age than
that which Is wrought when the life
giving water Is given to the thirsty
New Mexico soil. The illimitable
vistage OF brush and cactus, of tree
less mesa and grassless plain are
changed al the magic touch into smil-
Ing farms and yerdant meadows beau
Iiful "as sunlit wales Of ATaby the
But IL is only the Pecos valley
where considerable progress has been
made. There the problem Of the con-
'cryation OF the waters has been solv-
I'd. The problem admits of equally
;aay and successful solution in almost
very part OF New Mexico. osveu =
air degree of development Of our
magnificent irrigation facilities and
III that Is desirable will come. Seek
'e first this kingdom and al things
Else will bis added unto 1t.
No other part OF New Mexico Is
more generously endowed by nature
han Las Vegas and its surrounding
'ountry. The streams that flow from
Ter mountain fountains carry water
'isough to transform zen Of thousands
4 acres Of resaurcefuf, but yet iallow
ind The advantages for dam loca-
and reservoir sites are many. /!
has furnished impreglnble !
1urdarions and walls and great has !
M tlat will hsil1 water enough 10
IL county. The contiguous
lnds stretch in wide. smooth plains.
o situated that water can be led
cross their surface at minimum ex-
,snse, Let Las Vegas spare no effort
y secure a government reservoir.
FER facilities put her TO the first place