Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-01-17
IRRIGATION COMMISSION.
New Plan Adopted by Members Of
Great Benefit TO Territory,
PERMANENT RESERVOIRS ADVOCATED.

The commission of irrigation of New
Mexico has somewhat changed the pol
icy it pursued soon after its organi-
zstion in the location of lands. looking
to the storage of water and the reclaim
alton 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 a great demand in some portions
of the territory for government land
by actual settlers and much of the best
land of the territory being acquired or
segregated from the public domain in
that way, it 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 q, 1898. for the establishment of
permanent reservoirs.
The commission determined at its
recent meeting hat 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 a substantial fund
acquired thereby which could be used
either in the construction of reservoirs
OF in the investigation by proper engi-
neering corps of the possible storage
opportunities and the application of
water in the development of its arid
lands. This also would involve posi-
bly, the study somewhat of her soils,
which would result in a better under
standing of the most profitable prod
ucts which could be raised by those
engaged in agricultural pursuits.
To this end the commission at its re-
cent meeting passed upon applications
pending before it and has recommend
ed to the United States land board the
location and segregation of such lands
as it has designated for the above pur-
poses.
The commission has also undertake
en- a very great work in the develop
ment of the arid lands of the territory
in that it directed, by resolution, that
its officers address a communication
to the secretary Of the interior asking
that certain localities in the territory
and certain streams, and the soils of
certain valleys be examined for the
purpose of getting the benefits of the
recent congressional legislation known
as THE arid land law. This commu-
nication will be followed by others up
on the same subject from time to time,
calling the ~secretary's attention to
other localities than those now n
templated Tor investigation.
The commission also, through it's Of
ficers, addressed a letter to the secre-
tary of the interior, calling his atten-
ton to the fact that the suit now pend
ing in the courts of this territory and
which has been before the supreme
courts of the United States, known as
the Elephant Butte dam case" would
likely seriously interfere with the
proper investigation of the conditions
for the storage of water and the recla-
nation of lands in the Rio Grande val
ley, as it had been informed that the
suit pending would delay investiga-
tions. 1t, therefore. has requested the
secretary, by such commentator, to
use his influence with the department
of justice to secure the speedy and fin
al determination of the questions in
volved in that suit, The letter on -le
first named subject, the first TO be
sent, is as follows:
Hon. e. A. Hitchcock, Secretary Of the
Interior Washington, ID. c.
Sir-By resolution adopted at the
meeting of the commission OF irriga-
ton of the territory of New Mexico,
held at Santa Fe, January ~, 1903, the
officers Of the commission were direct
ed to address a letter to you asking for
an investigation by the proper author
ity to be made Of the Pecos valley in
the territory of New Mexico, as to the
water supply Of the river Rio Puerco,
the soil of that valley and as to the
available storage reservoir sites. Such