The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1903-12-14

The following letter from Rev. R.
w. Lewis will be read with interest
by our readers. Rev. Lewis has made
q study of the various methods of
irrigation in California with a view
t o the adoption of the best methods
in the Pecos Valley. His observa-
tions are worthy of careful reading.
"Downey, Cal, Dec. Z, 1908.
ITO the Roswell Record:
Dear Mr. Editor:-Having bought
land in the Pecos Valley n yea
ago, and now being interested in the
development of the valley in general
all facts calculated to throw light
on our problems interest me. Thus
my presence in Southern California
for some time this winter has been
interesting in the extreme. because
of the similarity of conditions here
and in the Pecos Valley. Believing
JOdA OodOAo WILL 10 eAbu ~ 80 -
few notes f~irst-handed. 1 dare offer
ing some special observations.
'"That southern California Is a
great land need not be argued. The
fact that orchards. ang groves
and walnut farms sell for from $500
to $1,000 per acre, prove the propo-
sition without argument. But here.
as in the Pecos Valley, it is the wa
ter that makes the land. The land
seems to be almost pure sand. New
ertheless fruit trees and walnuts, cit
rons and pumpkins, sweet potatoes,
grapes and vegetables thrive luxu-
riantly. Excepting the orange, all of
these products can be grown as well
in our own Valley as here.
There are three sources of water
supply here. the river, artesian and
surface wells. 1t is about the last
named l have been most concerned.
Having thousands of acres in the
Pecos Valley just outside the arte-
sian belt. yet land as fine as any,
the question of pumping water for
these lands has been on my mind
over a year. Coming here I determ-
ined a full and satisfactory answer
to my question. Just today / have
been riding owe one estate of II, 600
acres, three thousand of which are
under cultivation and irrigated from
wells. The wells run as deep as 200
pumps are used. Tremendous streams
twelve inches in diameter shoot out
of the Woods pump supply pipe into
the reservoir. One Of these reser-
voirs / saw today is nearly IN acre
square and is made to irrigate 800
acres. It is undoubtedly ~overworked.
but my informant who has had
charge of the plant in the past, in
sists that 200 acres of alfalfa can be
easily irrigated from this well. The
flow is 125 inches. They do not mea-
sure here by gallons as we do. With
Woods pump and electric motor
reservoir is filed In 8 or 10
hours. The reservoir is lined with
asphalt, and the ditch mains are u.s.
uaIly of cement concrete. the cost
Of which is about 80 to 35 cents per
lineal foot. This pen is necessa-
~ since the sand bitches will allow
great a loss from absorption.
Everywhere I hear but one testi
mony and that is in favor of pump
lrom lis TO SO feet. One plant has
been Just put in which cost nearly
1000. With such plants and land
at $1,000 per acre. they cain
hey can make 10 ner e. on the.
raising English walnuIs.
Then what could we do in the Pecos
Valley with our lands worth $25 to
100 per acre?
Since investigating conditions here
am more enthusiastic than ever as
o the future Of the Pecos Valley.
FOR four days the wind has been
q gale which is locally call
d q Santa Ana" since the wind
boots down from q canon by that
anne. Thus the sand storms of the
'ecos Valley become more than toll
rable In view OF the fact that this
spot" of the earth must en-