Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1903-11-11
IRRIGATION FROM WELLS
Interesting Address Before Irrigation Convention bv
Prof. Francis E. Lester of nesila Park

In an address before the Territorial Tcri,,o
cation convention Prof. Francis e. Tesfor aa,o
some very interesting and valuable facts and 6e-
ures IN regard to pumping for irrigation; com
pairing the results Of tests in the Rio Grande VAL
ley with those in other parts Of the country which
shows that New Mexico can employ this class of
irrigation to greater advantage than any other
part of the West We reproduce the following
given in the latter part of his address and re-
gret that space will not permit our printing the
whole of it:
In the light of the information secured the
advantages possessed by the Rio Grande valley
in New Mexico may be summarized as follows:
1.-The assurance Of an ample supply of
: water OF good quality at a comparatively shallow
pdepth.
2:-The fact that this water may be made
available with inexpensive wells; well capable
OF supplying water sufficient to irrigate 100 acres
o. land ought not to cost more than $3.50 to $500
3:-Ihe probable existence of gravel beds
throughout the valley from which water may be
pumped without the difficulties encountered in
many other localities where water is pumped
from sand, with the consequent necessity for ex-
passive sJrainers.
4:-Tha river supply Of water, with its ric
sediment.
Cheap lands, cheap labor, rich SOIL and
an ideal climate.
Until we get ample and proper storage reser-
yoirs anu possibly AFTER The salvation OF, the Il
C,.anla valley today depends upon no o,ner one
Lining more than upon The question Of a proper
d se.pnent OF TINS enormous underIIow. The
w,C,l tIore awaiting The enterprise OF these
WAC Will use It; ana ~ the installation OF suitable
pumping plant tho farmer in our valley can place
himself N d pCsiiol where his water supply
WA ue independent ana certain.
What this means TO The farmers in the Rio
Crande valley is pest realized by those who have
had experience IN our vdiey. For long sue
c-ssion OF years tbs development Of tny Whole
valley soutn OF Albuquerque has been RETARDED
Dy lne uncertainty OF the supply of river water
Oar farmers, generally speaking, are hoping each
year for an ample supply OF irrgatng water
from the Rio Grah52 and going without it just
as they have been doing for the pas, fifteen or
twenty years. AS consequence, their atten-
ton has been largely turned TO Jne growing OF
oIly sucn crops as viii Withstand drought, alfa-
fa and the more prohJaDle crops have been ne
gi.c.ld AT The lower end Of the valley, below
I'll Pa5o, where the river in recent years has
been 50 uncertain in quantity as 10 be almySl Of
10 value as a reliable supply, Cne farmers nave
made use of tn undCrlJW by The installation ol
pamping plants, ana That locality, for several
mics below Ill Paso, Is now one Of the best OBJ
jet lessons IN the yau. Vi pumping plants thai
can De seen anywhere, Inc LACK OF river water
las Oean to Jae farmers there, as it may be to
many iurtner up une valley, Dea.ilg in des-
guIse
It is impossible in this brief paper, to do JUS
tce TO the advantages which The Rio Grand va.
lev possesses Tor him who would make use OF thu
underhow We have soil Of unsurpassed ferti-
hLy and climate thai is unequalied, allowing
farming o. e atoms t. be conducted the whole
year round. We have river running through
the entire length of the valley whose waters are
laden with the richest of fertilizng ma eriaIs, SO
that win but few irrigatons from the river in
the year the fertility of the soil may be maintain
ed indefinitely, thus obyiating the heavy eXpen-
ses which farmers in many other regions must
bear for artificial fertilizers. We have cheap
one hal. OF what il costs in many irrigated re-
gio IS of California We have cheap lands avail
abb for the multitude Of home-seekers that are
looking for them utter than, and at one-tenth
the price of many California lands. And great
est of ALL we have this apparently ineXhausti-
BILE supply of water beneath the surface waiting
TO be made use of at cost we'll within the limits