Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-04-11
WANT A RESERVOIR.
Take Steps 10 Secure a National
Appropriation.
THEY ALL WANT WATER.

date OF April 3, on time important SUD
ject of irrigation, says:
The people of the Mesilla Valley
are aroused on the subject of securing
n reservoir at or near the Elephant
Butte on the Rio Graude In order to
enlarge the area OF irrigated lands in
the valley and otherwise improve their
present irrigation facilities. They have
have received authentic information
that the irrigation authorities In Wash
ington are most favorably impressed
with the conditions along the Rio
Grande for the construction OF a reser.
voir on the river. and that all they, the
people have to do to get an appropria-
ton is to go after 1t. They have seen |
with modification that Arizona has al
ready received over $2,500OOO from |
the national irrigation fund for the
purpose of constructing irrigation
works, and that not one cent has been
appropriated for the territory of New
Mexico. When they have inquired as
to the cause of this they have learned
that the principal reason has been the
fact that the people OF the territory
have entirely failed to lay before the
irrigation authorities at Washington
| the facts and figures, the data neces-
sary to PASS upon the merits OF any
proposition which they desire the gov
| eminent to take hold OF. They are
going to supply that data. To that end
| n large and enthusiastic meeting was
| held this week at the court house and
a committee of FIVE appointed for the
purpose of effecting the end desired.
This committee will collect funds
and send the best man they can get
to Washington, armed with the data
from the land Office and all the facts
and figures of the Elephant Butte
| Company. II is confidently assumed
here that they can get good appro-
priation for the purpose. II is learned
also that the government is to change
its form of attack on the old company
and endeavor to secure decree an
lnulling the rights OF the company on
the ground that It, teh company, has
forfeited its rights by reason Of the
failure to construct its reservoir within
the Ave years fixed by the statute.
This decree will clear the Elephant
Butte site and open the way for the
government to build a reservoir at that
point II considered most available.
retitions will also be circulated asking
the United States land commission to
refrain from selecting any more lands
under the grap.r for irrigation pur'
poses to the territory for the purpose
of supplying grazing privileges to fav'
ored cattlemen and from making any
more leases of such lands under what
ever pretense They want these lands
, sold to the best advantage as provided
In the act OF congress- and the money
|, applied in building reservoirs on the
:, Rio Grande and In improving the river
;. and the few OF water in the bed Of
the same. They want this done II
, their own day and generation, and no
a to wait until they are all dead ant
!. buried before they realize some
q benefits from the liberaity OF congress
a They are advised that, notwithstand
Y ing the failure of the Fall irrigation
q bill, the territorial land board hai
ample authority to sell these land
q and to use the money 10 supply tn,
4. information desired by the Washing
RI ton end Of the line, and, failing in get
e ting a national appropriation for tn
ID purpose, to build the desired reservoi
'. with funds derived from the sale o
r. the lands, without waiting for the as
t. sistance OF the government. 1t Is cor
le sidered most feasible at this time /
Of get the national appropriation. bu
,e they are going to keep both irons Il
IN the fire.
O. The people of Las Cruces have ar
other scrap on in the matter Of incol
n porating the town, 1t will be a SUI
r. prise to outsiders TO know that a tow
IS. of this size and Importance has abso
IN utely no town government. In cons'
b. Quence there are few sidewalks, an
te those that exist are constructed OF a
~ widths and at all levels; there al
" no lights on the streets, except sue
as glimmer through some saloon c
Ne store, and no municipal machinery fo
- the cleaning of the streets. II ha
~ been long felt that these condition
- were reproach to the town and this
they should be changed, About 81
months ago feeble effort to incorpo
ate dnder the village act was mad
~ and failed by tie vote. This tin
~, the business men of the town ha,
ae taken hold of the matter, and the
ao are going To put the project throug
m in good shape
ie