Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-07-24
Engineer Davis Delighted with
the Conditions on the
Sapello.
FAVORABLE OUTLOOK
The photographer Will Make
Strong Report to the De-
partment.
EXCEPTIONAL ADVANTAGES

Engineer A. P. Davis, who has
charge OF the government enterprises
looking toward the reclamation of the
arid west is most enthusiastic regard
Ing the conditions on the Sapello and
Gallinas for a big reservoir.
The gentleman, accompanied by DR..
]. H. Cunningham, Attorney Chas.
Spiess and Mr.. D. G. Winters. spent
all day yesterday looking over the
Sapello country. The day before he
visited the Gallinas. Mr.. Davis is so
favorably impressed with the advan-
tages Of the location SO long advocat-
ed by Las Vegans for a reservoir that,
he doesn't conceal the fact that his re-
port to the interior department will
be wholly favorable.
Into a great basin almost surround
ed by the hills the flood waters of the
two perennial streams may be led at
comparatively small cost. Both Mr..
Davis and Engineer Read who made
the preliminary investigation are
strongly in favor Of reservoir sites
which admit Of the diversion Of the
water. This obviates the serious diff
ficulty OF the filling up Of dams and
canals by alluvial deposits, and alto
gether gives much better results.
The government engineers are ex-
tremely anxious to make the first res
ervoir locations in places where the
most satisfactory results will be as
sured. A single failure while the
work is being done under the reclama-
tion act is still in the experimental
stage will arouse the active opposi-
tion of the many enemies Of the irri-
cation legislation, in congress, and
render uncertain the perpetuation Of
the policy so wisely begun. 1t is
certain that, while the engineers have
the most optimistic opinions Of what
may be done to reclaim fallow lands
along the Rio Grande, eventually, that
the first selection will not be made
along that treacherous stream. The
Rio Grande presents problems that the
engineers admit have not been salts
factorily solved No modern irriga-
tion enterprise has ever been tested
there. The adequate disposition of
the immense quantities of silt carried
in the turbid waters cannot be count
ed upon as certainty. Had the Ele-
phant Butte dam been built or the ir-
rlgation system above Albuquerque
been constructed, the problems might
have been solved. The engineers,
however, admit that they cannot af-
ford to experiment with the first gov
ernment enterprise
The elimination Of the Rio Grand
makes the chances Of the construction
of the Las Vegas reservoir considera-
bly, brighter. Already the water in
the Pecos valley has been developed
on large scale. The engineers have
practically admitted that no place Wis
tied combines 80 many advantages
and assures such complete success as
the location above the city.
The fact that all the land needed
for the dam sites and reservoir, as
we'll as right Of way for bitches will
be placed at the disposal Of the gov
ernment by the grant commissioners.
is most important feature. Proba-
bly, in no other part Of the territory
can such assurance be given.
At least twenty-five thousand acres
Of land of the most promising quail
ty can be brought under ditch. II as
Mr.. Davis estimates, the COST OF tne
reservoir, dams and bitches will be
$500 900, the cost for each acre rem
dered fruitful will be s12. The value
Of the improved land should be from
sixty to hundred dollars an acre.
Where could money be expended to
better advantage?
1t is proposed to divert the waters
of the Gallinas at a point near Hot
Springs, lead the water by canal for
short distance to the great natural
reservoir. The waters from the Sap
clio can be diverted almost directly
into the basin. From the fact that