Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-05-03
SETTLERS
MUST ACT
They Should Prepare, Compile
and Present Data to the
Reclamation Service.
CONDITIONS
There Are Special Difficulties to Over
come in Sections That Are ThickIy
Populated.

Naturally every section of the arid
west is desirous to have the reclama-
tion service get down to work building
reservoirs and irrigation systems with
as little delay as possible Here in
New Mexico, the Rio Grande Valley
and other parts have especial claims
upon the government in that particI-
lar. The settlers in those sections can
do much to bring about speedy action
by the reclamation service and to
them the following circular is ad-
dressed and should be needed:
The operations of the engineers of
the reclamation service since the pass.
age of the irrigation act have excited
widespread interest throughout the
country, In many sections of the west
irrigation has been developed to
point where the requirements of the
land exceed the normal water supply,
and the settlers are organizing with
view of securing the aid of the govern
ment in the construction of immense
storage works to conserve the food
waters now going to waste. The as
sistance of the government is asket as
the cost of the work is beyond the
means of the land owners. In all such
cases the policy of the reclamation SER
vice has been to make 1t clearly UNDER
stood that this assistance can be Sc
cured only through the influence of a
healthy and sustained public opinion
expressed in direct communication to
the secretary of the interior from the
people. In brief, the direct benefciar.
ies-the actual land owners-must
take the initiative and organize along
lines similar to those followed by the
settlers of Salt River Valley, Arizona.
/ 1t should be understood that the ir
| rigation projects which naturally ap-
peal most to the engineers are those
which are free from the vexing ques-
tions of private ownership Of land and
water Large enterprises which con-
template the reclamation of vast areas
of desert land, yet a part of the public
domain, present no obstacles aside
from those of purely physical or en-
gineering character, while the con.
struction of works in settled communi-
ties is sure to involve personal features
often more trying than anything found
in the actual work of construction.
Just now there are several irrigation
districts making appeals to the gov
ernment for assistance in order that
many thousands of acres of crops may
be saved from partial or total loss each
year by reason of scanty water sup
ply. In one of these districts, the fam
Gus valley of the Uncompahgre, the ir-
rigaters and ditch owners have per-
fected an organization and will shortly
present formal demand for federal
aid in the construction of the Gunnison
tunnel
In Montana. Idaho. South Dakota,
ganizations are forming; mass meet
ings are being held, officers elected,
and details considered. The rule of the
reclamation service in all such cases
is one of absolute non-interference. Up
on request, assistance is given in out
lining the proper form of organization
required by the department before
definite action can be taken, but in all
other essentials the settlers are in
formed that they must work out their
own destiny: that their requests for aid
must bear practically the unanimous
of the actual property
owners. and must be free from suspi-
cion of politics.
On the Gallinas in San Miguel Coun-
ty, government engineers are at work
at present to investigate conditions up
on request of the land owners and the
trustees of the Las Vegas Grant and il
their report is favorable, there is no
doubt but that work will be commenced
on a reservoir that will reclaim $4,000
acres in the immediate vicinity of the
Meadow City. Conditions are especial
ly favorable at that point, because the
flood flow of the Gallinas and Sapello is
large and their drainage area is very
extensive. Perhaps. if land owners
around Santa Fe get together. some
such feasible project on the Santa Fe
River, the Arroyo Hondo. the Tesuque
or even the Nambe might be brought to
the attention of the reclamation SER
vice. Or conditions may be favorable
for the development of artesian water
or of utilizing the subterranean water
supply and if data along that line are
prepared either by the Board Of Trade
Or the city as the owner of the Santa
Fe Grant the reclamation service will
probably send engineers here to in
vestigate such conditions.
DEMOCRATIC SITUATION
IN ILLINOIS.
Conventions held 46: delegates elect
ed 355: delegate instructed for Hearst
1876; delegates instructed for Williams
34: contested delegates AZ; uninstruct-
ed delegates 79 delegates in state con-
vention 1,341. Necessary to choice 672.