Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-04-30
Excellent Chance OF Securing First Reservoir
Under Reclamation Act
EXPEDITION TO CAMP OF SURVEYORS
Comprehensive Statistics to Be scured Everything Appears
Favorable Particular Of Project

i five miles from the city and about
two miles from the GaIlinas. The
party is headed by H. G. Hurd, an ex-
pefienced civil engineer, who was for
four years with Engineer "A. r. Davis
on the Isthmian canal, and who has
done considerable work on the u. S.
geological survey In the the west. The
other surveyors and helpers are s.. G.
Porter, Earl Patterson. Manar Aud
rian. Il. Steel, f. s. Washburn, Jno
Palmer and cook who Is master
Of the culinary art. Five tents acco-
mmodate the party, which IS well
furnished in every respect.
Although the party has been in he
field only three days and some time
was required in making camp and
getting settled, the white and black
signals which mark the spots where
levels are taken, already dot the
mesa and surround the splendid res
ervoir site. The surveyors work from
seven in the morning until the
shades of night make it impossible to
read the instruments and observe the
signals.
The work will be on the most COM
prehensive scale. The countour or the
country will be mapped very care.
fully, accurate measurements Of the
reservoir site will be made, the cost
Of construction Of required dams and
canals will be computed, the drain
age area will be estimated, the rain
fal lof fifty years vii be used as a
basis for arriving at the amount Of
water that can be depended upon,
not only from the constant flow but
more particularly from the storm and
flood waters. Mr.. Hurd is thorough.
" competent and scientific civil en-
gineer and his work is certain to be
accurate, While he has not proceeded
Tor enough with the survey to feel
Justified IN making any statements
regarding the probable results. even
Il he We're disposed, he agrees with
Engineers Davis and Reed, that the
hill encirced. natural basin III which
the waters Of the pecos Arroya. GAL.
linas and sapello can be diverted
looks good on the surface. The gem
tleman, however, has no statement
70 make except that the figures will
tell the story and settle the question.
Engineer Reed will arrive from
Roswell within few days. He stay
ed behind the party To attend meet.
ing of the board Of engineers which
will hear report on the Hondo pro-
position and make recommendation
accordingly. Engineer Davis. who
has general charge OF all the work in
the field and who ranks next to Chief
photographer Newell will also pay d
visit % the location before the work
has been completed Several weeks
will be spent on the survey.
The Project.
Las Vegans are familiar with many
of the features relating to the pro.
ject for compounding the waters Of
the Gallinas and Sapello and the
catchment waters Of d large area into
q great natural basin in the hills. They
cannot, however, hear too much or d
subject which is of the very greatest
potential Importance To the communi
ty. Considerable new data has been
gathered relating to the matter.
The Gallinas and Sapello are per
ennial streams. The drainage area
Of the Gallinas including the Ar.
royaPecos Is extensive and that OF
the Sapello Of still greater extent.
The storm waters Of this great area
are Of immense volume. Much Of the
heavy rain which falls In the noun.
tains and much Of the melting snow
so entirely to waste. In the great
natural basin. i Ii proposed, not only
to compound tho waters Of the con-
stant streams but the vast volume
Of food waters.
The Reservoir.
The basin covers I.4e0 acres and
as Engineer Reed has said, IT forms
an ideal natural reservoir. Surround. |
ed on every side By the hills, only
an aperture 500 yards across re-.