Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-07-20
To Investigate Drought CondI'
tions In MesiIIa ValIey-..WilI
Lay Matter Before Secre-
tary Interior.
ENTHUSIASTIC
'"''''''"'' RECEPTION
Construction Of Diverting Dam Near
Fort Seldom will Give Ample Sup.
ply Of Water Next Season.
Special to the New Mexican.

f. Las Cruces, N. NJ, July 17,1904.
Governor Otero arrived here today
flor the purpose of personally investi-
eating the conditions in the valley
with respect to lack of water occasion.
ed by the present drought. The Gov
ernor was met at the depot by fully
$500 enthusiastic residents of the Rio
Grande Valley, an escort Of 200 men on
horseback and the Las Cruces band
with Professor Ruis as leader and nu-
merous carriages, wagons, citizens on
foot and horseback escorted him to
the residence of Colonel Llewellyn,
where addresses were made by the
Governor, Martin Lohman, Judge Mar
cial Valdez, Albert ]. Fountain and
others. After the speaking, the Cover
nor held a reception and was waited
on by the Committee which had been
appointed at a meeting of the people
of the valley The Governor found
that the crops in this section were
almost a total loss and that people
were united upon the question of the
diversion dam at Fort Selden. This
is part of the general plan of reclama-
tion of the lands of the Rio Grande
Valley in connection with the Elephant
Butte Dam proposition, however, as
the dispute between the State of Texas
and the Republic of Mexico is not set
tied, the main dam proposition will be
held in allegiance for some time to
come, while the diverting dam at Sell
den will not be opposed by any one so
far as it is at present known.
Engineer Hall, located at Ell Paso,
Texas, and in charge of the work of
reclamation in New Mexico, has al
ready recommended this work to F. H.
Newell, chief of the Reclamation Serv-
ice, and with the cooperation of Gov
ernor Otero and through his influence
with the President and Secretary of
the Interior, it is hoped that work will
soon commence on this important i'm
provement The outpouring OF the peo-
pie here today was very pleasant
surprise to Governor Otero and attests
the sincere feeling of respect and ad-
miration that the people have for him.
His remarks were received with en-
thusiastic applause and while he did
not promise that the work would be
done. he did promise that he would
use his best enedavor to that end,
which is all that the people here ex-
pected of him. The train which
brought the Governor here was five
hours late, so that it was past noon
when the reception was over. About
four o'clock the clouds, which had been
gathering all day, concentrated over
Las Cruces, and steady downpour OF
rain commenced, and the first rain for
three weeks fell. 1t was a soaking
rain.
An incident happened that brought
forth much laughter. 1t was this: Al
the rain had been falling for over an
hour, party Of farmers PASSED the
house where the Governor was sitting
on the porch, when one OF them waived
his hat and said to the Governor, You
very good man, Governor, you bring
rain to your people"
The Mesilla Valley Chamber OF
Commerce and all organizations mere
are united and all hope that the GOV
ernor's efforts in behalf OF this people
will be crowned with success and tha
work on the Fort Selden divertlne
dam will be ordered by the govern
ment, This work will necessitate the
expenditure of a large sum OF none!
and will give employment to many
hundreds of people and avert SUFFERING
here this winter. 1t will make sure
that there will be water for next year
crops and make a permanent head 1ol
the bitches here.
There was nothing of political ma
ture in the demonstration OF the peo
ple here today, as all participated II
the ovation to the Governor and de
monstration and reception given him
The Governor will be in position
to speak from personal knowledg
of the conditions here and will tax
to Washington with him monster pc
tition signed by over five THOUSAND
cit;zens of the county.