Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-12-28
From New Mexico.

Lakewood, MCMILLAN P. o. New
Mexico, Dec. Is, 1904. Dear Sirs:
Perhaps few notes in regard to
this part of New Mexico would be
interesting to the frost and snow
bound readers of your paper The
Pecos river rises on the foot hills Of
the Rocky mountains and runs near
ly in a direct line north and south
through the eastern part Of the ter
ritory, emptying into the Rio Grande
which constitutes the border line
between Texas and Old Mexico,
emptying into the Gulf at Ma
tamoras. This valley varies in
width from 10 to 20 miles. This
land as well as all others in the arid
regions must come under an irriga-
ton system, and that in the near
future. The lands that can be
watered by the rainfall of the U. S.
are nearly all occupied and when we
stop to think that in 40 years our
population will not be less than 200
millions, it is apparent that our
food supply will have to be increased
to meet the demands of the increased
population. This proposition can
not be overcome in any other way
than by increasing the acreage OF
productive soils. Here in the west
and southwest lay this soil, only
awaiting capital and the modern
methods of irrigation. Farming by
irrigation antedates any other sys-
tenn of the food supply for the poo
pie of the earth. Egypt, Turkey,
Arabia, Palestine and India have all
had systems Of irrigation in the
past and the populous empires over
which the Ramieses and Pharohs
held sway were supported by the
irrigation of the Nile, Euphrates,
Ganges and other streams of the
surrounding territory. Not only in
the past were these countries. sup
ported by irrigation (as the Bible in
cident relating to Moses shifting the
rock while leading the children of
Israel out Of the land of Egypt into
the land Of Canaan shows up the
fact that they were in country
where they did not have any water
to burn.") But to this day the peo-
pie Of England are being partly fed
by the wheat and clothed by the
cotton that is produced along the
fertile valleys Of the Nile. The
most stupendous feats of engineer
| ing Of modern times are now near
ing completion along the banks Of
that historic river. This work is be-
ing carried on by the English gov
eminent to supply the food products
for their ever increasing population.
The United States has now seen the
necessity Of irrigation and congress
has passed law known as the
Reclamation act for the arid lands
of the west, allowing the revenues
derived from the sale of public lands
to be used in systems Of irrigation
Government engineers are busy il
this vicinity (and others also) max.
;, ing surveys, locating sites, etc.
! making reports and recommenda
tions with which 1 am not familiar
to the Secretary of the interior a
Washington. Money has already
, been appropriated for the big Hon
! den reservoir rs miles north from
: here, and work commenced. Thu
! government engineers will. 1 under
stand from their own conversation
= on the matter, make favorable re
port as regards taking charge of tn,
! irrigation system adjacent to Carls
= bad and work will be commenced a
soon as the necessary rights are &C
! quired and 500 other points upol
: : which your Uncle Samuel has to b
, satisfied before you open shop
. From an irrigation standpoint til
. Pecos Falley can be irrigated at
less cost per acre than any Of til
: surrounding country. The est
> mates Of the engineer for the Ele
plant Butte dam, at the head water
= Of the Rio Grande, make the cost c
- that system $1,2OO,O0O, which vii
. irrigate 10000 acres, or $40 pc
= acre. This is below the value c
; land in the valley and those bes
: informed pronounce the project de
!, sirable at that price. The cost q
, irrigation Of the lands in the Peco
: valley is given at from SIS to 81
per acre according to locality.
This country at present is on th
boom along the river and new town
. are fast being built along the SAINT
= Fe railroad. Artesia, a town not o
), the map in 1908, now has popula
= ton Of 1900, and W. Alliso
. (who ran for senator some IL year
ago on the democrat ticket in GU
county and got ducked) is tn
. boomer and manager of the town c
', Lakewood. This is one of til
- - prettiest locations for town l hav
: seen in the valley. lie is havin
!. considerable success in the venture
= having sold some $4,000 worth c
! lots in the last few months. Sci
tiers are coming in from the Nortl
: taking up lands every day. Land
y range in price from Homestea
: rights to 500 per acre; unin
i i proved land from So to $40. 70
q can buy some of the best land j
j the valley for this last price. o
. these lands there are scattered til
= derricks Of some so well drillin
:, machines from the Beaumont O
:. fields of Texas. They drill fro1
. 500 to 800 feet for these gusher
! and l have visited several Of thes
spouters which belch forth streal
Of water seven to ten feet in heigh
: sufficient to irrigate 160 to Ga
% acres. have travelled for TO