Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1904-07-20
PLENTY OF WATER
hOre Experiments TO Show the EH.
tent Of Water supply Of New
Mexico Below the Surface.

tent Of Water Supply Of New
Mexico Below the Surface.
This Rio Grande valley is dry on
top, but It Is the dampest section of
the United States under the surface" 4"
This remark was made to a reporter
for the Morning Journal yesterday by
an expert in irrigation who had just re-
turned from an inspection of the pump
ing plant and reservoir of the Albuquer-
que Water Supply company.
The observation has in Il food for
much good, earnest thought. 1t points
out the way TO many things which will
be for the general health and prosperity
Of this section Of New Mexico now and
in the future. More and more atten-
ton is being given each day to the un.
derground waters of the valley by ex-
perts in pumping and irrigation, atten-
tion that is bringing to light informa-
tion that will presently be turned to
practical account. The remark was
called forth by peculiar condition
which exists in the wells and reservoir
of the Water Supply company: a con-
dition sufficiently remarkable to cause
wonder even from the men who are
thoroughly familiar with the limitless
water supply that flows beneath the
surface in this valley, from the mouth
Of the White Rock canyon to, no man
knows where.
This has been the dryest year New
Mexico has known for twenty years
past. For near thirteen months there
has been no rainfall at this point that
could be measured, a condition almost
unprecedented, In years past, at this
time, just at the end Of the rainy sea-
son, the Water Supply company has
had difficulty in supplying the large in
crease in demand which comes with the
season of grass growing and street
sprinkling.
But this year, the company, using ten
per cent more water each day than it
has ever been called upon to furnish
before, finds itself confronted with
more water than It can take care Of
Yesterday morning when the ex-
pert in question visited the reservoir,
he found the water overhowing the
banks and running to waste over the
surrounding mesa. At the plant the
water was found standing at almost the
surface of the more shallow wells,
while eighteen feet of water stood in
the thirty-three-foot wells.
1t is true that the Water Supply
company has put down several new
wells this year, one or two to great
depths, but these wells are not in use,
AS the pumping apparatus to draw the
water is not yet in working order. 1t
will not be for some time, although
work is now under way on the founda-
tions for the pumps and power house.
So with practically no additional wells
and no additional pumping capacity,
the company is confronted with a sur
plus, in this the dryest year it has ever
known, while at this season in past
years, il has had trouble in meeting the
demand
In the thirty-three- foot we'll mentio'
el, there are two pumps, an electric
and steam pump, and with the two
working the water stands steadily at
ii teen feet from the surface.
Whether there is a greater flow ur-
der the surface this year in the upper
strata, or whether some tremendous
flow of water from a lower strata is
working its way up is a question that
has not been decided. Certain it is
that there is more water running
through the wells than ever before and
that Albuquerque has a water supply
that is apparently ample for a city of
four times its size, without calling on
the increased capacity for pumping
which the company will soon have in
stalled.
The matter is one which should claim
close attention from those who advo-
cate the reclamation of the valley by