Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-03-24
BORING FOR
ARTES|AN
WATER
At PortaIes. Roosevelt County,
Rain Much Needed in That
Section.
MANY TREES SET OUT
Court House in Course Of Construction
Public Sentiment Against Joint
Statehood.

Roosevelt County has felt the need
of rain very much since last summer"
said W. E. Lindsey of Portales, attor-
ney-at-law and probate clerk of Ros-
| we'll County, who had been a delegate
to the Republican convention at Las
Vegas. "The crops last year were not
the full success that had been ex-
pected and unless rains set in much
less area will be planted this spring.
Great hope has been awakened by the
striking of small flow of water last
| week at depth of $50 feet in the ex-
perimental artesian we'll that is being
drilled at Portales, the water rising
above the pipe and flowing over.
Some water is being raised by wind
mills but only sufficient to irrigate
small gardens The high price OF fuel
places power pumps out of consider
alton, although there is good BODY
of water at only six to twelve feet be-
meath the surface at many points. Inc
United States Geological Survey does
not hold out much hope for arteslan
water. saying that it would probably
not be found less than 2.Oyv feet be-
meath the surface, and would then be
too alkaline for use. However. as no
actual survey has been made and the
people believe that the underground
waters of the Inland Valley belong 10
the Pecos drainage basin even though
the surface waters flow toward the
Brazos. the hope of securing a flow or
in n
rity to be available for irrigation, mas
not been abandoned. Many trees nave
been set out and if it rains during the
next few weeks, considerable cotton
and broom corn will be put in
Mr.. Lindsey has been very success
Sful in raising crops without irrigation
on ten acre plat, having done SO dur
| ing the past four years. He expert
ments with new crops every year SO as
to demonstrate the variety that can
be raised in the Inland Valley. He
saws that Roosevelt County will not
make a separate exhibit at the ST.
Louis Exposition but will endeavor TO
have the public schools represented
and to send Photographs to illustrate
the rapid growth of Portales and OF
points of industrial and scenic inter-
est. He has at personal expense IN
yestigated the reported find of coal at
Elida. Unfortunately, the report was
lunfounded but more recently, promis-
ing outcrops of coal veins have been
discovered in the Pecos Valley, west
of Portales, and may help to solve the
fuel problem.
| The foundation for the court house
| is completed and Judge Lindsey is
working to secure for Portales the
funds for much needed public school
building. The town lies along the
north and west boundaries OF public
school section and he has drafted
bill to be introduced by Delegate no
dey in Congress, to permit the sale OF
that section the proceeds to be used
for building modern school house at
the county seat of Roosevelt County,
the Territory being authorized to Sc
lect another section in lieu of it. Un-
fortunately, the territorial board OF
public lands, has since then looked un-
favorably upon the proposition and is
reported to have sent protest to Del
egate Rodey. AS to statehood sentl'
ment, in Roosevelt County, Mr.. Lind
sey says that as most of the settlers
are new corners from Texas, not yet
in intimate touch with the rest of the
Territory, the sentiment is not strong
| ly developed, but nevertheless, the
undoubted public opinion is strongly
against any proposition to join New
Mexico and Arizona