Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-12-05

of putting in the machinery, construct
ing reservoirs and bitches and paying
for the same, the government furnish
ing all the necessary money, which IS
virtually loaned to the people on easy
payments and without interest. When
the engineers are sent into the field to
investigate such a project, under the dl-
rection of the secretary of the interior,
they report whether or not the plan is
feasible; if the former, it is for the peo-
pie who will derive benefit, to do what
is required of them, that is to pledge
their lands to secure the repayment OF
the money expended by the United
States. The cost of work and the to-
tai acreage is the basis for figuring the
pro rata amounts. The repayment Is
to be made within ten yea. S after the
completion of this system
In the Mesilla Valley engineers OF
the Reclamation Service have for the
past year been making preliminary sur
yeys and estimates and as result
have recommended the construction OF
the Elephant Butte Dam and reservoir
as feasible project from sclentlnc
and engineering standpoint. The site
of the reservoir will be on the Rio
Grande. opposite and 18 miles west OF
Engle station and it's estimated cost'
including the system Of bitches which
will reclaim 100000 acres OF land, is
$1,000, ,OOO 1t will store water to guar
antee 8 10 acre-feet per annum for the
above acreage.
OF all these acres, 100000 are sltu-
ated in New Mexico between the res
eryoir site and the Texas line; 2o,ooo
acres are between the boundary ana
the city of Ell Paso, and the other 3D.
OOO acres lie in the lower Ell Paso Val
lev. on both sides of the river, half OF
which are in Mexico. The cost as stat
ed will include the maintenance ana
operation of the system for the perloo
of ten years, the time after completlon'
allowed by the government Tor the re-
payment of the cost.
1t is now up to the landowners OF
the Mesilla Valley to do their part. 10
this end a mass meeting has been call
ed by a committee of five and Will be
held in Las Cruces on the 22d instant.
All details of the project will be fully
explained to the holders of land, by en-
gineers of the Reclamation Service and
the preliminary steps taken toward the
organization of a Water Users Assocla-
tion.
This will prove one Of the greatest
enterprises in and for the Territory OF
New Mexico or the southwest and OF
vital importance to not only those dl-
rectly benefited but to the entire Ter
ritory. During the five years which
will be required to complete the work,
much of the money used will be spent
in Socorro, Sierra and Dona Ana Coun
ties in this Territory, vast number o.
men will be employed, the per capita
in circulation will he greatly increased
eastern investors will be interested
with the benefit to the country AMI Inc
people will have permanent guaran
ltee against drouth, over.loWs emo
losses by floods. The big dam is ex
pected to impound all the flood waters
of the Rio Grande, and in the gradual
use of them, will redeem over 100. 900
acres of first-class land from thel1
present arid and uncultivated condition
and will turn them into prosperous
and wealth producing agricultural sec
tions.
Under the terms of the law no lndl
| vidual can derive the benefits fol
more than 100 acres of land, the obJec
of the Reclamation Act being to en-
courage homebuilders and to preven
the requirement of large areas OF II
rigated lands by spectators. An!
land owner who at present has more
than that amount of land, must before
the completion of the reservoir, dives
himself of the title to all save 16O acres
| If he desires to obtain water for hi
| 16O-acre tract. There must be bona
fide individual owner for every 16'
acres of the 10000 acres in this Terri
tory which it is calculated will COM
under the Elephant Butte Reservoir
and ditch systems.
The people of that section OF tn
country which is to be benefited shoul'
awaken to the Importance OF thi
measure, for 1t means more to then