Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-04-12
Irrigation
Statistics

Since 1899 the irrigated ares ha
increased 51,052 acres, or $50 per cen
while the increase for the decade
1SS9-99 was 1922 per cent. The nun
Der Of farms on which irrigation wa
reported in 1902 was IT'S per cen
greater than in 1893.
There were 1,12S stream systems
constructed at an initial cost Of s4,
1851, which irrigated 249,761 acres
at an average cost per acre of 1867
Forty-seyen systems, representing
construction outlay Of s1S.165. Were
supplied from springs and irrigated
3,072 acres at al average cost pei
acre Of s5.91. The II well systems
cost s91,139, and 2,112 acres were ir
rigated therefrom at an average cost
per acre Of s43.45.
The Rio Grande Drainage Basin.
The Rio Grande rises in the angle
formed by the San Juan mountains In
southwestern Colorado. Its source is
$4,000 feet above the sea. After flow
ing for 260 miles to the east and south
Ii enters New Mexico, through which
it. extends for 4S0 miles Of its course
draining that portion Of the territory
between the Rocky Mountain and the
Sierra Madre ranges.
The Rio Grande in New Mexico
belongs to the numerous class of des
ert streams which have no surface
flow at certain seasons of the year.
and, except during brief periods, car.
ry to the larger rivers or to the sea
little, II any water. 1t enters the ter
ritory through deep canyons from
which it energies at Embudo, where
the valley widens and irrigation is
practised. Near the center of the ter
ritory the river again enters canyons
and little or no irrigation is possible
within 100 miles of the southern
boundary. The lower valley is wider
but here the river spreads out ovel
the bottom lands and SO much Of Its
waters are lost either by evaporation
or diversion into bitches that the
stream channel In this portion Of Its
curse is frequently dry.
Water storage is absolutely essen
tial 10 the further extension of agri
culture in this valley. The present
treaty between Mexico and this coun'
try Is regarded as a more insurmount
able obstacle than problems of a pure
ly engineering character. But for this
treaty, which prohibits the impoundini
Of the waters of the Rio Grande, thu
reclamation Of an extensive area 81
land would be assured. It is estimat
ed that less than one per cent OF th,
streams flow in Mexico comes from
the sources north Of the New Mexico
line. This very small amount has NJ
effect upon the nayigability Of th,
river.
The objections which Mexico ha.
made TO the United States government
undertaking a great storage work OF
the Rio Grande have arisen APPARENT.
from a misrepresentation Of the fact
concerning the stream. It is believed
that the storage of the floods woult
result ultimately In giving a NOR,
permanent character to the stream II
Mexico. The flood waters beint
spread over the valleys would return
In part to the stream by seepage ant
In future years would materially In
crease It's flow.
In 1902 water from all sources \
the Rio Grande drainage basin wa
utilized through 544 systems to irrl
gate 90, 1896 acres on 5.063 farms at a
average cost per acre Of 1913. The e
tai construction outlay for all irrigs
ton appliances, including 1,164 mile
OF main canals and bitches was $500
1913, and irrigated 1880 acres. b
longing to 2,412 farms, at an ayerag
cost per acre Of s5.9S. There wer
5s4 miles OF main canals and bitches
Fifteen systems received water fror
springs and irrigated 514 acres on 2
farms. The total cost for constructio
for the II miles Of main bitches an
other irrigation works for the sprin
systems was 1901, an average cos
per acre Of si+79. Eleven farm
with an irrigated area Of 2i7 acre
received water from wells through ]
systems that cost 25.160, an ayerag
cost per irrigated acre Of 1854. TIL
high average cost per acre from N
springs and wells Is explained BY 70
fact that some Or these systems al
used also for purposes other than !
rigation.
Peeos River Drainage Basin.
This river the largest continent