Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1905-01-31
MORE WATER
FOR LAND
Commission Of Irrigation Would
Make New Mexico Fruitful
As a Garden
WHAT is BEING DONE
Mr.. Richardson Tells of Past Achieve.
ments and Of legislation Which
Now Seems Necessary.

G. A. Richardson of Roswell, presi-
dent of the commission of irrigation
of New Mexico, is in Santa Fe at this
time to confer with members of the
general assembly interested in irriga-
tion legislation He is also taking tes-
timony for the government in the Kan
sas- s-Colorado water suit in which he
is sitting as commissioner of the Su-
preme Court of the United States.
Speaking of the work of the former
commission Mr. Richardson said:
Purpose of Commission.
THE irrigation commission is an or
ganization created by an act of the
Legislature some years ago to look
after irrigation matters in the Terri
tory generally. Since the grant of
lands to the Territory by the act of
Congress of June 21, 1898, locally
known as'the FERGUSON law, it has
had charge of the land granted to the
Territory under that law for the es-
tablishment of permanent reservoirs,
being 100000 acres. 1t has also had
charge of the lands granted to the
Territory for the improvement of the
surface, flow of the Rio Grande, an
area of 100000 acres. Most of this
land has been located
Some of it has been located under
proposed reservoirs and contracts
have been made for the building of res
ervoirs. Upon some of it pastorage
permits have been granted in accord
ance with legislation. Some of the
land has been sold for from $3.50 to So
per acre, mostly at the latter sum.
Pastorage permits are running at from
three to four and half cents per acre,
mostly at four cents, but some as high
as five cents.
In Need of Funds.
THE legislature after creating the
commission and imposing many duties
upon it has carefully avoided giving it
any funds and for several years men,
bers of the commission bore their own
expenses. 1t has been authorized by
legislation to employ civil engineer
for the purpose of investigation of
reservoir sites. streams, measure
ment of water and other things per-
tanning to the general subject of irriga-
ton in the Territory of New Mexico.
but with that grant Of authority to en-
ploy such engineer it carefully avoided
appropriating any money out of which
we could compensate such an official
for labor performed.
Receives Recognition.
"The commission has therefore been
handicapped in the performance of it's
duties, but nevertheless has pushed
along the lines as best it could. 1t
has been recognized by the reclama.
tion service of the United States as the
authority through which that service
cooperate in the Territory of New
Mexico.
Some accommodations.
"The commission has recommended
to said reclamation service reaching
it through the Secretary of the Inter-
ior the investigation of a number of
reservoir sites and storage PROPOSE
tions in New Mexico, namely the Ele-
phant Butte, the Urton Lake, the Ca
madam above Tucumcari, and below
the junction of the Red River and the
Cimarron, the White Rock Canon on
the Rio Grande, the San Juan and La
Plata, the Rio Sapello above Las
Vegas, the Rio Pecos from it's head
waters through the Territory, one
in Taos County and the
Rio Mimbres in Grant and Luna
Counties. Several of these PROPOSE
tions have been investigated by the re-
clamation service, several are now be-
ing investigated and other investiga-
tions will follow All of our recon-
mendations have been promptly re-
ferred and acted upon by the reclama-
tion service. Several of these propo-
sitions have been completed in so far
as surveys are concerned. lands have
been withdrawn from entry and we
feel confident from all advices that the
of a number of them will
commence and be completed as rapid
ly as it is possible consistent with the
largeness of the enterprises, the
amount of money to be expended and
with the great care which the govern
ment proposes to give in the reclama-
tion service.
Territory's Great Wealth.
Il feel from study Of the irrigation
in New Mexico and know
ing full we'll her large stock and min
eral interests, that her greatest wealth
next to her climate is going to be in
our agricultural lands made so by the
artificial application Of water to them.
think from careful storage and prop
er use Of the waters OF New Mexico
hat from three to Ave millions acres
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