Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-11-11
THE DAM
ON THE
RIO GRANDE
VIII Make a Lake 40 Miles
Long and 100 Feet
Deep

What may be tho destiny Of New
Mcxicol There she lies in the heart
Of arid America, l2246O square miles
Of broad plains, rugged mountains and
sagebrush desert; greater I'm extent
than all New England with New
York and New Jersey thrown i'm. but
with a population but little more than
one-third that Of Boston.
SO many centuries ago that NO ira
dition remains concerning &c. n mighty
civilization flourishcd I'm this territory.
When Colorado sailed mp the Rio
Grando the Pueblo Indians were lead
ing the waters Of the river over their
fields and blossomiug gardens and
maintaining populous and prosperous
communities But with tho coming
Of the gold-mad spaniards a spell
moro potent than the magic draught
Of tho Catskills seemed TO fan on
mountain, plain and valley.
Whom New Mexico became a part
Of the United States fully ono.third Of
It's area was included in Mexican and
Spanish grants, which for years after
wards were unconfrmed and there.
foro paid no taxes and were unavail.
able 60 settlers Tho Indians and
their Mexican ncighbors wcro irri.
eating tho few crops which suficed
for their simple needs through ditchcs
constructed hundreds Of years before.
A quarter Of a century ago, whom
tho old overland train was superseded
by the railroad, now settlers introduo
Cd modern systems and further dc
plotted tho flood already greatly dimin.
ishci by numerous bitches taking
water from tho upper Rio Grande In
Colorado. Further developments soon
became impossible unless storage Of
water was rosortcd 90. Tho capri
eious 1ver, which ono day had little or
no surface flow, tho next became a
raging torrent cutting now channels,
carrying out dams, and sweeping away
entire farms.
Tho national irrigation act was tho
herald Of New Mexico's redemption.
II was tho signal Tor these modern
magicians. Uncle Sans engineers, to
iuggle with the forces Of nature. Land
and waterl What potent words 90
eoniure wiihl Already New Mexico
Is preparing 90 swing IN limo 90 tho
forward procession Of tho age. Down
near Roswell, 10000 acres Of land will
bo supplied with water Ia 1900, aud
plans arc being formulated by which
tho entire Peeos valley eventually will
be brought under a comprehensive
system OF irrigation. Investigations
arc also being carried on IN the La
Plata valley aud In tho vicinity OF Las
Vegas, and tho underground waters
OF tho territory are being carefully
studied
But by FAR the most Interesting
work In New Mexico Is the project
designed 20 reclaim tho Rio GFande
valley In tho southern portion OF the
territory. In addition 20 tho obsta,
eles already mentioned any scheme 20
reclaim these lands is complicated by
interstate and international questions
which require careful handling 20
avoid friction between citizens Tesid-
ing in this portion Of the valley. The
engineers have found suitable res
ervoir site near Engle, and a wonder
ful dam e55 feet in height from bed
rock to top Of paFapet walls has been
planned.
The reservoir thus created win be
40 miles long and viii have a capacity
Of 100000 acre feet, Ian acre foot is
one acre one foot deep), An ingenious
arrangement Of sluiee gates will pro
vide for the disposal Of silt from time
to time, and as the reservoir will be
relatively deep in proportion TO its
surface area, there will not be exees.
sive evaporation. The Las Cruces sys-
tenn will be utilized for distribution
purposes and the main canal extended
along the valley on the east side Of
the river.
Water may be taken across the
river in pipes 70 irrigate the west sidei
electric power generated by drops in
the canal may be used 10 run pumps
for that purpose, or a separate canal
can head at the west end Of the diver
sion dam. Other diversions will be
made above this point as found neees-
sary or practicable. Below The Pass,
or international dam site, existing ca
nails will be used 70 distribute water
to the lands in Texas and Mexico. The
great dam will make possible the de-
velopment Of power by which the IN
derground water may be pumped TO
the surface and thus increase the IT.