The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-29

but by far the most interesting work m New Mexico is the project designed 70 reclaim the Rio Grande Valley in the southern portion of the territory. In addition to the obstacles already mentioned any scheme to reclaim these lands Is complicated by interstate and international questions which require careful handling to avoid friction be- tween citizens residing in this portion of the valley. The engineers have found a suitable reservoir site near Engle. and a wonderful dam 255 feet in height from bed rock to top of para pet walls has been planned. The reservoir thus created will be forty miles long and will have a capacity of 2,000, 900 acres-feet Gan acre-foot Is one acre one foot deep). An ingenious ar engagement of sluice gates will provide for the disposal of silt from time to time, and as the reservoir will be re- latively deep in proportion to its sur face area, there will not be excessive evaporation. The Las Cruces system will be utilized for distribution pur- poses and the main canal extended along the valley on the east side of the river. Water may be taken across the river in pipes to irrigate the west side: electric power generated by drops in the canal may be used to run pumps for that purpose, or separate canal can head at the west end of the diver sion dam. Other diversions will be made above this point as found neces- sary or practicable. Below The Pass or International dam site, existing canals will be used to distribute water to the lands in Texas and Mexico. The great dam will make possible the de- velopment of power by which the un- deground water may be pumped to the surface, and thus increase the irrigable acreage; it will also prevent for all time the destructive floods which an- nually visit the valley.
 Fortunes i'm the Soil.
 The wonderful fertility of the soil Is evidenced wherever sufficient water Is properly applied Last year one onion grower realized a profit in excess Of $500 from less than an acre of Der muda onions. At the St. Louis Expo sition a farmer exhibited stalks of sugar cane grown in the Rio Grande valley and was awarded the gold medal over all competitors. including those from Cuba and Hawaii. Marvellous yields of alfalfa, cereals. vegetables and fruit are also produced. The settlers are fully alive to the benefits which will accrue to them by the con- struction of this system. and are eager to cooperate with the government by DleuB1nR tne1T idHoS thc dtci Users Associations formed for the pur- pose in both Texas and New Mexico, to return the entire cost of the project to the government. It is estimated that the whole system will cost approxi- mately 7.200. .000 and that 1s0,000 acres 10000 of which lie in New Mexico. will be benefited thereby.
 But the operation of the reclamation act in New Mexico is not alone an af- fair of ditches and acres. Its possibili- ties are measured not by the extent of the agricultural industry. but by the de- velopment of other resources which it will make feasible-the best and great est use of the grazing lands. the de- velopment of mines and quarries, the maintenance of railroads and commerce, and best. of all by the growth of a sturdy citizenship, which nowhere at- tains more strength and independence than among dweliers of the desert.
 The passage of the reclamation act meant an enormous increase in the value of the taxable property of New Mexico: it meant the development of some of the richest mines in the world it meant an increased population and added transportation facilities; 1t meant, perhaps, a new star in the flag.