Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-04-10
Governor HerbertJ.
Hagerman Talks
of His Southern
Trip.
TO ENTERPR|S|NG LAS CRU.
CES
Agricultural College in Fine
Shape-.Inspection of Ma
tional Guard---KeceP-
ton and Banquet.

Il had fine trip and what | saw in
terested me greatly" said Governor
Hagerman who returned yesterday
noon from a visit to Las Cruces,
where he was the guest Of honor at a
reception rendered him by the citizens
and members of the Chamber of Com
merce. The Governor also visited the
Agricultural College at Mesilla Park
and was present at the inspection OF
Company A, First Regiment, New Mex
leo National Guard. Officers and men
of the company gave a military ball
after the inspection which the Cover
nor also attended.
At Agricultural College.
upon reaching Las Cruces Friday"
said Governor Hagerman," / was driv-
en- at once to Mesilla Park and was
delightfully."- entertained at the home of
Henry D. Bowman, register of the Uni
ted States land Office, where spent
the night. During the afternoon,
visited the Agricultural College and
was given a pleasing reception by the
faculty and students who were assem-
bled in the large hall. I went through
all departments Of the school and was
greatly pleased with the work being
done. I was particularly interested In
the chemical department where some
delicate scientific work Is being done
towards discovering whether or not
the cactus possesses food qualities.
This work is carried on under the d.
rection of the Secretary Of Agriculture
and from present results l think 1t will
be of immense benefit to New Mexico.
This department Is also experimenting
with the various grasses to be found In
the semi-arid districts of the southwest
and believe that eventually a plant
will be found that will be of immense
benefit to farmers and cattle and sheep
men.
Big irrigation Projects.
Great strides are being made In
irrigation lines near Las Cruces. The
government is getting ready to start
work on the Elephant Buttes diversion
dam which means much to the south
west. I understand that this big un-
dertaking is but the first of three SINH
lar structures to cost $7,000.000. The
other two dams have not yet been de-
cided upon but | believe they will be
built. | was Interested TO consider
able extent in securing the Elephant
Butte dam and will do all In my pow
err to have the other dams built. When
this great irrigation system is COM
pleted, over 100000 acres Of otherwise
arid land will be brought under culti-
walton and In my estimation the finest
crops in the southwest will be raised
"The banquet given me by the
members of the Chamber of Commerce
following the reception was certainly
an enticing affair. I enjoyed 1t greatly
and will always remember it. 1t was
followed by an inspection Of Company
A and must say that the boys drilled
like veterans l was greatly pleased
with the showing made by the com
pany. At the conclusion of this cere
mony, I was escorted to the ball room
and spent an enjoyable evening.
Sunday, l was driven about the
city and surrounding country and the
pretty scenery. together with the
bright warm sunlight, made the trip
a pleasant one. I was impressed with
the advancement being made by Las
Cruces. The town has an enterpris-
ing set of business men, who fully real
ize the great possibilities Of the
Southwest and are keeping pace with
the times. New buildings are going
up and desirable immigrants are being
brought In. don't know how to ex~
press myself otherwise than to say
that l had one Of the best times Of