Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-12-15
SHOWS DID MORE
GOOD THAN HARM
of Blizzard
in Pecos Valley
Exaggerated.
WORK ON AVALON DAM
Well Advanced .-.- Carlsbad
and Vicinity Prosperous
Says A. N. Pratt.

1t lSn good 10 DeSln KICKING tne
minute you are approached for an in
about your home county but
chat Is what am going to do. My
kick is about the reports of the biz
zard in the Pecos Valley sent to a
number of papers. They We're great
ly exaggerated and did Carlsbad and
vicinity an injustice"
These were the opening remarks
made by A. n Pratt OF Carlsbad,
chairman of the Territorial Irrigation
Commission, and a we'll known citizen
Of the Pecos Valley, when asked con-
cerEing the district from which he
halls, by a New Mexican reporter last
night at the Palace Hotel.
Continuing his remarks about the
blizzard, Mr.. Pratt said:
The Truth About the Blizzard at
Carlsbad.
81 was at Carlsbad during the re-
cent record breaking snow and cold
snap. At that time reports were sent
cut to the effect that we were burn
ing bacon in our stoves and suffering
terribly from the cold. The truth Of
the matter was, the lowest tempera-
ture was a couple of degrees above
zero at Carlsbad with about twelve
inches of snow on the ground and con-
siderable wind. Of course for the
Pecos Valley, that was indeed bad
enough. Where such reports as that
bacon story originated, | am unable
to say.
81 do not know of anyone who suf-
fered from cold except few sheep
herders who were caught out with
their flocks. These poor men were
thinly clother, and without means OF
finding shelter, SO it was natural that
during the two weeks of bad weather
they should feel the effects Of the
cold.
sheepmen Say Good Ranges compen'
safe for Losses.
"The storm however, did more
good than harm in our neighborhood
at least. In the first place the snow
remained on the ground for a week
melting slowly so that every drop OF
water was absorbed into the earth
and did not run off in the water cour
ses. Those familiar with the agricul
tural conditions of the Pecos Valley
say that his put the land in the finest
possible condition for the coming
years crop. The sheep men, while
they lost some livestock, report thai
the great good done the range will
more than compensate them for the
inroads made by the storm on then
hocks. These losses are not great
and sheep men class them amons
contingent damage just as the loss
of sheep from ordinary causes. Carls
bad and the Pecos Valley generally are
in fine shape, as regards climate
finance, business and future prospects
"The officials of the government
Reclamation Service which has talk
en- over the old Pecos irrigation .sys
TEN. the Avalon dam are rushing worl
on the project and the engineers sa,
they will have water in the bitches
in time for the irrigation of crops
next spring. Several hundred mel
are employed at present and the onl.
delay is the inability of contractors tt
get all the employees they need. Thi'
is true of the entire Pecos Valley
Men who want work are in demand
The building trades in particular ar
offered very good wages and stead
employment by the contractors
Avalon Dam Being Built to Stay Thi
Time.
"But speaking of the Avalon Dam
The engineers are now devoting thei
attention to Strengthening the bi
structure, having thoroughly recor
structed the ditch system. Hug
quantities of cement are being use
and when the work Is done, foo
will be powerless to carry away tn
structure as it did on former Of
casiOn.
s"The farmers who are dependent 0
this dam for their water supply hav
been very fortunate during the pas
two years. There have been goo
rainfalls and plenty of snow so tha
the fruit trees have not suffered t
any great extent In addition, fairl
good crops have been raised withou
! irrigation. During the year 1890
however, under the government supe
vision, it is expected that waite
enough for all will be turned into tn
bitches and exceptional crops will b
raised
Carlsbad Steadily Forging to the
Front.
carlsbad is growing steadil,
! Many new people are arriving eac
month to make their homes with u
The 2-story brick building erected b
the Odd Fellows has been complete
and is~a substantial ornament to th
town. The Public Utility Company
4 putting In fine water system Il
Carlsbad, having bought the propert
Of the old water company. This wor
is being delayed by the inability
the railroads to deliver the necessai
supplies, such as pipe and machiner
When the new plant is in operatio
there will be an abundance Of watt
! for domestic purposes at nomini
cost.
4 Like everyone else who has live
| for any length Of time In the Pect