The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-06-21
THE HONDO AND CARLSBAD
PROJECTS OF NEW MEX

PROJECTS OF NEW MEXICO.
In a little brochure gotten out by
the Santa F'e and written by F. l..
Vandegrift, for distribution at the
jamestown Exposition, the following
article ~on the Hondo and Carlsbad
projects appears:
I'm the Pecos Valley of New Mex
leo, the Reclamation Service complet
ed early in March of this year two
large irrigation systems which will
reclaim from the desert and make
productive more than $4,000 acres of
land. Already the water has been
turned upon 10000 acres, and the re
naming 10000 acres will get it later.
One of these systems obtains its wa
ter from the Hondo River, a noun
tain tributary of the Pecos, and the
dams and reservoirs are twelve miles
southwest of Roswell. This project
cost $305, 900. 1t is elaborate and COM
plete and will endure forever. The
dams, spillways and headgates are of
cement, and the reservoir, covering
an area of 1000 acres, has a capacity
VI fV,OOO dClC ICCI AL dCi0 1OoS 10
water sufficient to cover an acre of
ground a foot deep. This project re-
claims 10000 acres. Seventy miles
south of Holdo is the Carlsbad pro-
ject which cost 100000 Water for
this system is obtained by damming
the Pecos River in two places, the
reservoirs thus formed having a ca
pacity OF $4,000 acre feet. In addition,
the normal flow of the river will be
used. The work is wholly of iron, ce-
ment and paved embankments, and
will last for all time. This project re-
claims more than 10000 acres.
Irrigation in the Pecos Valley.
Although these two projects nave
been put into service for the first
time only this season, irrigation in
ny years, canals from local streams
nave been nourishing the soil around
Roswell, and more recently artesian
water has been used in the Middle
Valley. BY canals, about 10000 acres
in the Roswell district have been get
ting water, and by artesian wells
about $4,000, and now come in the
lands lying under the two new pro
jects. The artesian area includes
about $50 square miles, or 422, 400
acres, of which only $4,000 are under
cultivation. The flow of the wells is
from 500 to LOO gallons a minute
and a single well will irrigate from
40 to $50 acres. These wells have
been pouring out water since 1892,
and there has been no diminution
500 wells are now flowing. Besides
the lands under the canal systems
and il the artesian area (amounting
to about a half million acres), there
are 25O,00O acres of irrigable land
which ultimately will be watered by
Valley. Added 30 all this, is a vast
area of grass lands for cattle and
sheep. The altitude of the Pecos Val
ley is about $500 feet, but the eli
mate is mild and genial. Unimproved
lands, within reach of canals or il
the artesian area, may be fought for
from $50 to $50 an acre. Improved
lands run into greater value Five or
ten acres of apples OF pears, after FIVE
years growth, produce enough profit
for a family living and much to spare.
The Pecos Valley will produce every
thing that is grown il the Arkansas
Valley, and in addition cotton.
Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico.
In the Rio Grande Valley of New
Mexico, the Reclamation Service has
a system of irrigation that
wiz cost $7.20o.000 and win reclaim
about 100000 acres of land. II Is pro
posed to dam the river near E7gle.