Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-11-15
IRRIGATION PROJECT
in TAOS COUNTY
Red River Reservoir System Will Re-
claim $4,000 Acres-OId-Timer
Tells Of Prosperity.

John H. Young, one of the pioneers
of northern Taos county, and for man,
years a prosperous farmer and alfalf;
raiser at the pretty little town 0
Questa, has been in the city severa
days on land business, and returned
home today. Mr.. Young is one of the
old timers Of that section and frs
went there when quite boy In 1862
He has been permanent resident fo
thirty-five years, and is about as con
versant with conditions and old tim
ers as anyone in that section.
Mr.. Young has quite an interesting
history and at one time even served
for four days as a member of the
House of Representatives of the New
Mexico Assembly, having been elect
ed as Republican. The Democrats
| however, had majority and unseat
ed him with scant ceremony and with
scant recognition of his rights. How
ever, he has gotten over this little, in
cident long ago.
while northern Taos county Is no
receiving as yet many new immi
grants, the people have been and arc
doing mighty well,' said Mr.. Young
Land values are constantly on the
increase and while we are forty.foul
miles from the railroad town of An
tonito we sell everything that we
raise at very good rates.
While our fruit crop was of nc
consequence this year our alfalfa
wheat, oats, barley and potato crops
and vegetables were abundant and
brought very good prices. I have
eighty acres of fine land under ditch
and cultivation and am certainly we'll
satisfied with the results.
There are about $4,000 acres owned
by the people there in small lots
under small holdings title. A good
deal of this land is already irrigated
and the remainder will be irrigated
next season and brought under cult
walton. The water will come from the
Cabresto lake The reservoir and the
dam are completed and the water sup
ply will be abundant. Inc bitches will
be in readiness for the springs work.
This reservoir and ditch system Is
a community affair. The people who
own the lands settled there In 1912.
This was the third settlement. One
was made in the latter part of the
eighteenth century but the Utes and
Apaches were too troublesome and
the settlement was abandoned; the
second settlement was made in 1911
with the same results; the third SET
tlement in 1912 became permanent.
Questa is improving and quite num-
ber of new residences are being built.
Our farmers are also putting up bet
ter houses and making improvement
generally.
Another irrigation project which
will be of much consequence to our
section will be the Red River reser-
voir and dam system. Denver CAPT
talists will furnish the money and
George B. Paxton, mining engineer,
who has been working for several
years in the Red River mining dis
trict, will be the manager. The water
will be brought from the Red River
either by pipe line two and one
half miles long around the Red River
mountain or through a tunnel which
would be about three-fourths of a
mile in length to irrigate about 49,
900 acres of fine agricultural land
which land is now the property of
the territory and for which applica-
ton for purchase has been made by
the promoters Of the company, to
Territorial Engineer V. L. Sullivan
which is now pending. The reser-
voir and ditch system proposed will
be rather expensive but the land will
be worth it after water has been con.
Quoted to it.
There are two saw mills now In
operation in Lama canon about four
miles south of Questa. These cut
about $4,000 feet per day. The lum-
ber is sold in the local market. About
thirty men are employed. The saw
timber is purchased from the Bureau
of Forestry at $3.50 per thousand
board feet and is located on the Taos
national forest. The outlook for the
next year for our section Is very
promising.
Whenever we get railroad down
from old Fort Garland which we
ought to have and which the Denver
and Rio Grande railroad ought to
build, northern Taos county will be
one of the finest agricultural, fruit
raising and mineral sections OF the
Southwest.