The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-01-23
Weakened up TO their privileges.

While the force of the National
Guard of the Territory is in number
not great, the officers and men de-
serve much credit for the way in
which they handled themselves both
at the practice encampment which
took place with the members of the
National Guard of other States and
troops of the Regular Army at Austin
Texas, in August last, and at the rifle
competition at Seagirt in September.
Members of our militia were deserv
ingly complimented by the U1ited
States officers ON both of these occa-
sions.
1t is in spite of many h~andicaps
that the Territorial Militia is kept
mp to a state of efficiency in time of
peace, and much credit is due to the
efficient supervision of Adjutant Gen
eral Harrington. The War Depart
ment at Washington is taking increas
ing interest in the military orgaliza-
ions of the States and Territories,
and the mount appropriated by the
Federal Government for New Mexico
year. This appropriation, however.
a be used only for certain specific
purposes, and in order to continue the
receipt of it it is necessary that our
militia pass rigid annual inspections.
One of the gravest drawbacks
against the maintenance of our mil
itary organization is the lack of armo-
ries. 1 therefore join in the recon-
mendation of the Adjutant General
that the appropriation for armory
able appropriation be made enabling
him to employ clerical assistance for
part of the ear
Slight increases in these two re-
spects would result in greatly increas
ing the efficiency of our militia.
Irrigation Laws.
The last legislature passed a very
comprehensive law creating the office
of Territorial Irrigation Engineer and
to promote irrigation development.
IN many respects the law was a good
one, but from the experience of the
past two years it has in general prov
en- too extensive to be properly car
ried out in New Mexico. Its general
provisions as to water rights, appro-
priation and eminent domain, ETC.,
are satisfactory. The provisions as
to the duties of the engineer would
be useful if the duties defined were
carried out. The law further pro-
vides for dividing the Territory INTO
water divisions, and for the appoint
ment of an irrigation commissioner
from each division, which commission
er with the engineer shall constitute
a board of control. These commission
ers are given a great many specific
duties which, if fulfilled, would nee
essitate that each one of them should
be an irrigation engineer of experience
full time to the duties of the office.
Such men caNnot be obtained and
that part of the law, in re-
gard to the board of control has, &C
cording to the opinion of its members
themselves, proven futile and almost
entirely barren of results. The meet
ings of the board as provided by law
incur an unnecessary expense to the
Territory.
The most useful work that can be
done by the Territorial Irrigation En-
gineer is to obtain and compile full
and accurate statistics in regard to
the flow of treams and irrigation pos
of the Territory, for the pur-
of encouraging the construction
by private capital, or otherwise, of ir-
rigation enterprises, which will inure
to the benefit of tine Territory. The
law provides for such work, but very
little has been DONE. Much of the
future prosperity of the Territory de-
ponds upon the work done within her
by the National Reclama-
ton Service. Already several very
projects have beer inau-
gurated by that service, and it is rea
sonable to expect that others will be.
Their Investigations result not only
in the building of projects by the Fed
eral Government, but in the encourage
ment of private corporations to build
I nave received intimations from
the Engineer in charge of the Rec
lamation Service, that he would be
to cooperate with the terri
torial authorities in photographic
work and in. Investigations of mat