Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-09-30
secure the acceptance OF foreign gov
ernments prior to 1910.

secure the acceptance OF foreign gov |
ernments prior to 1910.
Irrigation in Latin America is no
new problem. In fact there are to
be found today evidences Of great ir-
rigating canals and systems built by
the Aztecs of Mexico and the Incas
of Peru long before the span sh con-
quest and even the discovery Of North
America. 1t Is not my purpose In this
address, however, to pay more than
passing attention to these vast under
takings of the ancients-aithougn
they are worthy of close and careful
consideration-but n few facts, Illus
trative of what they had accomplished
in the line of irrigation before Eu-
rope invaded the New World may be
of interest. The student of the prob
lem of irrigation will find abundant
material in Mexico. Peru and Argen-
tina to prove the beneficial work
done by these early peoples.
In Mexico the government some-
times undertakes irrigation projects,
sometimes grants permits to private
associations or individuals, but coh-
troll of the waters and prices Is re-
tanned in government hands. In
stances of what has already been ac-
complished in the various states may
be briefly given. In Sinaloa modern
irrigation plant furnishes water to
$4,000 acres. In Puebla fifteen
square miles have recently been
brought under irrigation at a cost Of
100000. In Guerrero irrigation
t-o lnfa NJ
of s15O,0O0. In Cnihuahua Senior
Creel, the distinguished Mexican am
bassador to the United States. and
governor of the state of Chihuahua.
Is irrigating one farm Of 5000 acres.
| Colonel Green and his company are
| planning large irrigation systems and
| 1t has been estimated that 100000
acres are thus served. In Durango a
company has recently receiver per-
mission to use the waters Of the Pal
| millas river. In Chiapas the national
secretary of colonization and indus
try has given permission to use the
waters of the river Canalejo, supply
ing 1000 gallons $4,000 liters) a Sec
ond for irrigation. In Nuevo Leon
east of Monterey, there is an irriga'
ton system with a reservoir to hold
$50, 100000 gallons of water, whicf
flows through six miles of pipe. The
agricultural board of Jalisco offeri
prizes for wells and for plans fol
the increased use OF water. and re-
leases from taxation irrigation plant
and machinery to be used in develop
ing such plants. This same encour
, agement Is offered in many instance
by the national government In man,
OF the other states OF Mexico vas
schemes are under way for irrigatinl
the land, but those which have TAX
en- up may be considered as the prin
cipal ones.
II modern Mexico shows such prog
ress 1t is equally true that Peru, Chile
Argentina, Brazil, and, to some ex
tent, the other sections of Lati
America are in the van.
Let us consider first the republi
of Peru, where many recent import
ant irrigation works have been sue
cessfully carried out. Worthy Of men
ton is a plant in the valley of Nasc
which, through the restoration of d
, ancient canal of the Incas thirty mile
! long, fertilizes $4,000 acres of Ian
Thirty-five thousand acres have bee
5 reclaimed from barrenness in the va,
: ley of Lomas. In the valley of CHR
l there are 1900 acres of tillable LAM
d 16, 900 of which are now under cult
walton. An area Tery much larg'
viii be brought into use by repairin
y one of the ancient canals. In the d.
II partment of Piura an area Of fro
Z $4,000 to $4,000 acres has been su
d veyed, and already $1,000 acres al
e irrigated. A contract, II is reporte
e has been entered into with a cottC
! planter for irrigatins 30,0 900 acres.
= the department. OF Lima the arid Liant
II of Noco are being irrigated. An Il
q teresting result has been obtained
the port of Mollendo. Water from L
l. aqueduct of Uchumayo, built in IS
If for the use of the railway to Ar
II quipa, has been partly diverted f
IS irrigating purposes. The cost of the
., works was about $1,30O,OOO. II
g aqueduct has a length OF STA mile
1t divided into fourteen sections wi
1t intermediate reservoirs; In Mollen
IN there are two other tanks from whit
Ie the water Is Immediately distribute
II In a recent report OF the minister
< public works of Peru, mention
y | Ildlt Ol "A UfNlN plSdh N~d SfNNi
a under this ministry 10 study the pro
IS lems of irrigation on the west Goa
~ The river Rimac. near Lima. the ca
Of ital Of Peru, is It present used
- irrigate seven valleys with about 81
be 600 acres of land.
aS The Peruvian government has, dl
n ing the past few years, been emp q
of ing experts from the United stat E
n illogical survey and the rec.dmati
- service testing the p0ss bllitles II
lr rieation in the republic. AS a res
ss. Of these Investigations it Is estima.
" that approximately 100000 acres
D- the Peruvian coast reg on are 81
s, ceptible of irrigation, OF which
r tween 100000 and 100000 acl
er are in the valley districts. As Per
al leading crOps-sugar, cotton and r
! are all irrigation crops, II can
OF seen how energetic the governmt
ld has been in this undertak ng.
's- Work i'm Argentina.
in In Argentina one Of the most
r tcresting examples Of irrigation
I H., -g4 III 4