Albuquerque morning journal., 1908-08-31
TEXAS TO SEND A
REPRESENTATIVE
DELEGATION
Dallas Newspaper Reviews
History of Irrigation Con-
gress and Urges Lone Star
State to Be There in Force,

NHiiN ~ bNhSNto iVNdS 70 lai DV~
hind other states in the progress or
irrigation, the Dallas News says that
for that reason the more the Lone
Star state should take an active part
in the coming Irrigation congress
here. The News says:
The Santa Fe railroad has issued
an attractive folder, presenting inter
esting information concerning the Ma
tional Irrigation congress and Indus
trial exposition to be held at Albu-
querque. September 30 to October 10.
The congress, from q small begin.
ming in 1891 when 1t was instituted al
Salt Lake City, Utah, has grown into
an organization of national impor-
tance and a recognized force in di-
recting legislation by the congress of
the United States for the reclamation
of the arid and semi-arid lands of
the west. Yearly the attendance of
delegates and spectators has been in
creasing. Last year at Sacramento
Cal. many thousands attended, and
the whole country read with absorb
ing interest the daily reports of the
proceedings. This year at Albuquer-
que the national government, by cabl-
net and bureau officers. will partci-
pate in the discussions, and the board
in charge OF the local arrangements
is preparing for a larger attendance
than ever before.
The News has noticed the govern
ment's large irrigation projects here
tofore. 1t is not to government recla-
nation alone that the west owes its
present stage of irrigation develop
ment or its hope for the future What
has been accomplished in recalming
the arid regions so far largely has
been by private enterprise BY pri-
vate corporations more than fifteen
million acrestof land have been re.
claimed at cost of $3.50, 900. 900
This land Is watered from 215.0O0
miles of canals, equaling in length
the railways of the United States All
this has been done by private enter
prise
Colorado with its 100000 acres OF
land under ditch ranks first among
the semi-arid states in extent of irri-
gated area. It is served by more than
5000 miles Of canals, constructed at
n cost of more than $40, 900, 600. This
land produces crops exceeding in
value the output Of the states mines,
The finest examples OF modern irri-
cation within the state are to be seen
in the Arkansas valley of southeast
aHN .I IL l., a.
greatest storage of water in the Uni
ted States and perhaps in the world,
that of the Arkansas Valley Sugar
Beet and Irrigated Land company, OF
which w. M, Wiley is president and
manager. With q shore line of sixty
five miles. its five great reservoirs
store 100000 acre feet of water for
use on the 125,00O acres of land. This
system of reservoirs, without draw
ing a drop of water from the Arkan-
sas river for direct irrigation, could
water its land for two successive years
without replenishlng its supply This
Is but one instance Of the remarkable
development of irrigation in Colorado
by private enterprise.
New Mexico has under ditch and
cultivation at this time about 400. 900
acres of land. Some authorities claim
II to be 100000. This is all by pri-
vate enterprise. and built at cost of
more than $4,000, 900 and supplied by
1000 miles Of canals. This develop
ment is growing rapidly. particularly
in Colfax county. in the northern por-
tion of the territory In the vicinity of
Springer in San Miguel county. north
of Las Vegas, in Valencia county near
Bluewater and Rio Puerco, and in So
corro county between San Antonio
and San Marcial Numerous other en-
terprises are under way by private
capital Besides, the development OF
agriculture without Irrigation in those
sections having sufficient rainfall is
making rapid progress, particularly in
San Miguel county.
Arizona has reached about the same
state of irrigation development by pri-
vate enterprise as its eastern neigh
$50, 600 acres under ditch at this time.
reclaimed at cost of $4,000 and
served by $500 miles of canals. with
the exception of the Colorado on its
western boundary. the rivers OF Ari-
zona are torrential streams. In food
time they carry an immense volume
and large storage Is necessary for ex-
tenslve irrigation. Numerous projects
are building and Contemplated in Ari-
zona, both by private capital and the
United States reclamation service.
California ranks second among the
states of the union in.number of acres
irrigated More than 10000 miles ol
canals and immense controlling works
have been constructed within the
state, at cost Of 10000. 900, and
from them are irrigated about two
and one-half million acres of land.
one Of the greatest irrigated sections
OF the state is the famous San Joaquin
valley. a region Of marvellous fertility
and productiveness, The southern
portion of California Is too well
known for description. Perhaps there
is no other region on earth whereby
Irrigation lands have become so valu-
able and productive What the fu-
ture OF irrigation IN California viii be
ioann1f he nfedlcfpd Ifa feaourcpa of