Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-09-13
Work Commenced Today on the Larg-
est Irrigation Project Ever Under
taken in This Vicinity
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO Be EXPENDED ON THE WORK
Means the Coming of Steady Stream of Settlers, the Ap
pearance of Two New Towns and Number of Well
Built Roads, All Will Contribute to Prosperitv

At last the great Arroyo Hondo pro-
iect of which so much has been heard,
is to become a reality and today the
work of construction commenced in
earnest. The fact that the project is
now under way is due entirely to the
Jealous and indefatigable efforts OF G.
Franklin Flick, the president of the
Santa Fe Irrigation and Improvement
Company, who are the promoters in
the venture. The project is but an
other evidence of the great faith which
Mr.. Flick has in Santa Fe. When he
came here some time ago, he sold his
business interests in Chicago and en-
gagged in the banking business in this
city, becoming president of the U. S.
Bank and Trust Company, which bank
he soon placed upon conservative
and profitable basis, bringing it up to
the rank of the best banks in this
section. In addition to showing his
trust in Santa Fe by becoming a citi-
zen and investing his money, Mr.. Flick
has interested large number of out
side men of means, the Arroyo HOndo
being one of the outcomes of such
action. But this project is merely
begun. What it will mean to Santa Fe
is incalculable at present, but it is
certain that new era is now dawning
for the Ancient City.
What the Project Will Accomplish.
For the first time in history the
great stretches of farm land that for
centuries, because of lack of water,
have been lying idle at the city's very
doors, will be placed under irrigation
and with an influx of farmers and set
tiers, will be placed under cultivation.
The soil at present unproductive, will
be made to yield fruit, vegetables and
grain, in way that will astonish the
Southwest 1t will mean that Santa
Fe, instead of having to ship in fruit
and vegetable supplies from the out
side, will raise these products right at
home.
How it Will Be Done.
The manner in which the land is to
! be made fit for farming and settlement
| is an undertaking of magnitude. 1t
will mean the expenditure of thou
sands of dollars, every dollar of which
will accrue to the benefit of Santa Fe
The company that is promoting the
venture, is capitalized at 100000 and
! has authorized bond issue of 5000,
| 900. The water rights secured con
! sist of the control of the natural flow
and food waters of the Arroyo Hondc
and it is these waters that will be
stored for the purpose of irrigating ter
! thousand acres of land The company
itself, besides the water rights, owns
/ two thousand acres of irrigable land
and three thousand acres of land suit
able for dam and reservoir sites. These
properties will aggregate total value
of half million dollars. All financia
arrangements for the undertaking Of
the work have been completed anG
this brings to light another feature
namely the fact that Mr.. Flick in pro
noting the project secured the nee
essary capital on the outside and the
people of Santa Fe were not called
upon for single penny, this though
they will for all time to come, receive
the direct and indirect benefits that
will become more manifest as the work
progresses.
Start on First Reservoir.
i The scene of the work begun today
is located about five miles south o1