Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-11-12
,se.e,.l Correspondent. 10 Morning yosrnall

fspecinl Correspondence 10 Morning yosrnaii
Portales. A.. NJ, Nov. 1i-Aftcr
having made o complete success OF
farming without irrigation Portales
pnople have determined to make their
district just n little better and TO 70
rs for irrigation They are going In
In a way that promises immediate
and very gratifying results aud It VIII
be surprising If the season Of 1910
does not show IN irrigated district
here which will be attracting the at
tentlon Of the country.
Is 4 dry farming district tho Por-
tales district was one of the pioneers
Shortly after the possibilities Of farm
Ing without irrigation were discovered
In New Mexico q few daring farmers
and homeatcadcrs tried Il near Por-
tales. The results were Immediately
satisfactory and within a period of
time So short az to make the growth
almost miraculous the whole region
was Transformed into a populous
farming district. In 1903 when
Roosevelt county was crented thcre
were only about 500 people IN the
county. Last winter when Curry
county was created chiefly from
Roosevelt county, the old county had
n population Of close TO $4,000 hnd
portaies had grown from n whistling
,.nst ~ d fluurinphing town Of 1000
people. which IL about its present
population.
Tut the past season has been ono Of
light rainfall. Crops have not done
rs well M in tho average year and
This has drawn the attention Of the
farmers sharply 10 the possibilities OF
irrigation by pumping, II has been
known for a long time that there was
a strong flow OF water not far below
the surface of this whole district
Numerous shallow wells hilv demon
strated this and one wen Of artesian
character has demonstrated the
strength OF the flow. Not a great
deal 81 irrigation water Is needed here.
The rainfall In an average year Is ann
mic 10 mature al crops, but With a wa
Tor supply 10 fall back on al the prop
ar time or In case OF drouth the ylobl
can aIwnys be greatly increased.
The result Of this condition has been
n series Of tests Of the underground
water supply which have shown TO thn
complete satisfaction of every n Ia
the district and TO many outsiders who
hnvc. looked into the matter, that witi'y
a central power plant furnishing pow
or for pumps at reasonable prices ir-
rigation By pumping Is Ia every way
practical. The outcome Of this VIII
he IN irrigated district here u may
take some time 10 work out the plans
hut the volume OF the Water nnd IT'S re-
liability have been thoroughly proven
and pumping on y lnrge scale VIII
come In the immediate future. Thc
first stcp has been the contracting 81
Ga0O nrrcs 90 land FOR q central pump
ing plant which Il ~ proposed to build
here nj a cost of s21o,oo0, the farmers
piedging their lands to insure the cost
Of tho project
Government experts have inVesti
gated the water supply y have re-
ported f%avornbly on Il, It Is estimated
that with the power available There
are fG0. 900 acres in this district which
may be irrigated by pumping.
The prospect of an irrigated district
added TO It's natural farming resources
has added new HE a. portaleF, al
ready one OF the most flourishing of
the eastern New Mexico towns. Tho
new spirit ls shawn by the revival OF
hniiding Recently a fire destroyed
six hnaincss houses They were cheap
frame structures, but their owners
had made money in them These own
cts are now planning 20 construct sol
IA buildings OF brick and cement 60
take The place Of the old shacks The
First National bank ls soon to huild
q new home which will cost sl"'ooo
'rbe city has iugt sold $4,000 worth OF
houas nj Il premium of $1,000 Go be
used for construction of "a modern wa
ter works system. Sewerage and
electric iights viii follow.
portalcs has a live commercial club
which ~ doing q great deal Go forward
tle interests of the town ana sur
country us three banks
combined deposits of close Co
half "A million. its general merchandise
and other stores are supplied
with new and complete stocks aud the
town is supplied with an h comforts