Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-06-03
ARTES|A IS VERY
VERY PROSPEROUS
Engineer Sullivan
Visits Lower Pecos
Valley
WARNING TO WELL USERS
They Must Case or Land
Will Be Ruined by
Seepage.

Territorial Engineer Vernon l.. Sui
livan returned today from an extend
ed trip over the southeast and south
central portions of the Territory. Mr..
Sullivan made this trip, lasting prac-
tically three weeks in his automobile,
and had the opportunity Of seeing the
country very minutely from Santa Fe
to Roswell, from Roswell to Artesia
and later to Carlsbad. From Artesia
MI. Sullivan took buggy trip up the
Penasco stream system, running into
Cuervo canon. Bluewater creek and
into the Sacramento valley stream
system south of Alamogordo.
In making this trip, the Territorial
Engineer made very close study and
examination of the artesian belt of the
Territory. This belt extends from a
few miles north of Roswell and to sew
eral miles south of Lakewood, New
Mexico. There are in the neighbor-
hood Of eight hundred artesian wells
in this section, the larger portion of
which are doing exceedingly we'll as
regards to pressure and supply and
irrigating practically 10000 acres of
the very best land in the whole South
west. Great activity is taking place
in this district both in the agricultural
line and in the settlement of towns
and the business districts. A great
many people are coming into this Sec
tion who are energetic, enterprising
and who are now joining in the move
ment of boosting that section with
perhaps more enthusiasm than the
older residents. The towns in the ar
tesian belt, Roswell, Dexter, Lake Ar
thur, Greenfield, Hagerman, Artesia,
Dayton and Lakewood are experienc-
ing a very rapid growth, which unlike
boom is substantial and is the re-
suit of having the real articles as soil,
climate, water supply both artesian
and surface flow. The town of Arte-
sia itself is especially remarkable for
this growth in building OF business
blocks, residences and the great in
terest shown in the matter of public
Improvements. A $4,000 school will
soon be built by the Methodists which
will place Artesia in the lead with
educational advantages. Fine auto
mobile roads are to be found every
where connecting these towns that
would compare with the country roads
of the Northern and Central states,
there being more automobiles in the
lower Pecos valley than in the rest OF
the Territory combined.
Although the fruit crops this year
will not be up to expectations, the
farmers are busy growing those fruits
which escaped the unusually late
spring frost Of this year. Alfalfa and
other crops are doing splendidly and
are bringing top-notch prices with a
local market. The farmers are cater
ing to the production Of small fruits
in very pronounced manner, there
being several local canning factories
in this section.
While very much gratified with the
growth and development Of the south
eastern portion of the Territory, Mr..
Sullivan in reply to a question by the
representative OF the New Mexican as
what were, if any, the conditions
which were not so favorable to in
crease this rapid development and
progress said:
"Yes, there Is one thing which
struck me rather forcibly and which
regret is not being taken up by the
residents Of these communities with
more strict regulations and supervis-
ion and that is the distressing con-
dition Of a great many Of the artesian
wells. The lack Of proper handling of
these wells in regard to casing is the
only obstacle find in the way of flu
ture development. Much water Is es-
Gaping into the soil and coming to the
surface owing to the fact OF the i'm
proper casing Of these wells. In a
number Of instances I have actually
found the water appearing on the sur
face and running the land. The water
has been escaping In this manner
from great many Of the wells for
evidently some considerable time and
the condition Of the land is becoming
very bad being practically subbed out
in many places. This condition could
be averted by more active supervis-
ion in the construction and re-casing
Of the wells. The casing should in
every case go as far down as to come
in contract with the impervious strata,
thus cutting off any chances OF water
escaping and coming to the surface.
The pressure Of these wells varies
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