Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-11
Fact That Government Appro-
priatior Would Prevent Fur
ther Extension Of Irrigation
Here is Not Generally Under
stood,
CLUB COMMITTEE WILL
HOLD MEETING TODAY
BeIated Action May YET Result
in More Equitable DiStribu-
ton Of Water Rights From
the Rio Grande.

That the government reclamation
services appropriation Of water for
the use of the Elephant Butte storage
reservoir takes away all the surplus
waters of the Rio Grunde i'm New Mex
leo not actually used for irrigation
purposes. and that II practically
leaves high and dry more h TOUR
hundred thousand acres of land in
central II northern New Mexico
which should properly be irrigated
from the river ppears not to have
been generally understood in Albu-
duerdue prior to the action of the
Commercial club Wednesday night in
appointing a committee of three to
investigate the matter and prepare
resolutions addressed to the senate
committee on irrigation, for submits
sion to the club for it's approval.
The committee consisting of A.. b.
McMillen, O. n. Marion and julius
Staab will hold a meeting this morn
ing to consider a tentative draft of
the proposed resolutions, which have
been prepared.
In the meantime the action Of the
club. Wednesday night was the prin-
cipal topic Oh conversation among
business men yesterday and the eX-
pressions indicated that very few. if
any, of the local business men have.
w 'HlS tiillE ulluti CtOOu iilt oi6
canoe to the valley north of the Ele-
phant Butte dam, should the govern
ments appropriation be allowed to
stand, There were many expressions
yesterday to the effect that the clubs
action was lastyi that the govern-'
mont. for the reclamation of but 1l0,-
600 acres Of land in southern New
Mexico. $4,000 acres in Texas and
5000 acres in Mexico, could not
mean 80 deprive the major portion OF
the valley in New Mexico Of the use
of the river lor irrigation and hat
When the Elephant Butte project is
completed the government win make
an equitable distribution of the water.
Those who ave made a quick study
of the situation, however, are appar-
emily very much awake to the serious
ness OF the situation. II, as is as
serted By the men most familiar With
the conditions. the governments APP
preparations of water win shut off the
central and northern Rio Grande and
Its tributary valleys from further APP
preparation of water. then they 81.
the time has come Tor prompt and
vigorous action, wen though II be
late.
Mr.. McMillen was asked Yesterday
TO give in more detailed form the
statement which he made to the Com
mercial club "wednesday night and
which brought the situation home 20
Albuquerque men for the first time.
THE people of the southern part of
the territory, known as the Mcsilln
valley, and the section tributary to FL
Texas, are enthusiastic about
the Elephant Butte project said Mr..
McMillen. and naturally so. The
whole territory has recognized It as a
great irrigation undertaking and its
very greatness has served to over
shadow the real significance of the APP |
preparations of water sought to be
made by the government, to the CEN
trail and northern sections OF the rio
Grande valley in New Mexico. 1t IS
entirely natural u proper that the
owners Of property in the compare
lively small section south of the pro-
posed reservoir should be enthusiasts
tic about 1t. 1t is q matter Of per-
sonal interest to them. As | UNDER
it. there is no one who would
begrudge to that section the use of !
all necessary water Tor the irrigation
OF such lands as are tributary to the
Rio Grandc.
The United states reclamation
however, proposes to . n
struct the Elephant Butte lar so as
TO form a reservoir for the storage of /