Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-05-10
GOOD ROADS
ADVICE Of
RIPLEY
BEST INVESTMENT ANY
PLACE COULD MAKE
DepIoreS Row Over Elephant
Butte Project and Says Al
buQuerQue is Making Mistake
10 Protest.

III don't know Of anything that
Bernalmo county could better do
than build good roads. am not
familiar with the plan proposed, but
do know that there isn't Il city. town
or village nor a farming community
along the Santa Fee system that
made any great advance until the
people got together and put in de-
cent roads
This was the comment Of Il. J..
Ripley, president OF the Santa Fe
railway. last evening, in n hat with
a reporter on conditions in this Sec
ton of the southwest.
Mr.. Ripley arrived in Albuquerque
shortly before Z O'Clock last night
and remained until an early train
this morning. going from California,
whore he spent most of the winter, to
his offices In Chicago. He was ac-
companied by Mrs. Ripley and their
daughter. Mrs. Baylis, 4 guest Of the
Riplcys, was also aboard their private
chr.
In addition to the Ripley car there
were several other private cars here
yesterday evening ana during the
night. A. G. Wells, general menH-er
Of the coast lines, accompanied by
Mrs. Wells, came this far witii The
president. w. r. Kouns, general
manager of tho western lines of the
Santa re proper, was here in his car
from Amarillo. Tex. There were all
so a number OF lesser officials, and
the local Santa Pc officials met tn"
party here for q conference Which
lasted until tate at night.
There is nothing significant in my
visit said Mr.. Ripley. II am Just
returning to Chicago for some hard
work and | am meeting other off
GERS Of thp system en- route wherever
possible
Mr.. Ripley then asked many ques-
lions about Albuquerque,
-" am certainly glad to hear that
this county will build good roads.
You should have many times the
number of farmers you now have in
this great valley. but you can't cX-
pect 20 get them unless Won haze
roads uyrr which tllry can haul their
produce. think that Whatever Il
may cost and whatever trouble It nay
take, Tie people Of BcrnallllO county
win find that the building OF good
roads is one Of the best Investments
thcy can possibly make at this time.
am gre:'ly Interested in The subject
al good roads and ] have noticed the
difference they make IN places where
the people have constructed them as
compared with places where good
roads are unknown
Mr.. Ripley then asked for details
of lAQ oauuAiGuL lp tl4a ~apDfoprll-
zion OF the waters of the Rio Grandc
tor the Elephant Butte project, which
has arisen in the northern counties
Of tho territory.
81 am very sorry to hear that there
is any controversy over the matter"
he said. In my opinion Albuquerque
ana the other places working with her
Viii make a mistake to push the az
lair further. do not believe that
any project south of here viii do
damage TO your local interests. !
do not believe the reclamation service
can prevent YOU taking what water
YOU need for All your lands, If Won
want TO. | think that at all events
Il Is too late to undertake TO remedy
what has already been done, and J
think that the futur. viii show that
the Elephant Butte project has not
injured YOU
Mr.. Ripley said the Santa re
would continue its work double track
ing, but stated that it was a big
job and could not be completed Ia a
short time. some of tho work il
| proving very costly" he said, and in
fact il is costing us more than VIC
figured on. in some sections Of Ari-
| zona and California. | believe. how
ever, that It Is well worth while