Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1911-09-22

slopes OF the flnoS AitOs, bear anu
Billiards Peaks and the east slope of
the Burro mountains. The above
described drainage area Is that
which contributes TO the Rio MINI
bres north Of Deming, while south
of Deming the Cedar Grove Range,
the Hatchet and Florida Mountains,
the east slope Of Cooks Ridge,
Sierra Magdalena, and many smaller
mountains contribute the water
from their slopes into the basin Of
the Mimbres Valley.
1t is calculated therefrom that
the catchment area comprising the
sheds which drain into the MINI
bres Valley north and west Of Dem
ing includes about $500 square
miles and of this area about l,l50
square miles is mountainous, hav-
ing an elevation Of 5000 TO 5000
feet above sea level. The total
area which may be construed as
drainage between the Little Hatchet
mountains on the west and the
Portilla mountains on the east, from
the northern source Of the Mimbres
River to the Old Mexico line. in
cludes $500 square miles.
In Senate Document No. Al, 1,
Fifty Second Congress, First Ses-
sion, page 224, is given a brief re-
port of the Investigations made by
L. Clapp, jr., c, E., who measured
the flow of the Mimbres River at
Kings Ranch, 30 miles north of
Deming. This report says in part:
THE indications for large
underground flow are exceptionally
good. The lower Mimbres Is be-
lieved to be an underground river;
| in that case, the surface water ID
only the surplus appearing after
the underground channel is sur
charged"
Referring to the land. Mr.. Fuller
says:
The surface is remarkably leve
except for the uniform slope to-
wards the river channel and ha'
ample fall to irrigate properly.
Underlying this soil is the harder
clay loan of the recent geological
periods and ii is this condition
which makes the Mimbres Vale!
most ideal from an irrigation stand
point. The heavier soil, holding
the moisture, while the lighter tol
soil, being more open and porous
receives and transmits the moistur
to the lower soil, which, however
due to the slope toward the rive
! channel, and which was found fror
levels to be l5.5 feet per mile, pro
viding excellent drainage whic
prevents water logging.
} Due to the greater coarseness o
the formation at lower depths
: whereby the friction to the flow
, less, and the water plane rise
$ when each succeeding stratum
v penetrated, II is doubtful, how
n ever, if strong artesian flo
@ could be obtained within the are
J. occupied by the mountain range
e described, tho it might be possib
u to secure a limited artesian flo
i lust above the barrier mentioned.
l. There is no evidence of sodiu
carbonate (black alkali) in any
g the soil.
't A soil survey has not been mat
IS of the Mimbres Valley, but the ia
h that excellent crops are being rais'
u to some extent, in nearly every pa
I, of the valley is evidence of the a
z sence of deleterious salts.
Taking that area surroundil
IN Deming and amounting to 5,S
m square miles, as being underls
Nd with water bearing strata OF
ry feet in depth of which 80 per &C
Mt were voids, it would lower
he water plane but about 3.5 incl
in one year, II 100000 acre II
he were withdrawn from the und'
'aI flow, a condition most improbah
Id The water pumped from
Mimbres Valley is very soft
'ut pure, containing only GO pa
nal magnesia and iron per lOO,oOo
ate Some of the most remarka
ps' examples of the possibilities
fKs irrigation were observed upon 8
OF eral Of the ranches.
IND Judging from the crops harves
and from the plants in OPP
3oo ton for the past year or two
The conservative estimate of the a.