El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-11
Regulating Artesian Wells In
Pecos Valley of New Mexico
By R. S. Hamilton, for The Herald.

! issues certificate of acceptance
which acts as a complete release of
the driller from the obligation OF his
| bond as to that we'll
Wells Must Be Cased.
All artesian wells are required to be
cased with standard line or drive pipe
as follows: Six inch pipe to weigh not
less than eighteen (1S) pounds to the
foot; eight-inch, not less than twenty
| eight (2S) pounds; ten-inch, when used
for main casing, TO weigh not less than
forty (40) pounds to the foot. All wells
| in artesian we'll district must be so con-
structed as to conduct to the surface
any and all flows encountered No pipe
previously used for drilling purposes
can be used for the permanent casing
| of we'll Permanent casing must
| always be set with a steel shoe in all
/ cases.
Must Keep Log.
Drillers are required to keep COM
plete record of the depth, thickness
| and character of the different strata
penetrated, date work began. date fin
ished, amount of casing and how
placed and number of inches Of flow
above casing. all verified under oath
and filed with supervisor, prior to ac-
Board of Control.
The county artesian well board" of
three members is elected, one each year
(after the first election) by a conven-
ton of artesian well owners, to be
:: held on the first Monday in February
of each year, each we'll within the
county being entitled to one vote in all
proceedings. A vacancy on such board,
from whatever cause, is filled by the
TIT, r.,
! more than one vacancy at one time,
they are filled by the board of county
commissioners.
These three commissioners act as a
board of arbitration and decide all dis
putes arising between the supervisors
and owners or occupants of land upon
which the dispute has arisen, or the
driller. All appeals to the county ar
tesian we'll board Except those
brought by the supervisory must be
accompanied by fee Of SIS for each
day the hearing of the appeal shall
continue, the compensation of the
not. to exceed S. per day, each, and a
mileage fee of eight cents per mile of
actual travel.
Well Supervisor.
The unanimous decision of the coun-
ty artesian well board upon a matter
brought before 1t on appeal, shall, if
each of the parties in the dispute
states his contention in writing and
in writing agrees to submit such dis
puted questions to the board, be final,
and have the force and effect of a
judgment Of court upon the parties
thereto. The artisan well supervisor
is appointed by the county artesian
well board and holds the office at the
pleasure of said board. The compensa-
ton Of the artesian well supervisor of
each county is fixed by the artesian
well board, but in no case can his SAL
airy exceed $4,000 per year, which is
full compensation for both time and
expense; and can in no case exceed
the amount collected by license fees In
any county. 1t is the duty of the
supervisor to inspect all artesian wells
In his county at least once in three
months and each well put down to the
artesian basin but outside the district
Of flowing wells at least once in six
months and to keep record Of such
inspection in books in his office kept
for that purpose and at all times open
to the inspection Of any person
The supervisor is required to see
that the provisions of the act are faith
fully carried out, and for that purpose
has all power that is conferred by
the act upon the county commissioners
road supervisors, city engineers, city
and town officers, whose duty 1t is
made. upon complaint of any citizen
within the county, city or town, to in
! stitute criminal action for the viola
ton of any Of the provisions of this
act, and for that purpose may at all
times enter upon the premises where
such well is situated The supervisor
is also required to give a bond in the
sum of $4,000 for the faithful l>erform-
ance of the duties of his office. The
fund for the payment of the salaries of
the several county artesian we'll super
visors and the expenses incident to the
prosecution of cases in the violation Of
provisions of the act, is obtained by a
license tax or fee OF SIS per annum in
advance upon each artesian well, col
1ected by the county treasurer for
which he receives the usual commits
sion allowed him by law for collection
of county taxes. An unpaid license
is lien against the land on which
the well is located.
Record of All Wells.
A full and complete list of all arte-
sian wells in his county is reported to
the county treasurer by the well su-
pervisor on the first Mondays of jan
uary and July Of each year, and month
ly thereafter as wells are completed.
Persons intending to construct or re-
pair any artesian wells or any other
wells entering the artesian basin must