Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1911-09-29

day probably 25O.OOO acres of tn,
available land here has beer flee
on, and there are In operation some
$50 pumping plants irrigating ap
proximately 1000 acres Of what
was considered three years ago land
fit for grazing only.
The agricultural value Of this val.
ley land having been determined,
land values have risen rapidly in
the past three years. In the Rio
Grande Valley. 80 miles east, and
the Gila Valley, 200 miles west OF
US, land values, without water
rights. range from $50 TO $50 per
acre. Water rights under these
projects will cost approximately
$40 per acre. Land in the Mimbres
Valley having the same agricultural
value is selling from 81 to SIS per
acre for relinquishments and from
$25 to $40 per acre for patented
land. Water rights under pumping
for irrigation, experience In the
valley has shown to cost not to ex-
ceed $50 per acre, and In many in
stances less. The advantages of
pumping where each individual
owns his own pumping plant over
the ordinary gravity system have
been thoroly demonstrated in Cali
fornia, where several hundred thou
sand acres of land are watered en-
tirely with pumps.
Not more than 10 per cent of the
available l25,000 acres of irrigable
land is patented, the balance being
held under the Homestead or the
Desert Claim Act. This land has
been located within the last three
years, and homestead and desert
proofs are being made by actual set
tiers; but thousands of acres are on
the market at the prices above stated.
many people being willing to part
with their right for a consideration
of 81 to SIS per acre. The l25, 600
acres of available agricultural land
has been pretty well determined
from wells that have been drilled
within this territory. II is not un-
likely that future developments will
add $4,000 or perhaps more to the
commercial area, or what we assume
now to be not over an S5-foot lift.
While there are many districts in
California in which water is pumped
at depth of 125 feet for ordinary
farm crops, the generally accepted
belief here is that S5 feet is the limit
of commercial pumping. 1t will
probably be demonstrated in the
future that this lift can be increased
to 100 feet, for the general condi-
tons in this valley compare favorably
with conditions in California.
The soils of the Mimbres valley
are of the typical desert type, pro-
ducing, when water is available for
irrigation, alfalfa, Mexican beans,
forage crops of all kinds, melons.
onions, tomatoes, all garden vege-
tables and small fruits, together with
orchard fruits, including pears, ap-
pies, peaches. plums, in fact every
thing except citrus varieties.
The climate is semi-arid, the rain
fall in the valley proper averaging
about eight inches per year. The
temperature reaches zero, and then
for day only. The ground freezes
occasionally to a depth of two or
three inches, which lasts but few
days. The maximum summer tenn
perature is about 100. The first
frost occurs about the 10th of Octo-
Ter. The growing season is long
and vegetable growth is rapid. The
nights are cool and, with all, the
climate is as nearly ideal as can be
found.
Three railroads afford transporta-
ton facilities, insuring n market for
everything raised. Some of the
largest copper mines in the United
States are within fifty miles of Dem
ing, this being their natural supply
point.
There is n general uniformity in
the irrigation pumping plants, the
type having been taken from the
California field. Wells are drilled
with a boring machine from $50 to
200 feet deep, casing installed in
these holes having a perforated area
matching the gravel stratas which
furnish the water. Pits are dug
large enough to install pumps of the
vertical centrifugal type, and gaso-
line engines furnish the required
power.
Deming has an electric power
plant, and several miles of trans
mission line have been constructed
with the intention of determining
the commercial possibility of electric
power in pumping water. Some ten
plants have been installed close to
Deming, and vertical motors, directly
connected to the pump shaft, are
used IN raise the water. Electric