El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-26
Reclamation Of Mimbres Valley, NM,
Where Hard Times Are Unknown
Cost OF Installing Pumps Successful Recovery OF the
Underground Waters; Remarkable Growth OF Deming.

power plant. Such are the larger in
stalations, varying in capacity from
1000 to 1900 gallons OF water per min
ute.
II only 400 or 500 gallons of water
per minute is desired, it frequently
Is not necessary to have more than
dug we1l-a first stratum WELL" 1t
is called. In such case, the well is
curbed In the usual way, the pump
set on a frame near the water and
operated by an engine or motor in
the same manner as above described.
The small plants usually deliver their
water into a reservoir and not into
an open ditch as do the larger plants,
the reservoir being necessary in or
der to secure a head of water suf-
ficient for effective irrigation.
Cost Per Acre.
Water rights are developed in this
manner on Mimbres valley lands for
from $12 to $50 per acre depending
upon conditions, and somewhat upon
the intelligence of the individual who
is having the work done. When the
water right Is developed, mind you,
1T Is no community affair, 1t is not
owned Jointly with hundred others,
as is the case under the large gravity
systems, but 1t is an Independent
water right, owned and controlled by
John Jones or Jim Smith, on whoever
put it in, and it is operated solely
for such individuals use and behoof.
So a water right in the Mimbres val
ley means something, it is no shad-
owy claim to an inadequate head OF
water for an insufficient number of
hours somewhere between the mid
night and the dawn once or twice a
week, but 1t is the right TO an ade-
quate supply of the purest water in
the world at any and all times, now
and forever.
Value of Water Right.
We therefore claim that the water
right of the Independent pumping
plant, even if the operating cost is
thrice that of the ordinary gravity
system (which we do not grant, is
just six times as va1ua bic. We claim
further that the initial cost Of such
a water right in the Mimbres valley
is less by half than the average cost
Of a water right under the various
government irrigation projects now
constructed and in course of construc-
ton. We claim and can prove to any,
one who will Investigate the facts
that our pumping plants. where the
lift does not exceed so feet, deliver
an acre-foot of water to the surface
for less than &c. considerably less in
new profit, NOT in theory. but in
actual practice, of from $50 to $40
per acre on such staple field crops as
California pink beans and alfalfa. In
short. pumping Mimbres valley water
onto Mimbres valley farms is no lon
ger in its experimental stage. 1t is
proved proposition. and thousands of
dollars are being invested in it every
month.
Growth of Deming.
The demonstration of its success
has reacted most favorably upon the
town of Deming, which is located in
the center of the pumping district
Within the last IS months, over $780,
600 worth of substantial buildings
have been erected, miles upon miles
Of cement sidewalks have been laid,
sanitary sewer system capable Of ac-
commodhting city of 10000 inhabi-
tants has been installed. There has
been an influx of new men and new
money. trade has been qufckened.
business is brisker and confidence in
the stability of business conditions is
everywhere manifest.
Union and Corporations.
One of the most important factors
In the prosperity Of Deming lies in
the fact that there are practically no
cliques and factions among its citf-
zens. This is evidenced by the fact
that the Deming chamber of com
merce. working tremendously now
for Is months, has developed no jarr-
ing factions. Its work has been TO
advertise the resources of Deming and
the Mimbres valley 1egitimately. and
to disseminate absolutely reliable in
formation concerning this section.
When 1t was proposed to issue
bonds TO the amount of $4,000 for
the erection of q new high school |
building, the issue was voted in with |
out a single dissenting vote Practi- |
cally the same thing was repeated |
when it came to voting on the bonds |
for a sanitary sewer system. 1t is J