The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-02
WILL |RR|GATE
VAST DESERT
Gigantic Dam Is To Spread Waters
Over 10000 Acres and Make
Thousands of New Farms.
BY GEORGE SAINT AMOUR.


ENGLE, New Mexico, March g.
Converting a desert into an agricultur-
al paradise Is what the people OF the
southwest have done and are doing
with their country.
Fifteen years ago this country was
fit only for Apaches.
Today II is, In part, blooming. They
are raising alfalfa, peaches, apples,
cantaloupes which grace the tables
of the Waldorf-Astoria; Irish and
sweet potatoes-and the strongest
feature Of the proposition Is that they
raise three to five crops each season.
And they have only begun.
The big dam-the Elephant Butte.
called the Engle by the government
will not be completed for three years.
The land improved so far has been
rejuvenated by only comparatively
small bitches" branching out OF the
Rio Grande. Elephant Butte, when 1t
is completed, will irregate $4,000
acres in southern Mex Mexico and
northwestern Texas, and $4,000 acres
in old Mexico .
This soil, partly red clay and part
ly sand-just the same soil as men
die on from lack Of sustenance when
out prospecting for gold--is actually
capable OF almost incredible results
with water. No more skill is required
not half so much work-and for that
matter half so much work cannot be
done Oh account of the heat-to TIL
1t, as in the north.
There Is no rain-or practically no
rain-for this section often passes six
months without drop. But there Is
perpetual sunshine. which with the
irrigation bitches completed, means
semitropical luxuriance in vegeta-
tion. .. ...,..
Three hundred men with horses
and steam shovels are at work on the
Elephant Butte dam, up In the>heart
of the New Mexico desert. This gf-
gantic dam, which will pen UP the
waters Of the Rio Grande for the
farmers, to be used during the long
dry spells will be 400 feet long, 265
feet high from bed rock, with a road
bed along the top of the dam IA feet
wide. The reservoir will have a cap
pacity Of 767,745. 100000 gallons OF
water. 1t will be 2 1-2 miles wide and
"a miles long.
All of the land which will be irrf
gated is either already taken by
somesteaders or open tos scttiers.
Practically speaking, the cost OF the
government land to the homesteader
Is nothing. But each settler will have
to pay the government for his share
Of the cost Of irrigating. In INSTALL
ments covering a period OF 10 years,
starting with the year after the water
Is turned on.
There are 11,616 acres till open for
the American homesteader, most or
which is now desert land, but within
three years all will have irrigation
bitches turning them into fertile farms
of great productive powers. @
BY the terms Of the reclamation act
no person may have water for more
than 160 acres, but then ever that
much land is unnecessary to make a
good living. Forty acres Is enough
Fruits and truck garden products can
be raised in large quantities. Apples
and pears yield from $4,000 to $1,000
pounds, and peaches from $4,000 to
20, 900 pounds to the acre, and the re-
ceipts from these fruits will run from
$3.50 to 5000 an acre. Grapes will
ylelu StVO W SOVV pei o~AS'
Strawberries will pay as high as $500.
Cantaloupes produce from $4,000 to
800 melons per acre, and the re-
ceipts will run up to $3.50 per acre.
Onions will pay up to $500, asparagus
81 200 and other crops In proportion.
Improved farms already under irri-
cation are valued at from 800 to $50
an acre, orchards from $3.50 to $500,
unimproved lands Tin private hands)
from $35 to SIS an acre; raw lands
above the ditch can be bought for as
low as $1.25 an acre. ..
Charles s. Kinne. secretary Of the
El Paso chamber Of commerce, will
supply information about land In the
Rio Grande project to all inquirers;
90 Will the United States reclamation
department, Washington, ID. c.