El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-15

Las Cruces, n. N. May 15.-Report-
ing progress upon the Elephant Butte
Dam, president L Clapp, of the Ele-
plant Butte Water Users association,
says that progress is satisfactory. He
urges the land owners to raise a fund
and advertise their valley and cites the
progress Deming is making In such an
undertaking. He also urges them to
hurry and get their water rights ad-
Indicated His report in part follows:
The work up TO the present time, has
Deen mainly preparatory, but within
the next 80 days the building Of the
great Elephant Butte dam will have
commenced by the pouring Of the con-
crete IN the excavation, now nearing
completion. at the east end or flume
section of the dam Solid bed rock Of
such character as to furnish a secure
foundation for the structure is now
being uncovered at a depth OF about 80
Ieet from the river bed
This section OF the dam is about five
per cent of the whole structure and
should be completed, the bypass fin
lshed and the river turned into it early
this fall, at which time excavation in
the bed Of the river will commence.
A recent inspection Of the work has
impressed me with the thOrOughness Of
the preparation that has been made for
the coming battle with the waters and
quicksands Of the Rio Grande The
power plant OF ample caDacitv and
late and economical design the hOists
and aerial tramWays OF enormous ca
paclty and strength working smoothly
and swiftly, for the removal Of the eX-
cdNdled material and depOS1rng the
concrete; the facilities for Quarrying
the rock and conveying materials, are
SO evidently carefully. planned and
thoroughly constructed as TO reduce
ooth the time Of construction Of the
dam and its cost 10 q minimum. Per
sonally I believe that the dam viii be
completed in three years from the COM
ing fall and the cost, aside from the
development Of the electrical power,
little II any greater than the original
estimate Of $40 per acre. None of US
doubt that the power development viii
be worth more than its extra cost. not
included in the original estimate, viii
amount TO.
Some not familiar with conditions
mere hold that the payments required
70 reimburse the government for the
cost of this project would be a great
burden on our land owners 1 do not
believe this viii prove to be true.
CONTRACT For Water.
The usual rental contract between
the government and the MesilIa valley
community bitches mas been negotiated
and executed Under last years con-
tract maximum sum OF $4,000 was
liked for the rental in case there was
no water wasted. This maximum pay
ment was allowed by the reclamation Z
service and paid by the three bitches Z
The provisions Of the 1912 contract !
fix the rental under a graduated scale I
with no maximum allowed. commence
ing ar lOc per acre for the first five I
1eet, and running TO 40c per acre for I
from II TO acre feet. II great econ
omy is not exercised in the use Of 7
water, the charges viii amount TO con-
slderably more for the coming season |
than in 1911
The reclamation service has fur
nlshed US statement showing the ex-
IA HnH ana H-ra
ton OF the Leasburg diversion dam and /
canal for the four years since they
nave been IN operation. From this /
statement the following items are sub I
mitted.
Operating expenses -...:...-s1s4s8.ss |
Main canal slUiceWay and ca
-, nal structures --...;....- 2.g25.7s /
Change Of river channel ... 2O9I.72 (
Dam and structures .--. 7O7.6 /
Miscellaneous buildings /
Watchmans house and
grounds and water supply. 276T25 /
Roads and bridges -.... 6S22I /
Telephone line ---.--.- S9344 ]
charged as per eontrsot, y. s.5a5.ss !
Equipment and supplies on
mana .-.-..-...... 2,158.37 i
Total expenditures ......s4O.O961o /
Total payments during the four year
term by the three bitches receiving
water from the Leasburg works
amounts to s52,56s.2O. leaving a ball
ance In the hands Of the reclamation
service Of S12.472OS.
Statement OF Finances.
Below is a statement showing in
brief the receipts and Disbursements
OF this association since its organiza-
ton in 1906 TO April 80 last
RECEIPTS
Public subscriptions .-.-...S 9Qf a
From territorial fund .--..-. u O2T 81
DOna Ana county survey fund I.5lT-qO
Deposits for recording con
tracts submitted after the
closing OF the books on Sc
curing pledges for 10000
acres ...---,, -.-...-.-.... 1880
on 10c per acre as
= sessment ......-.. .--...-- 425231 /
Receipts from DOna Ana, Ne
silla and Las Cruces ditcdes
on rental contracts ...-.... 52.56S. 2Oj
, s7156L2I
DISBURSEMENTS
Postage Observation-Disclosures. 25877
Freight and express -.---... 7A5OI
Stationery and printing $3.50. 1,OO301
0ffice furniture -t-------.-. 38.25
Telephone and telegraph go. $3.50
Rent -.--..-- ----.--.-.-..-.- 5000
Travelling expenses Of mem
bers Of council, board of di-
reCtOrS and executive Off