Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-01-29
Believes First Duty of New
Mexico Senators is to Pro-
cure Appropriation For Re-
Straining River Within Banks.
THINKS THREE MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS ARE NEEDED
National Committeeman De-
CIareS in Interview That He
is Not Nor Never Has Been a
Candidate For Senate.

Especial Correspondence to Morning Journail
Belen, \. NJ, Jan. 21.-Accordins
to a statement made a few days ago
at his home in Los Lunas by Repubh-
can National Committeeman solomon
Luna, that gentleman is not nor never
has been candidate for United states
senator from New Mexico. For some
time past rumors have been persist
ent that the Valencia county leader
was an aspirant for the toEa, and it
was generally conceded among those
in close touch with political affairs
that he would be a hard candidate to
defeat. The statement made by Mr.
Luna that he is not a candidate
should set at rest these rumors,
though, as in the case Of Colonel
Roosevelt. it is not of record that Mr..
Luna has ever announced that he
would not accept the senatorship
should it be rendered him without
solicitation.
Notwithstanding his lack Of sena-
torial ambition, however, the national
committeeman is not without interest
in the race and, while refraining from
a declaration in favor of any candi-
date, he has announced that he viii
lend such influence as ne may have
with members of the legislature to
the candidates for the honor who Will
give him their promise To Introduce
in the senate and work for bill pro-
viding for an appropriat on of three
million dollars for the Improvement
of the Rio Grande through central
and southern New Mexico.
1t is pointed ont by Mr.. Luna that
the Rio Grande is probably the only
large river in the United States that
has never had an appropriation from
congress while millions have been
spent on comparatively insignificant
streams. At the present time, owing
to its numerous flood stages, the
banks OF the river are more or less of
an uncertain quantity and from
White Rock canyon to san Marcia
the river bed is IN most places four
or five times as wide as it need be, as
result of which countless acres of
valuable land are now lying idle. BY
rip-rapping the river and confining il
to it's proper channel the land that
would be reclaimed to cultivation
would many times repay the expense
of the work, besides relieving the
owners of land along the stream OF
the present uncertainty and ever
present danger that their lands will
be Hooded and their crops ruined.
This work would also insure a
plentiful supply Of water for irriga
tion, reduce the loss from evaporation
and sccpage and abolish the danger
of washing out the headgates of irri-
cation systems which has for years
been the chief cause Of lack of water
in the dtchcs. Another result or
this work. il congress can be induced I
to undertake it and Mr.. Luna thinks /
for those who use it further down the J
stream and insure greater supply /
for the great Engle dam.
1t would be difficult 10 conceive or T
an Improvement that would be Of
greater and more widespread benefit 7
To the people OF New Mexico than the '
rip-rapping OF the Rio Grande nor of
one that would add So much to the
taxable wealth Of the state.
When il was suggested TO Mr.. ma
that he. being thoroughly familiar
with the needs of the valley and the
of the Improvement. was
about the best man 10 go TO the sen
it. and secure the appropriation. he
declared that New Mexico has plenty
II men. capable of representing her in
the greatest deliberatiye body on
earth and he was confident that the
legislature would experience little diff
iculty in finding them.