Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-06-20
DESERT WELL BILL
TO RECLAIM THE
Waste PLACES
Measure by Mr.. Ferguson Elk
pected to Result in More
Rapid Development Of Arid
Lands.

CONGRESSMAN n. g. Ferguson mas
introduced in the house OF representa-
tives a bill which, II passed, will do
more toward developing the desert
lands Of New Mexico thar anything
Yet undertaken. There are In New
Mexico today tnOusands---even mh-
ll0nH--of acres of barren waste This
land has been lying idle since the
dawn OF creation and unless induce
ments on the order OF Mr.. Fergus
sons bill are held out 10 the people
90 develop the land 4 VIII, In great
measure, remain idle for all time 10
come. Mr.. FERGUSON proposes that
every man who develops water on the
public domain by pumping from a
depth Of fifty feet or more. DC givon
forty acres immediately surrounding
the WELL which must be cultivated.
no man 10 be entitled 20 more than
eight such tracts or the present ago
acre desert claim. The bill was re-
ferred 10 the committee ON Irrigation
% arid lands and Ga explanation Of
the necessity OF such q law, Mr Fer
gusson made the following address
before that comHtteo:
The first result of this bin will be
the prospecting az land absolutely un-
suitable. as far as demonstrated. for
agricultural purposes on for irrigation.
and will induce cattle ana sheep men
in regions where they cannot Craze
/
OF Wattr--it Will 3nducc the grazing
men 90 prospect for water, and pro-
poses 90 reward them FOR the expense
Incurred ia procuring water on graz-
ing lands now absolutely inaceessibl
20 the herds because OF lack OF water.
should water he found at less than
! 100 feet ia depth, Y has been DEM
/ onstratrd. at least ga New Mexico.
that ln many places water win come
| ~ 90 within few feet of the surface
that is not strictly artesian, and IA
/ five or six different places In New
Mexico where Il Is not necessary 20
pump water from further depth
/ than fifty or sixty feet, little farms
have been irrigated from these wells
and agriculture largely promoted.
I might mention the Miubres valley IN
l New Mexico, around Demsng, where
there are more than hundred farms
on land that was formerly ut only
for grazing, and fii only for grazing
where water was accessible within u
/ five or siN-nuiie drive. BY accident
h was found that water in incShaust-
ihle quantities could be pumped from
| Wells and farms could be created. So
that II the cattle man or sheep man
sinks well and has 10 30 100 feet OF
more for water. he cannot by pump
ing irriEate anything, because the
( pumping would be too expensive, Dut
he can afford Tor the sake of reach
ing the rich grass, 20 spend an that
is necessary In sinking 90 "a great
depth and pumping from n great
depth la order 10 get and make value
able for his herds, either cattle on
sheep the Rraging lands"
The Bulletin OF the New Mexico
Pupiieiiy Association says. The eiti-
gems or New Mckee cannot commend
this action too highly and no time
should be lost Ia trying 20 influenced
every congressman and every senator
~ Washington 20 support the meas
ure. The homcatcadcrs Of New Mex
leo and Of other western states are
Indebted Ia great measure 60 news.
papers throughout the west for aEii
tailnR IN the strongest terms possible
tee passage Of the thrce-year home.
stead hlll. II was through their AID
that the WESTERN congressman and
senators were able 10 convince IN,
/ conservative casternora that ITO on
a homestead is not a dream and tha
three years residence Is sufficient pa,
Tor amy quarter section of uncl,
SANS domain. Let us get together
and help pass this hill which will a,
~ much % indace development.