El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-04

upon the conditions i'm the MINI
bres vaIleyc" AS a matter OF fact.
numerous engineers nave reported upon
one phase or another of the situation in
the Aiimbres valley. One Of the latest
and most experienced engineers to re
port on this section is P. f. Fuller u.
= irrigation engineer Excerpts from
his vOluminOus report follow,
The Mimbres valley proper Is the
terminus OF the AImbres river. II be-
ing an extensive FOLSOM or basin. COM
prIsing over 25O, 600 acres Of land.
Deming. the largest town or city in
Luna county, is the county seat and
Is situated near the center Of the val
ley II is located on the transconti-
mental line of the S. p railway. and
branch lines of the santa Fe and T..
p. & s. W. It being a railroad center.
IS the gateway to many Of the largest
mining camps in western New Mexico,
among them being Hurley. Santa Rita,
FierrO. Bayard, silver and the famous
MosollOu district. The latter alone
draws upon the produce market near
Deming for over 100000 worth or
produce annually. Geographically,
Deming is the center OF vast mineral
lied sections, on the west, north and
east, In the United states. and is also
a depot to a rich mining section in
Chihuahua. Mexico.
The MimbreE River.
The Mimbres river heads IN the
Black range OF mountains In Grant
county on the south OF the continental
divide, running south g distance Of IS
miles to point north of Deming,
thence continuing east and south some
IS miles, where it terminates in Pigeon
Lake, Old Mexico. 1t is notable eZ-
ample of a stream whose water is al
most totally lost to underflOW' only
during the most tOrreutial floods does
10 become a live stream to the southern
boundary line Of New Mexico. Many
canyons and draws contribute their
water to the Alimbres underfOw from
the mountains west of the MimDres
river, percOlating into the sand and
gravel bed pans at the mouths OF the
canyons.
The writer, while IN Deming two
years ago, with a view to encouraging
the development Of the underground
resources, met with no cordial recep-
tion, but conditions have changed re-
marlSa bly,, for now those who discour-
aged irrigation are its strongest vOta-
ries. and while the Mimbres valley IS
in a transitOry stage, as il We're 1t Is
on the threshold OF a new era and IL
will be but a few years distant when
il viii rank second TO none as an agri-
cultural district.
Mining and cattle raising have been
the chief industries. No doubt its
strategic railroad position has con-
tribUted somewhat TO the growth Of
Deming, and the extension Of other
railway lines into Deming. now con-
templated, still further augment its
growth.
Irrigation and Fat Cattle.
With the practice of irrigation the
fattening Of live stock viii form one
Of the principal Industries. and viii Of
fer inducements 10 the dairy industry
The possibilities of fruit raising viii
no doubt result I'm the erection Of can
ming factories
The climatic conditions in the MIN
bres valley make IL an ideal residence
co VI e = arrn. :
excellent.
Deuing has a population OF about
5000, has excellent educational 1acill-
ties. has a national and a state bank,
electric plant, water works and sewer
system for a CITY OF 10000. q telephone
system and many mercantile houses
The elevation a Deming is 1900 feet
above mean sea level The water sheds
of the Mimbres river proper include
the west slope Of the Black range, the
south slope OF the Continental Divide,
the west slope Of Cooks Ridge and
Hanover and Black peaks while the
Silver CITY drainage area. which is
also contributOrv to the NIimbres val
ley underflOw. includes the south and
east slopes of the Fluos Altos, Bear
and Billiard peaks and the east slope
Of the BurrO mountains. The above
described drainage area is that which
contributes to the Rio MimDres north
OF Deming while south of Deming the
Cedar Grove range. the Hatchet ana
Florida mountains, the east slope OF
Cooks Ridge Sierra Aagdalena ana
many smaller mountains contribute
the water from their slopes into the
basiR OF the Mimbres valley
IL is calculated therefrOm that the
catchment area comprising the sheds
which drain into the Aimbres valley
north and west Of Deming includes
tbout 2900 square miles, and OF this
area about 1850 square miles Is
mountainous, having an elevation OF
5000 10 5000 feet above sea level The
total area which may be construed as
drainage between the Little Ratchet
mountains on the west and the POr-
tilla mountains on the east from the
northern source OF the Mimbres river
to the old Mexico line, includes $500
square miles
In senate document No. A. SD con
gress. first session. page PA, is given
a brief report Of the investigation
made by 1. Clapp, jr-, C. E. who meas
ured the flow OF the Mimbres river at
Kings ranch. so miles north of Deming-
This report says in part.
The Indications for q large under
ground flow are exceptionally good
The lower AIimbres is believed TO be
an underground river; in that case the
surface water is only the surplus ap-
pearing after the underground channel
Is surcharged.'
Fhe Land.
AtLGltiA5 10 lAe 4dI4s MI u4-rE
SAYS;
The surface IS remarkably level eN-
cept for the uniform slope towards the
river channel, and has ample fall TO
lrrigate properly.
Underlying this soil Is the harder clay
loan OF the recent geological periods.
and il is this condition which makes
the Mimbres valley most ideal from an
irrigation standpoint. The heavier soil
holding the moisture, while the lighter
top soil, being more open and porous,
receives and transmits the moisture 10
the lower soil, which. however. due to
the slope toward the river channel,
and which was found from levels to be
l5-5 feet per mile. providing excellent
drainage, which prevents water log
ging.
Due to the greater co2rseness Of the
formation at lower depths. whereby the
friction TO the flow is less. and the
water plane rises when each succeed
ing stratum Is penetrated. II is doubt
ful however. # a strong artesian flow
could be obtained within the area oc-
cupied by the mountain ranges de-
scribed. though il might be possible 10
secure q limited arteSlan flow just
above the barrier mentioned
There Is no evidence Of sodium car
Donate tblack alkalD I'm any OF the
soil.