Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-02-13

status of the Camfield irrigation pro-
iect, Mr.. Lucas arose to his feet, and
with impassioned oratory, urged the
grant board to use no delay in signing
contract with Messrs. Thorpe and
Moore of Denver for the completion
OF the irrigation works Mr.. Veeder at
that time declared that the grants
money should be used cheerfully and
that it would matter little if the en-
tire s15gOOO were poured into the ven
ture provided that the system were
built. He even went SO far as to
state that the board would better run
the risk of losing its money than to
keep it on interestin the banks while
SO important project was lying un-
completed at the threshold of the
city.
Mr.. Lucas little reminder was re-
ceived with laughter, the kind of
laughter which doubtless would have
made Mr.. veeders soul cringe had
he heard it, as he thinks or wishes
the public to think that he is actuated
solely by patriotic motives. But ones
ideals and opinions, like ones under
wear, are subject to change, Doubt
less Mr.. Veeder when he urged the
expenditure of the grant money with
Thorpe and Moore last fall-an ex-
penditure, by the way, which would
/ have purchased far less for the grant
than its face value, according to the
state engineer who showed that the
figures. submitted by the Denver capi-
talists were about four times the
amount necessary to build the irriga-
ton system was actuated by differ
ent motives than at present, when he
is posing as the bull dog of the grant
treasury-an everybody knows that
Mr.. Veeder is strong for the bull"
| Judge David J. Leahy explained that
the bill introduced by Mr.. Lobato pro-
vides every safeguard for the grant
money, as funds invested in any pro-
ieot for completing the irrigation sys-
tom shall be considered as first
mortgage upon the lands irri-
gated. He said it has been carefully
drawn and would prove effective for
the purpose for which it was designed,
the completion Of the big irrigation
system.
/ Judge Leahy said, as did Charles
| w. G. Ward, who followed him, that
wi thsuch a law on the statute books,
the grant board could secure a much
better bargain with any promoters
who might desire to complete the irri-
cation works The trustees would be
able to inform any prospective in
vestors that they were able to finish
the works themselves should they de
sire, having sufficient funds in the
treasury to do so. w. ]. Lucas, for
mer Governor Mills and others spoke
along the same line. They are all
good lawyers and their opinions were
received with applause.
Big Concern is Interested
It was announced also that a con
cern. backed by a large amount of
money, yesterday informed members
OF the Las Vegas grant board that it
would send to Las Vegas at once an
engineer to go over the ground cover
ed by the entire Camfield system and
report to his company as to whether
or not the project is a Feasible one
and a good investment This COM
pany is financially able to build the
4 IRRIGATION plant and built it quickly.
Int likely will require or ask no as
sistance from the grant board. For
various reasons the company desires
that its identity be kept secret for a
short time Some of its officials were
here last month, however and were
sufficiently impressed with the irriga-
ton project to arrange to send their
engineer here
DR.. f. e. Olney r. o. Blood and
others informed the meeting Of the
great success scored several years
ago by the Las Vegas lobby which
went to Santa Fe in large numbers
and secured the passage of the btIl
which resulted in the beginning OF
the scenic highway They stated that
that bill had been opposed by many
prominent LEGISLATORS but that Las
Vegas and her boosters had succeeded
in getting ii through both houses and
signed by the governor In the space
Of one legislative day Right at that
juncture is where the enthusiasm for
the lobbying trip to Santa Re was
begun. Men arose so rapidly in their
places and shouted; Il will 80,
@Put me on the list and "Me too
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