Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-02-19
L0Wer MimbreS
Has Underground
Water, Is Belief

SPECIAL coHReaPoHnHHcH 70 N1HhlHe '~"'''.NN'
socorro, n, NJ, Feb. ls.-President
Fayette A. Jones, Of the New Mexico
school OF Mines who recently made
an exhaustive survey Of the lower
MlmbFes valley for the purpose Of as
eeftalning whether or not under
ground water exists in that section In
sufficient quantities to be available
for agricultural purposes, today made
public the result Of his Investigations.
Dr. Jones report on the whole,
Is distinctly encouraging to the peo-
pie Of the Mmbres valley section. II
is written III the usual terse style that
Is characteristic Of IFS author and
states in brief form the conclusions
reached by him The findings Of
Dr. Jones are as follows.
H. Water grayitates toward and
occupies the locality Of the least alti-
tude Hence, Palomas and Guzman
lakes just south Of the border repre-
sent the lowest area IN the Mimbres
drainage basin.
2. These lakes must have an out
let, OF they would al the present time
be salt.
a. Evidently the source Of the wa
ter Is from the north.
4--Apparently some Of the un-
underground flow passes through the
cap between the Tres Hermanas and
Florida mountains.
5-The depth of the wash and
gravel forming the valley fiji doubt
less Is profound IN the center Of the
basin and may exceed in places 1000
feet
6.-The nature of the valley fill
leads us to believe that the lower de-
poalts or strata, at least are Of La
custrine origin.
NO evidence was found indicat-
ing ancient river erosion. None Of
the gravels observed are elassed az
stream eraves
Son any line at right angles tC
/ the trend OF the valley the water APP
parently rises to the same general
level
a-Tho watcr-table Is a gently slop'
ling plane to the south, from q deptl
Of about forty feet at Demng TO d
depth Of about three feet on the Mex
lean boundary The inclination of thi
plane is due to friction in the flow
through the gravel
10.-Artesian water Is most Away
possible In any valley but condition.
in the lower Mimbres valley are no
We promising for artesiau water as IL
tho upper valley north Of Deming. II
this connection would recommen
that deep test hole be drilled a
some point lying east Of a line draw
from Columbus To the center of th
Florida mountains well out toward
the center OF the valley.
1l.-That the flow of wells viii b.
generally small and with a high lit
proportlonato 20 the distance bacl
from the break In the level Of III
main valley
12.-Any holes encountering the ba
sic granite will likely prove disap
pointing and work should be discon
tlnued
II That the flow Of wells sunk d
the interior Of the basin viii be NOR
or less Distracted. since the fine
sands and silts occupy the moro cen
ral portions 90 tho valley I'm
coarse stratum of water bearing gray,
should be sought deeper than presou
drilling Fine quicksand, subjected q
enormous pressure. is certain too prov
troublesome and obatnet the flow
not cased off
H. The two most favorable local
tiles O. Install pumping stations 60
some general system Of irrigatio
! would, In the FIRST instance be nea
J the little bamlt or malpais butt
south OF the railroad. the other 10
eallty Is a possible one, In the uppe
part Of the gap between the Tres HoI
manas and Florida mountains.
: l5.-No general system OF irriga
ten by a general pumping static
! should be established on guesswork
nothing short of verified data will q,
! l6.--From government statistics O
the average rainfHil the supply woul
, appear 10 De- Inadequate should th
] entire valley be reclaimed. but th
, ought mot alarm the present senora
4 ton A large reservoir over an
above the annual rainfall withou
J doubt. exists n the central basin.
lit rs safe to say that conur
uous irrigation n tho valley win mca
4 the gradual lowering Of the wator-ta