Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-04-10
ALONG THE BORDER.
Continued from First Page.

The agricultural work in the
valley interests me much more
than the dry farming and ranch
ing in the northern part of New
Mexico. | had the opportunity of
riding for several hundred miles,
last week, up the valley of the Rio
Grande and saw all phases of irri-
cation from the primitive bitches
that fed the gardens surrounding
the Indian pueblo" or villages
to the great canals into which the
government will turn the waters
interned at Elephant Butte Dam
This is the greatest irrigation pro-
ject the government has tackled,
joining two mountains with dam
several hundred feet in height, at
cost Of eight or ten millions, and
covering several years construc-
ton. 1t is estimated that it will
take ten years food water to fill
the basin to the height of the dam.
The Santa Fe railroad skirts the
basin in which this vast reserve of
water will be impounded and had
an excellent opportunity to get its
significance. The water will be
expended as required, partly by
means of the river bed and partly
by canals, to 10000 acres of ir-
rigable land in the narrow valley,
stretching from 100 miles above Ell
Paso to 40 miles below. AS this
land even under the private irri-
cation systems is selling, where
cleared and leveled and under cul-
tivation, for more than our best
Wood county farms, it follows
that it must be very intelligently
farmed to be a good dividend
payer.
There is doubtless much cheap
land that with clearing and level
ing will give fine returns on the
original cost plus the investment
of time, labor and brains that an
intelligent and ambitious farmer
would give it. Without all those
only the cactus, mesquite and
Spanish bayonet will grow. The
residents of Ell Paso with their
pretty and comfortable homes,
have to expend in one summer
month for city water as much as
two years cost you there, for the
sake of lawn. You can guess,
therefore that there isn't much
chance of finding here the spacious
lawns hedged by luxuriant shrubs
and shaded by blossoming
orchards that make the home
landscape lovely.
On my trip last week l had an
opportunity of seeing what the
progressive spirit backed by live
business mems club will accom-
plish, as you are fighting to ac-
complish there. The little city of
Albuquerque of $4,000, reached by
one trunk line of railroad, and
with no natural advantage except
as it is the center of a vast ranch
ing region, with mining and timber
interests, has paved its streets,
lighted its business thoroughfares
and dressed up its windows worthy
of a city Of a hundred thousand.
They publish descriptive booklet
well written and illustrated by
photographs that is dandy. Even
more than the scenery and romance
of the Indian and old Spanish viii
lage beside it, this civic pride and
spirit of progress have made it
prosper and become the stopping
off point for California tourists
who appreciate its appearance and
its advantages.
We are already launched into
summer here and expect to go
north in two or three weeks. be-
lieve Colorado will be the place
for us, bu intend to see Santa Fe
on the way. We send best wishes
to all friends.
Sincerely yours,
HANSON.