Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-03-13

production Of general farm products;
and the irrigator who applies his
water artifcally. The irrigators, in
turn, are sharply divided into two
classes those who divert water from
flowing streams or reservoirs, when
the same has been impounded. and
conduct il upon the land under So
called gravity systems; and those
who pump the water from an under
Flow. The dry farmers and the ir-
rigators by pumping are, rs rule,
Americans, that is to say, of Euro
pean Origin, while the gravity irrig-
ators are very largely natives. parti-
cnlarly where the oldest water rights
are found and the diversion Of the
water was most easily accomplished.
The native farmers often love their
work. They are. ~ rule, better
acquainted with the seasons THAN
the more recently transported Am
orleans. The usually have smaller
holdings of land aud are very fire.
pucntly lacking in thrift. Their
stock. rs n rule, is inbred and in
fcrior in quality. Their farming meth
DDS are crude aud wasteful but their
crops are better than what might
otherwise be expected because their
lands were the first selected for cul-
tivniion and have an abundant wafer
supply aud the soil is very fertile.
When New Mexico became n part of
the United States some siyty-Rve
years ago. nothing was done by the
American Government for the cduca-
ton or the development Of these
people. They had been living for
nearly three hundred years in isolat-
cd communities without any CON-
munication with the outside world
and with very meager knowledge of
its affairs. Our Government estab-
lished no schools for them, sent in
no teachers as it did to the Philip
pine Islands and Porto Rico, intro
duced no new methods of agriculture
and made no very adequate provis-
ion for the establishment of stable
and respectable government. New
Mexico, rs a state, is now struggling
with problems which should have
been met and solved by the Federal
Government during the sixty years of
our territorial existence; and the
social and economic conditions must
he improved among this class of
people, in my opinion, before any
considerable Improvement in the line
Of rural credits can be developed
among them, however great its need
may be.
The American gravity irrigator, as
II rule, receives his water through
Intensive systems, which have been
developed either by private enter
prise or through the activity Of the
Reclamation Service of the Federal
Government. The title to his water
right usually is more formal in char
actcr than that of the native irriga.
tor, having been provided for by
gislative and congressional acts
while the title of the native irrigatol
To his water right is more frequent.
prescriptive in character. Neverthe.
Il SIS, there is very little litigation ant
these water rights are generally con-
,dered to be good. The American
rrigator usually handles his tract OF
land with more skill in his methods
aud after few years of ncquaint'
ance with the climate condition, pro
duces more to the acre than his Mex
can neighbor. His farm or orchart
is kept up in better shape and wheI
he sells, he gets better price fol
his land.
The irrigator who gets his waite
from wells by means OF pumping
plants, is u more recent acquisition
The necessity of possessing som,
knowledge Of mechanics in order t
operate a pumping plant or engine
coupled with the fact that wells ant
easing, and pumps and engines re
c;ire an immediate cash outlay
have the effect Of settling districts o
this character with class Of farm
crs who are little more forehand
ed than are usually found in othe
localities. They come from all sec
tons of the country, and are fire
quently above the average in ski
aud capacity. As rule, they great
~ underestimate the expense OF nee
essary development work, and wit
hardly an exception they becom
borrowers very quickly after the
enter the country. II probably take
more working capital and lara
Immediate cash investment, per acr
for farming Of this class than it dot
for general farming under any oth'
conditions, but the water supp
when properly deyeloped) is mol