The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-05-03
Situation In Mesilla Valley
District Critical as Result
of Enforcing of Stop Order
On Supply Through Leas-
burg Canal.
LAND E REFUSE
TO SIGN
Allege Storage Charge of so
Cents an Acre Unfair and
Only Those Who Sign Up
Receive Water Supply.


4 grave situation has developed In
the Mesilla valley during the past
few days. FOR land owners under the
Leasburg canal, bccaucs Of the en-.
t"rcement on saturday Of the recla-
nation service order shutting off the
irrigation water supply In the Leas-
burg ditch from the lands OF owners
who have refused to sign the supply
contracts prepared by the reclama-
ton service officials. Numerous oJ-
jcctions are made 20 the contracts by
the land owners, especial objection
being made to the storage charge Of
80 cents per acre.
The situation Is outlined by the
Rio Grande Republic OF Las cruces.
as follows.
The most serious %0ntrovcrs which
has ever arisen between the officials
OF the reclamation service and the
water users Of the Rio Grande val
loy came to an issue April so. when
the reclamation service gave orders
that the water In the canals In the
Mesilia valley be limited 20 those
water users who have signed the con-
tract recently submitted oy the local
officials Of the service.
The contract submitted il believed
10 be unjust TO the water users, and
an attempt was made To- have this
contract amended TO meet the wishe.
"i the people, but the protests flied
have not reached the higher officia r
ana the action In cutting of IN,
water has been arbitrary on the par
81 subordinates. without a hearinr
before the higher officials, aud with,
"nt any representation nv TIE watei
users.
The cutting of Of the water sup.
ply Tor This valley is q most seriou,
injury 60 the water users, and will
result IN the loss Of many thousand,
OF dollars 90 the settlers. who will b,
impoverished by the crop milur,
which VIII follow.
Appeal was made to the rcclama.
iipn commission. and the petition
winch was printed IN this paper lasl
week. was delivered Ia the commls.
sion. \ telegram received Frida,
noon Informed the local people tina
there would be no change from tn,
previous decision ov the commission
"""HN NV NNf hANNN uNNIH
signed the contract as directed. the
water world be cut OF. Permission
was grated tho local office to re.
c"iEc applications for contracts thirt,
days Longer. but no extension wa,
given water users who refused To sign
the unjust document.
y telegram to- Assistant Secretar.
~ tho Interior Jones, NJ Washington
was answered by Comptroller Ryan
of the reclamation service. who had
already expressed his opinion on tho
matter Secretary Jones Is en- route
to Honolulu. ana cannot be reached
FOR au appeal.
on April % the Fl Paso office Of
the service mailed n letter in which
y Is stated that Section Z Of the con,
tract may be construed to mean that
lhnd owners may be reimbursed for
ihnd taken FOR canal use, hut there
~ no indication OF n change In the
contract, and no statement made In
a circular letter could be held as az
footing In any way the contract, II
once signed.
The settlers on practically every
project which the reclamation sery-
'fAN''NfA hAhf Nin INNI UNA
sort of trouble In getting proper rep,
r"s"nthtion. Demands are made which
appear unjust, ana hen an arbitrary
position Is taken by subordinate,
winch precludes possibility Of salts.
l1"iorN adjustment. Water has beer
shut of on other projects and set,
tiers ruined, before proper adjustment
could he made In the courts.
u Is not known what steps tho
water users Will take in the present
matter. There Is no doubt that IN,
settlers viii refuse TO sign the con,
tract In It's present unjust form, and
Manager Lawson seems determined
to follow the plan outlined in nj,
recent letter To the settlers. Drastic
measures have bcca advised by some
of the farmers and the next few DAYS
may show some interesting and per,
hnps exciting events In connection
with tie water supply In the Mesilla
valley.
Project Manager Lawson came Ia
Las Cruces Friday and a heated ar,
pument is said to have occurred be.
tween the project manager and Attor.
ney NJ. 49, Thompson, representing IN,
local water users. Mr.. Lawson ac'
cused the local officials Of the Water
Users association Of working against
the interests Of the SETTLERS by I'D
vising them not to sign the contract
and some plain talk was INDUCED In
by both the attorney and the man.
ngor.
II will be remembered that repre-.
sentative of uie Water Users assocla'
ton founi piat In the matter Ut the
west side ~ nal that little information
had neen Gt,cn The Washington OH
Gals Of the reclamation service by