La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1916-12-23
IRRIGATION IN NEW MEXICO
Interesting Description of Methods
Utilized In the Mcsilla Valley
An Abundance of Water


ing the past summer as consulting
engineer by some OF theirrigating
bitches in the Mesllla Valley, n. NJ,
perhaps some account of the condi-
tions there may be of interest TO
your readers, particularly in view OF
the many and great differences in
practice and conditions from what
is met with the ordinary practice in
Colorado.
What is known as the Mesilla
Valley is located on the Rio Grande
river about forty miles above FL
Paso and was settled and cultivated
by the Spaniards about two hun
dred years ago. Large vineyards were
cultivated and much wine manufac-
tured and exported, but this area
shared with the rest of Mexico the
misfortunes which later came upon
it and the land was largely aban-
doned. The floods in the river
caused frequent changes of the chan
mel. and the bitches were often de-
stroyed, About sixty years ago a new
attempt at settlement was made and
the present bitches constructed. The
construction OF these irrigation
works was attended with great diff
ficulty. There we're no tools avail
able, and no draft animals of any
description. Most of the work was
done by hand, and wooden shovels OF
native construction used. VI dirt
had to be moved farther than it
could be cast by the shoveler, strips
of rawhide were tied to the shovel
and one man dragged the same while
one held the handle. At length. $50
tradition informs usD through the
charity of some army officer an OK
and burro were acquired, which
caused the work to proceed with
greater facility A deer skin was
laid on the ground and loaded with
what dirt It would carry, and the
oddly assorted team hitched TO Il
and II was dragged to the required
location. During all this time they
were in danger from raids from the
Indians. and certain number were
on guard at all times while the
others worked.
As the valley has no slope toward
the river. being In some cases higher
next to the river. and as the valley
is also cut up by old and abandoned
channels of the river. the bitches
simply follow the higher parts or
ridges. with a general direction down
the valley parallel TO the river.
These bitches were begun by the
original settlers to water compara-
lively small tracts of land. and were
extended from time to time as other
lands were desired to be irrigated.
They were not planned In advance.
and were constructed TO meet the
eNigenCies OF the time being There
were no engineers In the country nt
the time, and no instruments OF pre-
cision were available. Under the cir
cumstances We would naturally ex-
pect to find faults of location and
construction, but the wonder is that
on the whole the work was so well
done.
on account Of these conditions ir-
rigation developed along different
lines here from many other places
in the west The bitches being for
the most part on the higher por-
tlons OF the plain, the ground slopes.
though but slightly from the ditch
on each side. The slope. such az
II Is, however II by no means reg
ular. but is broken into smaller clc-
yations and ridges running In various
/ directions. As most OF the ground Is
as high, or nearly 80, aR the line
on which the ditch IL built. water
cannot flow from the ditch unless
I II Is built higher than the land.
which results In the main ditch and
many Of the latorals. being built on
. hfh' ~ ih'h' PHl' VI Ah' FfhN'H w
Ing 80 constructed. owing to the to-
pography OF the country. water can
be drawn Off and irrigation carried
on. on both sides II the ditch. which
thus runs approximately through tho
center Of the irrigated tract
The fall Of the ground being very
slight from the ditch, and also being
Irregular. the method of irrigation
has been TO run sufficient water on
to field TO HubmorTe the whole
piece II the ground was not suffi-
ciently level for this TO be done.
dykes called borders. were made OF
a sufficient height to hold water on
the field TN II was covered. or II was
lpyellpd, Aomntimca nj the pxpenac of