Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1917-02-09

storage and diversion constructions
are under way.
This, coupled with 81 ,000, 900 spent
in community drainage work in the
Pecos valley below Roswell, and the
taking mp of the drainage problem in
the Rio Grandc valley, means that the
irrigation development of New Mex
leo has advanced into the final stage
of careful engineering and responsible
/ financing and that the next five Ia
eight years will see the major portion
of the states irrigable area reclaimed.
When the work is done there will
not be- 1000 900 acres under irriea e
ton, but with the development posi-
BILE by pumping in the Mimbres valley,
tributary to Deming, in the Tularosa
basin Of Otero county, in the Estan-
cin VALLEY of Torrencc county and the
Portable, valley of Roosevelt county,
and very possibly in parts of the Rio
Grandc valley, very near to 1000, 00O
acres will have been placed under
some system of reliable water supply
What the development of this vast
Resource means to New Mexico and
the whole southwest may be judged by
the advancement in the Las Cruces
/ district since floods were checked and
II permanent water supply provided
\ factory 10 manufacture beet sugar
seems probability of the near future
at Las Cruces. The trip by rail from
Rlncon into III Paso, II few years ago
I the dusticst rail ride in America. is
now n rcstfnl journcd through green
/ fields almost unbroken by untitled
land. Only II beginning in develop
mrnt has been made in the Mesilla
valley. Very little imagination i re-
CURED t. picture this valley 10 years
hence when it has begun to care foi
n reasonable portion of the large pop
ulation il will eventually sustain
Drainage and channelng of the Rio
Grandc means similar development
north of the Elephant Butte reservoir
in the fepanola valley further north
and in the wonderful Taos valley neal
the heaIwalcrS.
All district reports agree upon the
cheering fact that accompanying the
new era of irrigation construction l.
/ Il brisk demand for irrigated land, not
from spectators. but from people OF
means Nho are seeking homes and q
working Investment. This demand Is
coming from all parts of the nation
II indicates that reclamation this time
is to be accompanied by actual devel.
opment. Much of the experimental
work on New Mexico irrigated lane
has been done. The new movement
like the late movement To the "drN
farming" lands, Is an educated move
mrnt. Il can avoid the mistakes II
the orchards and the crops II plants
and the care il gives them and It vii
profit accordinly. The next five
wear, viii see much of New Mcyico'-
irrigation development accomplished
1t will no, he II period of quick. enor-
nous profits, for u few but ol
steady, sure profits Tor the many
and it will add enormously to The
wealth of the state.
Ten wears after the first great
homestead rush. that for 100 an,
80 acre homesteads, New Mexico Is
experiencing Il second stampede fo'
free land which promises Ia ant
probably will surpass the earllel
movement in population added. anf
certainly in acreage withdrawn. Oi
January |. when tie GAO acre siocl
rni>in. homestead law became cf:ec.
five New Mexico had l9,OO0.0ot
acre, of surveyed public domain an'
a little more than 100000 acres OF
unsurvcv,d government land open t.
entry. Although no lands have been
designated by the interior depart
men. rs Gao acre lands. and althoug'
all filings made now merely 'tand a'
preference rights subject to the ap
proval at the lands rs ialllns wlih'i
the meaning of the law, something
like 5000 separate filings have beer
made in the six United States lane
offices in New Mexico, at Clayton
Tucumruri, Santa Fee, Fl. Sumner
Roswell and Las Cruces. The area
withdrawn up to January 18th total
above 100000 acres.
The filings are being made IN ever!
county in the state. They cover al