The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-01-22

III =" 80" 49, "WW"F"n $3.50 @""
fact that the river was virtually dry q
portion Of each year. economy In uss
Of wsfcr was enforced as n necessity
with the storage OF water in the great
Elephant Butte reservoir. there wa'
IAN abundance OF water. and the farm
ers al over the valleys over-Imigatcd
Water was used during the winter
months. moro than ever before. avs
shs land had less opportunity 60 dry.
1.-THE records Of the Elephant Water
Users Association Of Las Cruces show
that eight acre feet Of water fof
every acre under cultivation was turn
ed into the community bitches in
liafs.
Another important factor, Il Is
believed. Is the changed condition -
the water after the completion Of the
Elephant Butte dam. Mo Grandc wat
err flow carries a very heavy silt. aud
under the old Irrigation systems the
silt all went through the ditch systems
and onto the land. Now the silt Il
deposited at the head Of the great
lake. and the water In the reservoir
and In use for irrigation l. very clear.
and free from slit. A. a consequence
the water goes Into the irnd more.
rapidly. and where the dwelling is not
thorough and the border and flooding
systems are used. the soil is sure TO
take too much water. There il Al
great tendency to sub-lrrlgation aud
seepage on cou II she clear water,
The bed OF the Rio Grande the nat
ural drainage outlet for the valleys.
In It's natural stage, Was dry for al
portion Of every year. and there was
an opportunity for the waters 20 sccgl
back into the channel. Since the
completion Of the Am there Is an
abundance Of water in the channel att
all times.
The problem now confronting the
land owners OF the valley Il ccrtsiniy
o most serious one and requires inn
mediate solution. a system OF drain
axe canals must be dug. and It is,
possible the chanrel Of the Rio
Grande may have TO be decpeued and
Strengthened. There are abundantl
funds available for other construction
work. md these should be immcdiate!y
available for the work required &c
this emergency.
Upon learning the conditions |
Immediately communicated with the
secretary OF the interior co ascertain
the earliest possible Gate upon which
he could take up this matter and n
will accompany a committee of eiti-
. OF the Rio Grande valley to con-
fer with the secretary OF the interior
and the officials OF the reclamation
In the hope of scuring relief
for the situation. Nc consideration oil
any nature could have induced me 60
make this .tFsp at this time except this
urgent need OF these people II my
state. but their condition is a~ppaIlng:
the future OF this great project l. at
stake; a wonderfully fertile vale, OF
,ixty thousand acres IL ia jeopardy.
md I feel that there Is NJ personal
sacrifice too great for me to uske in
in tho solution OF 80 grave a
problem"
Mr.. Jones. II is understood. held a
conference with Secretary Lane last
Saturday.
II has been suggested that n tri-
meeting be held 10 take up the
the meeting to be attended by
committees appointed by the Iegisls-
lures Of Rev Mexico. Colorado and
Texas; also that the United states rec
service and Indian bureau DO
represented. This for the reason that
the three states are affected. There
are some 600 900 acres In the San Luis
Of the Rio Grande in coiOra 90, |
and a large acreage in New Mexico and
Texas in need Of reclamation by drain
age. The logical plan. therefore. seems
to be for che three states 70 work to-
in the matter.