Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1918-12-27
BOOSTING Elephant
| BUTTE POWER PLAN
9blsei Exactly IN Accord With Views
o. Secretary Of Interior
Franklin Lane
LUNA COUNTY MUST GET BUSY
q. s. Reclamation Service Fully Able
And Willing to Lend Any
Assistance Needed

IN It's three last issues the Graphic
hfs printed facts concerning pro-
plsed plan for developing Luna
puntys immense agricultural and
ktock-ralslng possibilities by pump
ling irrigation system, 10 be installed by
the reclamation service Of the u. s.
interior department and operated
By power from the hydr0-electric plant
at the Elephant Butte dam. Since the
issue OF December 20, government Of
tlcjals, farmers and merchants have
furnished the Graphic information
which warrants the statement that
the matter Is now IN such shape thnt
Immediate concerted action by the bus.
iness men and land owners Of the
town and county. acting through the
Chamber Of Commerce md the county
farm agent. win bring results Of most
satisfactory kind.
Lawrence Lawson. superintendent In
charge at Elephant Butte, said: "The
\ plan is an excellent one. as far as
understand It. II has one big adyan.
tage over many Of those that are CON
sluntly being presented to the recla-
nation service IN that you people Of
Luna county are Offering something
tangible as Quid pro quo. The trouble
with many irrigation, reclamation and
development pojects that the govern.
ment Is besieged and bedeviled to un.
dertake Is that the promoters want the
national government to expend thou
sands Of dollars IN work Of very limit
cd and doubtful benefit. Your county
is proposing to do It's part IN very
handsome and sensible manner. by
making your plans coordinate witt
Secretary Lanes great project to pro
vide soldier farmers with land thai
will be- utilized to increase the ma
tion's agricultural and stock proluc
/tlOn and consequent wealth. You vii
undoubtedly obtain the full approya
and cooperation Of the department
Of the interior and the reclamation
service.
I'm presenting your plans II will bl
necessary to obtain proper and i'm
mediate consideration, to include Al
estimate Of the approximate acreagu
that can he prontahly developed un
der irrigation, together with an engin
GERS report showing location and ap
tproxlmaie volume Of water obtainabl,
Aand number, size and general charac
Vlfr of pumping stations that will b.
lfceSsary. Application to the interio
department for government engineer
10 do that initial work would probably
be- approved, as men are employed ant
maintained for that purpose"
From equally reliable governmental
sources the information has been oh
taincd that II strong factor In favor o
the proposal 10 develop Luna count,
by means Of electricity generated a
Elephant Butte, regardless Of effort
~ tHoNtilN dit HdNttH w h"'N wv
city supplied with power from tn
dam. is, first; the administration
opposed to any project for furnishin
power to commercial or industrial ei
terprlses unless there is a grea
steady surplusage over irrigation d'
mands; second, power for irrlgatln
Luna lands will he generated by III
same ilow Of water used 10 supply ri
Grande valley farms with gravity irr
cation. .as the two sections will n
qulre water az the same time, 50 ihcr
win be no waste.
Il is mp To the farmers, rancher'
business men and the Chamber q
Commerce.