The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-12-11
SEEK FEDERAL AID
N DEVELOPMENT OF
RIO GRANOE VALLEY
Chamber of Commerce Urges Sec.
rotary of Interior to Consider
Reclamation of 10000 Acres
Under Ditch but Now Unused.

That 100000 acres of land In the
lilo Grande valley could be opened TO
farmers " some slight oVCrnmen
aid IN given In the Information CON
tanned In a letter being sent nom tho
Albuquerque chamber OF commcrCs
to Franklin X. Lane, secretary Of tho
interior.
The message was approved by the
board OF directors of the commerce
body at their meeting last evening.
II will be sent To supplement the per-
sonal appeal of Governor W T.. Lind
scy, Charles Springer. Of the state
council of defense. \. \. French. state
engineer. and W. $ Hopowell. chair.
man OF the New McNicO Drainage
commission.
Although all the valley lands az,
under ditch, only about 10 percent
are still disable. Fifteen percent IS
river and sandbar country while over
one fourth has reverted to swamp.
salt grass and alkali.
The appeal 20 Mr.. Lane urges that
he tell the people OF the state what
his department lis willing to do ana
what " expects New Mcaico to 10.
The following message Is being
sent
Hon. Franklin Is Lane.
Secretary Of the Interior.
Washington, u. g.
Dear Sir
Hon W. h Lindsey. governor OF
New Mexico. Hon. ChRs, Springer.
Chairman OF the Council OF Defense.
Hon. J. \. French. state Engineer.
and Hon. w. s.. Hupcwcll. Chairman
OF the New Mexico Drainage Com
mission. are about to present 20 YOU
In person. certain additional facts
bearing on government aid for drain
age Of the Rio Grande valley.
IN laalA1f AN eI.. AsugHta.ua mn. ~
! Albuquerque the undersigned officers
OF the Albuquerque Chamber of Com
mcrce desire to again express 10 YOU
the intense Interest of this community
In the drainage problem. and "
enrncs hope that the government
will cooperate nterially toward It's
solution.
The serious nature OF the problem.
and the large extent OF the area
which will be opened 10 cultivation
after drainage, is revealed IN the fol
lowing summary Of facts:
CA Area OF valley lands. practic-
ally all under ditch, all NJ fine ma
tural soil. and mostly lcvelied for
farming. zoo. 900 acres.
CD OF this area there is
fa) sui disable. 10 percent
90 still ploughed but now reVcrting.
tc) Reverted to salt grass and aiSali,
cd1 Reverted to swamp. 2 percent.
tc) In timber. mostly because o.
scepagc water. is percent
60 Towns. sand dunes aud sage
brush. i6 percent
CD River and sandbars. % percent
Total. 100 pcrcart
(C) ON NAV I. 1918. special read
ing on 100. 900 acres ut land showed
i.S5 feet as the average depth OF the
water table.
The foregoing ohscrvaiions speaE
for themselves. They mean. We TAX
u, that al least three quarters of Thu
valley could he opened 10 farmers
through drainage.
our people desire government help,
but are also ready and willing "a
helm Themselves. We feel ehsofutciy
confident that with n government loan
Of the necessary funds on favorable
terms. and government engineering
advice and moral influence behind
the drainage. tia our landowner;
will promptly organize and cooperate
H. the fullest extent In carrying th'
project To n successful conclusion.
May we ask that New Moxico's del
egation he given all possible informn'
ton on tho two following points:
ta) what kind and how muci
government aid for the Rio Grand'
proic"' will your department recon-
mend?
(b) what w;ll tho government cS.
peci ~ New Mexico In the way n
making government ala available?
Inasmuch as our legislature meet
in January we are particul ely dCsir
Gus of planning Immediately 10 carr,
out New McNico's part IN the pro
gram.
Very respectfully yours,
Albuquerque Chamber OF Commerce
(Signcd) 4. 49, McMiilen. Pres.
Aldo Leopold. See.