The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-05-01
Drainage of the Central Rio Grande Valley is a Job
That albuquerque Must Do; Alone If No Help Is Handy

NRAINAGE of the Central Rio Grande valley
y an Albuquerque job. We want al the help
we can get, from every source. We want the
help and the active cooperation of the States Sol.
dicr settlement commissions We want the help Of
The lniied States Reclamation Service We want
ihr help 81 the United States Department Of Agri-
calinre. We must have the active cooperation of
ne whole central valley from BernaliIlo to San
Mafcial.
Bur the idea Of linking up a Central Rio Grande
valley drainage campaign with a campaign 10 ~.
cure grants of public domain will not get Us any.
where After all is said. the drainage Of the Cen
tral Rio Grande valley i a local problem. The first
and most direct damnf viii fall upon Albuquer-
que " we do not drain the valley. The first and
most direct benefit will accrue 10 Albuquerque II
we do drain the valley. Indirectly the whole state
will be benefited by this drainage for the creation
Of one hundred million dollars Of new wealth that
much taxable property; cannot but help the state
since il will add onc.fourth 10 IN present revenue
source. That j. reason enough why the state and
every agency of the state should be- willing and
ready To help drain this valley. II ~ reason enough
for the active and sympaihetic cooperation of all
sections of the state.
The campaign for additional grants of public do.
main is a job for the whole west. No locality and
no single state can secure a land grant At this stage
OF the development of our national land policy.
FOR New Mexico Ia 90 alone 10 Washington with a
request for one. two or five million acres of land
for this or thai public purpose will be- 10 bring ON
HWlhhf drlniinds from other public land states and
the outcome will be exactly nothing for al ron
cerned.
Governor larrazolo j. taking the right course
when be- adopts the policy commend by the
New Mexico Cattle aud Horse Growers' association.
M urging an al-western campaign for the granting
10 the pIhhc land states of al The public domain
within rhcir several boundaries. The Evening Herald
has been advocating that campaign for months. n
s The final solution Of the public land problem. II
WI bring ON the greatest and most substantial de-.
Nelopncni this state can hope for. II win permit
our logical development To- proceed. The same r..
suit viii accrue 20 every public land state. 81 Gov
ernor lnrrazolo will push his program a. the point
Of am all-wcstern states conference ON this subject
the chanceS arr nine Out Of ten thar The public land
states will fall into line with il. IT the west mites
" will get the resul; desired.
Drainage of the Central Rio Grandc valley. how.
ever. must proceed whether We get the public do.
main or whether we get nothing. This city has IL
option OF becoming the center of u tremendously
productive and enormously wealthy farming and
stock feeding district. or Of becoming miniature
Venice. with all the convenience aud none OF the
beauties. We must drain this valley ar see II be-.
come n swamp.
A. has been stated, the Central Rio Grandc val