Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-06-14
BIC ATTENDANCE
SHOWS VALLEY IS
FULLY AWARE Of
DRAINAGE NEED
More than 150 At Opening of
Conference at Chamber of
Commerce. Majority Are
From Out of Town,
EXPERTS ADVISE PROMPT
ACTION is NECESSARY
State Engineer Says That
Value of Lands is Steadily
Declining Because of Water
logging Suggest Remedies,

Land owners in the Rio Grande val
| ley from White Rock Canyon to San
Marcial, as well as city residents,
seem to have reached the conclusion
that the slogan United we drain. di-
| vlded we drown" contains more truth
than poetry. The convention which
opened at the Chamber of Commerce
| yesterday to discuss the drainage
problem and adopt some concerted
form of action for relieving the pres
ent water-logged condition of the
lands was largely attended. There
were fully so persons present ana
more than 100 of them were from out
side the city. The speeches were
snappy and right to the point, the
interest was keen and everything au-
cured we'll for the success of the con-
, ference.
Eugene Kempenich of Peralta pre-
sided and speeches were made by Mr..
Kempenich, James A. French, former
state engineer; Leslie A. Lillette, state
engineer; Col. w. S, Hopewell Capt
w. c. Reid and Capt. Clark NJ. Carr.
Governor Larrazolo, who was on the
program for a speech. was unable to
attend, and DR.. "A. D. Grille, president
o the state college, was detained at
home on account of this being COM
mencement week. DIR, Grille, however,
sent an excellent paper. which was
read by J.. D. Tinsley county agent of
Bernalillo county.
Drainage Means Loans.
j. II. Coons delivered the address of
welcome on behalf of the Chamber of
Commerce. After assuring the dele
gates that they were as welcome "as
the relief party responding to the S.
O. S. call or the bearers of the lunch
basket at meal time" Mr.. Coons spoke
briefly about the needs of drainage
and some of its benefits.
Nature has endowed the central
Rio Grande valley as richly as the
Mesilla valley, or the Salt River val
lev" he said. 1--WE have the natural
resources, and need but add our intel
ligent determination and cooperation
to make of our valley the paradise
for which nature destined it.
"Our government land bank has no.
tilted us that we can expect no loans
from the national land bank until
our lands are drained.
Recently I met statistican who
was himself astonished at his figures
on the Salt River valley. He said:
In 1909 that valley shipped ag-
ricutural products valued at $4,000
600. In 1918, nine years later, it ship
ped agricultural products to the value
Of $26, 100000, an increase of over
1900 per cent in nine years.
Important to City.
"The Chamber of Commerce realizes
that a city can become no greater than
the production and business of the
country that supports it, We wish
each and all of you to feel and know
that we are vitally interested in minis-
tering in every way we can to your
comfort while with us and in coop
Grating with you to the limit of our
abilities and resources for the devel-
opment of the Rio Grande valley"
Chairman Kempenich, after compli-
menting the Chamber of Commerce
for not confining its activities to strict
ly local matters, but for getting be-
hind such broad scheme, explained
that the convention was called for
the purpose of bringing together the
farmers and business men and men
who have devoted years to solving the
problem of drainage.
LET us imagine that we are at
tending school," he said, land listen
carefully to the recommendations
made. After hearing them, let us dis
cuss them and find way to meet this
great need of drainage"
That the federal government will
not do the necessary draining and pay
for it, was the opinion expressed by
DR.. Grille in his paper, read by County
Agent Tinsley
Crilc's Plan Read.
"I am of the opinion, and | chal-
lenge anyone to show to the contrary, ="
wrote DR.. Grille, that the federal gov
ernment never will, and it n ever
should, drain the private lands in the
Rio Grande valley, at federal expense.
The federal government and state
should do what they can to straighten
the Rio Grande; and | think that
straiehttening the river would SOLVE
the problem in many cases. The cor
recton and caring for the river is a
proper charge for the state and fed
eral governments; but the drainage of
private lands is the business of thel
citizens of New Mexico. Therefore, II
think this enticement which has beenl
held out, discussed and talked about
is thoroughly idle one and should
be dismissed"
In conclusion. DR.. Grille said he fa-l
vored the beginning of program att
once on the single unit drainage inI
the middle and lower valley, and inI
the meantime doing what could bel
done and making such plans as should
be made, looking to the complete
drainage of the entire valley as one
unit.
James A. French, who spoke on
What Drainage Will Do for Ourl
Lands" took the position that
Strengthening the river, as has been
frequently advocated in the past, wasI
not feasible largely due to the ex-
pense involved. Estimates show that
this would involve an expenditure of
$29,770000.
Furthermore, he said, no body could
say with any degree of accuracy that
changing the channel and lowering
the river bed would afford the relief
needed, as the valley. many places, at
least, is five miles wide and the river
runs to one side of it. 1t has BEEN
demonstrated, he said, that lateral
will not pull the water greater dis
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