The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1919-02-28
Water and Roads
People Want
business Men Favor New Water
System First, Then Road From
~ paSo io Columbus.


great success, from more than one
view point The affair was In honor
Of Mayor J. z. Blair. aud the fact
that those who were responsible for
Il were not only given a vote Of
thanks but elected as a committee
g. arrange another similar affair Of
some not far distant future date for
the purpose Of considering further
any matters that were discussed
proves that The dinner was an en-
ioynblc as well as beneficial affair.
The ilye-course dinner was one
that would have been fully enjoyed
iy all without the many pleasant
things that went along. Il proved
Ia be- sort Of personal chat amone
the principal business men Of town.
and also the city officials took their
constituents into their confidence.
A. Frederickson acted as toast
master. and after a brief inlroduc-
tory address gave way 10 Mayor ]. n.
Blair, who spoke to an interested
audience for twenty minutes. MI.
Blair started In with a brief explain
alton about the present water sys-
TEN, and the powers that had been
under the old law delegated In VIII
lagcs. Ilc stated that he had pledged
the people an adequate water system
during the campiFn In case he was
elected II there was any possible
means of getting H.
llc said that when hr went into
office he found that the powers of
the board Of trustees were 50 linn
tied that under the old law there
was no possible means of raising
funds. The trustees did mt have
the authority 10 Ro into debit lie
tplannci N remedy this maticr and
the result was that he went Ia Santa
Fc In see what he could do.
The Courier readers no doubt
have an idea of what he encountered
while there. llc met with difficulty
after difficulty. hut finally ovcrcamc
them. aud We all know the results
he paid a tribute 10 our represent
a iiycs from Luna rouniy. In part
he said:
4 found the legislature NJ New
Mexico Ia be- an honorable body, free
of graft, each man m matters of
legislation trying Ia do what h.
though was the hest for the people.
and that Luna counly's rcprcs'gita-
! liycs. senator Hal Kerr aud Repre-
sentative Ralph 4. Tynd. had the
reputation Of being honest and clil-
: cienl. that they both welded u
strong influence and were generally
to be- found un thr right side of all
! questions
b Every man present al the dinner
J was asked for an expression as Ia
! what they wished 10 have the board
I of trustees do In regard In the water
I system-whether or not they desired
r the city lo Ro into debt for improV
, ing the water works. Not dissent
- ing voice was heard, and ON moliur
d vote was taken. which was unani-
% nous.
n After the water proposition wa
$ disposed of for the time being, q
matter that was discussed at lengtl
! was the building Of a road from y
20 pasO to Columbus. Mr. Blair IVA,
4 talked this matter up while In Sant'
y Fe aud found that many of th'
l. state officials were highly In laNo
s of such road The assistant stat
j. highway engineer has agreed Il
II come down here some time and -
r over the proposed route with thos
l. Of us who are Interested In tn
u proposition.
There was little difference II
opinion as to the most feasihl
) route. some prefcrring road paral
II telling the NJ paso a Southwestern
~ railroad. aud others thought that
le would be- easier built by way q
NJ Alden, using the Borderland route I
,f that station. and then cutting o
, southwest To Columbus.
ri This Is q question that Is 10 b
Ia looked into, and committee. com
II posed Of Henry Burton and T.. \
Carl, was appointed to prepare
report 10 be had at the next Bus
ness Mems meeting
Under the federal road huildin
nj act il Is very possible that the hint
,n for the building of this road coul
ne be raised, II we Of Columbus al
ri sufficiently Interested In the matt
II 10 boost for II, not only In talk b.