New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-03-21
LAND Development
UNDER new Law WILL
Be IMMENSE BENEFIT
COMMISSION ON IRRIGATION
OF LANDS FOR SOLDIERS
AND SETTLERS IS WELL
ENDOWED, WILL MEET AT
ONCE

Forty-eighth thousand dollars j.
now available for the uses of the
state irriga tion and drainage com.
mission, created by the legislature
Commissioner Edward Everett Young
who has been appointed by Gov
ernor Larazolo will call the board
together within ten days when a
summarization of the resources
placed in their hands by the rather
complex law will be made, and a
start will be made on far reaching
program OF water resource develop.
ment and land conservation for New
Mexico. The other members of the
board are Leslie T. G:llett, the new
Iy appointed state engineer, and
President A. d. Grille of the Agri.
cultural College.
WIN Start Right Away
The commission will decide upon
the location of its headquarters, and
it is the desire of Mr.. Young to
begin the construction and operation
of one. or probably two, Of the small.
er irrigation projects that are ready
for attention, and which can be com.
pleted with funds ready to hand
without waiting for government as.
sistance through the passage Of the
Lane law, or otherwise.
Can Raise q Million
The commission 10 empowered to
realize from naif to three quarters
of million dollars at once through
debentures issued against the rev.
enues derived from the land asset
placed in its hands by the legisla-
ture. The assets consist Of the rev.
enue from rentals and sales of two
land grants given by the United
States to New Mexico for irrigation
and drainage uses. The law allows
pne-half OF the revenue from the
permanent reservoirs for irrigating
purposes income fund" created by the
national congress in an act approved
June Il, 1898, which sets aside $4,000
acres of land to be administered by
the state; the commission also gets
half the proceeds in cash and seclr-
tiles from the rentals and sales of
the 100000 acres of land similarly
granted by congress for the I'm
PioSChCHk Ol thC NV 0TdHuC Iullu
The only direct appropriation car
ried by the new state law is $4,000
out of the states permanent reser-
voirs" fund.
The extent of these resources is
not fully known, even by the com.
missioners, who have caused the
state auditors office to make a check
of what is available now in cash,
which is the $4,000 mentioned above.
The state land commits sioner is COM
p:ling for their information a tract
look of the two thirds of million
acres contained in the congressional
bequests. These lands have been
selected for some time. Much OF
them is now under lease, and some
has been sold. The land is scatter
ed all over the state and while 1t
is mostly grazing land there is
roportion of other classificaton;
Part of the area represented has
cen leased for oil drilling purposes.
bringing up the interesting possibility
that If oil is struck, drainage will
obtain still more revenue.
Legal Point Involved
An additional point in the new
law is that the commission may
utilize the lands to lay out farms
and projects from which it draws
It's revenue for drainage and settle. :,
ment, provided such use is not in
conflict with existing laws, a sub
Iect that Attorney General o. o.
Askren, ex-officio counsel for the
commission is making an invcstiga-
lion of, to report at their forthcom-
ng meeting
Can Make Any Contract
Wide authority is given the drain.
lge board to work out schemes
returning soldiers may be
placed on reclaimed land. They may
iraw up such contracts as in their
opinion will produce the best results
or settlers and state. They NAV
wen lend money for building homes
md improvements if they deem this
orm of help necessary to produce I
esults. 4
Open to all Settlers
The act is for the benefit of New
Mexico Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines
n others that may have served for
he state in the war, or any former
var. However, Mr.. Young interprets
he law to be for the benefit for
'thers who may desire to settle in
Jew Mexico on irrigated tracts, and
fter giving soldiers preference in
ends to open reclaimed lands to '
hem. He has in mind cooperation
,ith the national soldiers employ +
1ent bureau which will be furnished /
,ith full data as soon as construc- .
ion begins or lands are opened.
Work Most Important
In his opinion the work under his r
barge ranks in importance with the
100000 road program. "While our
ppropriation is not as great" he
ays "the object is to work in con-
motion with the United States re-
lamat:on service which already,
trough the announcement of form
r state engineer James A. French
re are told is desirous to aid and
ees great possibilities in this field. .
is not improbable in view of the
redicted early passage of the Lane p
Nv at the next session of congress,
lat within year period there
i'll be spent in New Mexico millions
{ dollars on irrigation. The San E
uan project alone is a $20W0.O00 f
The Lane bill as pro- b
.eted will carry q hundred million v