Deming graphic., 1919-07-29
|TO IRR|GATE THE
|MIMBRES VALLEY
Proposes 10 Move palonas Lakes from
Mexico to Where They Can
be Made Seine llse Of.

Dt6t mnu out OF ooVft touiu De ifrr
gated with water from a gravity ditch
as freely as though II were flowing
from the Elephant Butte dam. you
probably would shake your head In
pity or laugh right out loud, according
to your moode. But waiti 1t really
can be done and John w. Clark, the
Iive-wire proprietor Of the Demins
Roller Mills. has not only conceived the
project, but has had II surveyed. plat
ted and recorded In the office Of the
state engineer as the Clark Florida
Ditch.
l suppose everyone has wished that
place the Palomas lakes a little farther
place the Palomas lakes little farther
up the velley instead OF just over the
border In Mexico. Gee. kid, but there
Is some duck hunting on those lakes
and when the editor had the Job OF
guarding that section Of the border he
had the habit Of running the risk OF
getting caught by bandits to get shot
at some Of those big red heads and
mallards. But that is getting off the
subject. The lakes are not only unsc-
less to us but likewise to the Mexicans
who have long ago stopped worrying
about agricultural development, and
since the little adobe village OF Paio-
mas is no longer worth looting, they
have lost all interest In that section Of
the country. But how to get those
fine lakes ON this side Of the border, "a
the question. Now, please don't inter.
rupt by laughing. Mr.. Clark has solved
the problem and his solution IA as
simple as permitting water to run
down hill.
Did you ever hear of moving lake 7
Honest now no kidding did you?
All I've to say Is that. II you haven't
I am Just two ahead Of you. for this
Is the second time have heard OF
such proposal The first time was
one cold winter afternoon when I was
sitting on my saddle blanket on the
adobe floor I'm the home Of Juan Con
zales a San Ildefonso Indian. We
were great friends and fellow philos
ophers and at the time Of which
speak we were discussing the esoteri6
religion Of the pueblos and incidental
ly was getting some real inside dope
on how the pueblos regarded theiI
ancient practices. Nominally the pu
eblos are catholics. but II is whisper
ed that when the priest has packed NJ
his little travelling altar. the medicine
men attend at the altar I'm the estufa
and celebrate the ancient heather rite.
Of the race. which they practics
only in secret and deny to unsympa
thetic Investigators.
"Juan." asked" how did the priest,
move the lake from the Jamiez over Il
the Zunir'
Juan considered me for a brief tim,
from the tail OF his eye. but being sat
isfied that I really sought for light. h,
answered: Wen. don't know Just how
they do that, but they do do H. For
senor, is lot the lake bed dry as
picked rabbit bone In the JamInez, an,
is not the lake full In the Zunii L
that not wonderful Our priests, Sc
nor, have not lost all OF their power
but the gods do not visit US so oftel
since white men have come"
And the old barbarian that mad
pottery to sell to the tourists at SAINT
Re and sent his children to the gov
ernment school there. really believes
the traditional story Of the lake tha
the priests moved from one grea
mountain range to another. He tool
me to see the dry bed In the Jamiez an
together we journed to the land OF tn
zuni to see how the priests had dis
posed Of II. And wish 10 say rlgh
now that II was a perfect work o
engineering. Surely, the gods tina
lpermitted the priests to do the thin
are still worth a little breath In
prayer plume. especially when the ri
Grande Is low, II does not rain. an