Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-01-28
LAND FOR H- SOLDIERS.
Bill Before Congress Provides Huge
49, Appropriation Required for
Secretary Lanes Plan
Elephant Butte Power for Irrigating
Luna County Lands Could be
Easily Obtained

trOduced In congress ny Representa-
tive Byrnes. Of South Carolina. The
hill. which embodies the plans of sec
retary of the interior Franklin Lane.
contains the following provisions:
BE IL enacted by the senate ana
house Of representatives ~ the United
States of America. In congress assem-
bled. that there Is hereby appropriated
out of any money IN the treasury not
otherwise appropriated. Ia he imme'
diately available ana to remain avail
able until expended, the sum of 500
100000. Ia be expended under the di
r,rtion NJ the secretary of the interior.
for the investigation, irrigation. drain
age and development of swamp, arid.
waste and undcvelopcd lands for the
purpose Of providing employment ana
farms with improvements and equip
ment for hon0rably discharged soldiers,
sailors and marines of the United
States, including necessary expenditure
for personal services In the District
of Columbia and elsewhere, ana the
purchase. maintenance. hire and Op-
GRAFTON Of motorpropellel or horse
drawn vehicles.
The lands claimed hereunder shall
he disposed Of. under general regula-
tions approved by the secretary Of
the interior. in such manner aid I'M
der such terms and cOnditlnons as shall
insure the reimbursement Of the In
yestment of the United States or 9th
ers therein, during II term not exceed
ing 10 years from date Of entrance
upon the land by the settler, together
with Interest from such date al four
per cenlum per annum The money
herein appropriated shall be expended
In the development Of one or more pro-
Jets In each of the several states, u
feasible projects be found therein
The secretary of the interior is au.
thorized TO make any contracts or ar
rangcmcnts and TO do any or all acts
necessary In his opinion, including the
disposition of public lands, the acqui.
sati0n of lands or property needed for
rights Of way ar other purposes In
connection with the development Of any
project by purchase or condemnation. |
for carrying Oui the purposes hereof"
For two months the Graphic has
been agitating the question of obtain. !
ing power from Elephant Butte Dam
for operating lrrigating pumps through
Luna county, u movement that this
paper first advocated In October, 1916.
more than two years ago. Al that
time, when Elephant Butte was form.
ally dedicated ut the 2:id session Of the
international Irrigation Congress at
III PasO willard +. Holt. then pub.
Usher of the Graphic and delegate Ia
the irrigation congress from the Dem
Ing Chamber of Commerce, introduced
The following resolution:
Whereas the United States govern.
ment has appropriated from time Ia
time many millions of dollars for the
purpose Of storing surface waters for
the reclamation Of arid lands. and,
Whereas. there are millions of acres
10y means Of pumping for irrigation,
which are not given any encouragement
hy the federal government. therefore
he IL
Resolved. tho the president Of this
congress appoint one man from each
arid or semi.arid state In the west for
IN" purpose Of Il conference looking
toward united action In securing fed.
eral aid for the reclamation OF lands
that may bc proiitably irrigated by
means of pumping from the under
ground waters"
II was not only accepted 10y the res
"lutionS committee, Int the vote was
perfectly unanimous IN the congress.
In its issue Of that same date. the
Graphic published an editorial from
which We reprint the following:
For years the government has eN-
pended millions upon millions Of dol
lars. IN order that surface waters may
he used Ia benefit mankind. but no
particular attention. except In an ad-
,is0ry capacity. has bcn given the
waters underground that can be- pump
~d to the surface aud caused 10 re-
claim vastly larger areas"
The plan tentatively suggested for
Luna county was that the interior de-
partment, through the United States
reclamation service. install and main.
tain system of electrically driven
pumps utilizing power generated ut
Elephant Butte Dam As an induce.
ment to the government, II was propOs-
I'd that farmers of the county should
deed Ia ;he government part Of their
land holdings. those lands To be allot.
ted 10 discharged soldiers In accord.
ance with Secretary lanes big pro
ject. and the grantors of such lands
Ia receive compensation In the form of
power, or water. Or both 4 number
Of our farmers have Slnlfie, their
earnest desire 10 cooperate IN some
such arrangement. among them beinA
Frank Norlhaus. Albert I.indeuer.
George Watkins willard Holt, Mrs.
Matthews and Messrs. Cobb. Parsons.