Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-01-25

mistake has been tnat the United
States reclamation service has stopped
with the delivery of water to the
lands, the farmer being left to strug-
gle often with insurmountabie engi-
neering, as well as with the usual ag-
ricultural problems. This has been
the cause, often enormously ascrihahle
to other reasons, for Il great amount
of complaint and criticism of the irri-
cation system and for failure of the
farmers to make good under the sys-
tenn.
viii Correct Difficulty.
Secretary Lanes soldiers settlement
act recognizes this difficulty and pro-
poses to do away with It at once. 1t
provides that the United States shall
not only reclaim the land by necessary
irrigation or drainage works, but that
the United states in cooperation with
the states shah enter such reclaimed
land, level II, provide scientific farm
irrigation system of ample capacity
and adequate structures to level the
land so as to Permit i~rigt tion in the
most rapid, beneficial ana economical
manner, to provide Il house, barn,
fences and in some cases prepare the
land for the first crop At the same
time advancing 70 the soldier settler
elst 4ts,'+ ulss. - a0r iAe-
stock, equipment and Implements. All
of this work to he done by the soldier
or sailor himself at satisfactory wages,
furnishing the means whereby he may
save the 10 per cent the improved
value of the place required as a first
rayment The cash advance is TO be
repaid in about five years, the balance
of the farm is to he paid for on the
amortization plan in forty years.
It is frequently contended that the
soldier should be given something OUT
right II can lie safely said that our
returning boys do not desire any gift
or donation The greatest thing many
of them desire is the gift of oppor-
tunity Great constructive and sub
stantial men were never made by
gifts or donations, This act provides
the greatest opportunity ever present.
ed in any of the western states; a fair
and liberal opportunity TO make a
home under conditions OF ideal cli-
mate, plenty of water, fertile soil, ade-
quate marketing facilities, lacking
nothing but the will and energy to
work and make good.
From the standpoint of the state of
New Mexico we face two important
~
taxable assets Of this state in order
to provide sufficient funds for its ade-
quate operation, maintenance and
progress, Second, that of employment
for returning soldiers. sailors and mu-
milton workers already assuming grave
conditions in many of the towns along
the arteries of trade. The Lane bill
offers a practical remedy and in a
large measure solves these two diff
culties at one stroke.
100000 Acres ivoilable.
There are 2l0.000 acres of land sus-
ceptible of drainage and reclamation
in the Rio Grande valley between the
Elephant Butte dam and White Rock
canyon. Below the Elephant Butte
dam in the Mesilla and Rincon val
leyS there are $4,000 acres of idle
land nnder irrigation and with the
drainage under way and in many
cases complete and satisfactory The
establishments of homes on this 250,-
000 acres of the most fertile aluval
soil in the world, with the incident
growth of cities. increase in livestock.
household effects, manufacturing es-
Establishments and other assets follow
ing such development too numerous to
mention. there would be an increase
in the taxable assets of this state of
not less than $50 900. 900. Under the
present tax rate of IA mills for state
purposes only, this would produce an
annual revenue TO the state of s262.-
500, to say nothing of aid in the vital
demands and serious necessities Of
the county governments in the district
affected
To accomplish this wonderful
growth New Mexico need not of ne
cessity lose or spend one dollar. All
that is required is constructive states
manship thoughtful planning and a
conservative use of the states credit,
Under terms of the Lane act the state
shall control the operations of recla-
nation development ana settlement
where the state furnishes 25 per cent
and the United States 10 per cent of
the necessary funds Where the Unit
ed States furnishes more than IS per
cent of the funds, il shall have conf
plete control All this money is re-
turned to the state with per cent by
the settlers paving out in forty an
nual payments on the amortization
plan.
AS regards the employment crisis.
it is argued that the Lane act could
not come into action in time to be of
any assistance in finding work for
the present and constantly increasing
body of unemployed in this state and
that some emergency public works
such as road building must be found
at once in order to prevent serious
economic disasters. IT Is true that tho
drainage Of the central Rio Grande
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