El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-28

A T no time during the history Of
n the Rio Grande project. has there
been a greater demand for farm
ing land than at present.
This demand Is due 70 the fact that
farmers, and many persons who have
never farmed but who have back
to-the-farm idea In their head, are
realizing more than ever before The
value Of irrigated lands near FL Paso
How far agricultural interests viii
pe able 70 expand oepenas not 50
much on the work OF the reclamation
service, but upon the ability Of get
ting labor, and in finding how 70
plant certain crops, which crops to
plant and a determining to 90 about
farming on a more intensified scale
The future success Of agriculture
around FL Paso also depends largely
on obtaining desirable settlers for the
idle lands.
Need OF Farming Community.
Indeed. the status OF the reclama-
ton work on the Rio Grande project
is AZ such a point now that future
operations depend upon community
building rather than engineering and
reconstruction, II is declared
With ample storage works pro-
vided to guarantee a sufficient supply
o. water, even over dry season, and
drainage canals eLcavated to such an
extent that a large area OF cultivated
aallaAl Is kA4AGlAN4 -40AA me AA1E Va
ground water. development turns to
the utilization Of the benefits Of the
irrigation project and TO settlement
features TO build up prosperous
farming community surrounding FL
Paso-
The work still remaining TO be
completed BY the reclamation serv-
ice" said project manager L II. Law
son. Consists Of the extension OF the
drainEEe works into areas not yet
relieved Of the Water-logged condi-
ton or protected against such condi-
ton IN the future, the extension Of
the canal system 70 new areas, and
the reconstruction Of a limited
amount OF the old systems. and the
organization OF an operating force Of
adequate training to operate and
maintain the system provided"
lands irrigated by water stored be-
hind Elephant Butte dam produced
crops with a valuation OF S5.S25-107 in
y months, III. Lawson's annual re-
port shows
Cultivated Acreage Grows.
Approximately $1,000 acres OF land
are irrigated by the project com
pared to 10000 acres less than this
during 1913 and even 10000 still less
during 1913. This 5Ws 70 some e1-
tent the expansion 81 the service
sIr. Lzwson's report shows 2s55 are
being irrigated at present as COM ]
pared with 1903 for 1913, and 100 in
1878. Residing in towns and on farms ]
IN the irrigated territory are 110,556 I
people, 5000 more than in 1913, and I
%. 600 more than in 1918 Since 1915, I
bank deposits have grown from {
Sc ,s1e.3s0 TO ss4,557,sS4. the amount I
on deposit at the beginning OF the /
fiscal year The total marks q gain /
OF more than S1,500,0 600 during the 4
past year, and nearly $15ooo,o00 since /
1918
During the last year, according to I
the report, more than 172 miles OF
omen drains have been built, protect !
ing $4,000 acres Of land from damage /
by Eeepage. This work cost Sz.51lsIle. D
Growth OF Reclamation.
Irrigation service has been 50 eI-
panded as TO be IN position to trri- 4
gate $500 acres OF land. and Il Is
estimated that It will be able to irri-
cate rs. 600 acres during 1920, and
$4,000 acres IN 1871 The acreage
actually in irrigation during 1913 ex-
cseded 10000 acres. less than half Of
the $4,000 acres which VIII be irri-
gated when the Elephant Butte prof.
sct has been developed to its maxi
mum.
Most Of the construction work done
last year pertzined to drainage work !.
There were no new major structures
not needed
Drain Work Done.
During the year OF 1913. 52.g miles
u open drains were constructed. in
rolVinE the excavation OF 100000
cubic yards OF dirt Up 10 June 90
1920, 1928 miles OF open drain had
been built, involving the excavation