The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-05-28

Ansi drain afti drnin aud drain
The recent flood which has ruined
acres OF valley land forced a new
element of consideration into the in
formal discussion Of drainage and
flood protection which WIS held by
the county commissioner nj the
court house this morning. u was
agreed that immediate action must
be taken on these matters. No Off
clal action was taken because Of
lack of quorum.
Secretary II. q. Watkins Of the
Chamber u Commerce. coming be-
fore the commissioners from the pro-
fossional. business and agricultural
interests uf the ely. recipitated the
discussion by urging that the county
commissioners entertain large and
permanent program Of flood prOtec-
zion In connection with the coming
drainage project.
In view of the fact tha. the county
has been spending around $4,000 a
year repairing dtkes after each high
water and doing much Uf the work
over each year, would II not be wise
to do this thing once and for alle
Asks Pernanent work
we wish that the commissioners
would plan at this time construc-
tive program. ON a sufficiently large
scale 10 provide permanent flood pro-
l-ctIOn Tor the valley. Let u not
have any more little patchinEs here
u1d here hut spend our money once
ana tor all and get good permanent
projection.
Drainage and flood protection GER
iainly 80 together, and the county
can save the TAX payers money by
putting uci oss the river protection
program along with the drainage.
Mr.. Watkins invited members Of
the county commission To meet with
tbe drainage committee Of the cham
her OF commerce on Tuesday after
noon at O'Clock for discussion OF
the proposed Drainage matters.
The time has indeed come To- take
some action" agreed In Wylder
rhairman ~ the commissioners
What We must do b. to organize
drainage distticts throughout the
county ana rid ourselves Ht once of
these flood, swamp. mosquito aud
wasted land troubles
The wealth ~ the county would
be increased from one TO two millions
a year with effective drainage. and
the income ~ the farmers who viii
derive the most benefit from drain
age viii so far exceed the cost Of
the dratnng" uunds that no one could
object 20 the original expense.
MOn-y SIE'ut Wisely
As to the flood protection. IL Is
true that we have Acrn spending
from nine to ten thousand dollars
yearly Tor the past ten years ON river
protection The money has been wise
a e.
Of the big work and the small amount
OF money we mad Tor It.
The wisdom of building jcttles has
been questioned, Al Of the ietties
have been built with the advise OF
the county engineer IN consultation
with the state engineer, were It not
for these jetties nothing would have
prevented the river from changing
us course aud wiping uut farms from
one 90 five miles down the valley
other members of the commission
present agree that this is critical
period In the development OF the
county whore the county either takes
big step ahead or gradually goes
backward Things cannot stand as
they are now auid Ncstur MuntoyA,
county clerk
IIcyn Urges Drainage
Fred Heyn, county road supcrln-
tendent. put In a convincing argument
for drainag" from the stand OF ccO-
uomicRl road building The great ca
ponse Of building road under the
present conditions comes In building
up the road bed high enough TO es-
cape the soepngc he said Since all
road materials have to he hauled
from the hills above the city. there
being no ~ road material In the val
ley, the eNcnse rs very heavy with
drainage this item Of expense IN road
building would bc reduced two-thirds,
There N no argument against
drainage which can find consistant
support" was the comprehensive and
final comment ut Edmund Ross
county surveyor
official matters were referred until
ihe June seventh meeting Of the COM
iuiHslOners.