Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-04-27

cultivated lIdClS, SOlilS VI NlAiNli
are given over to pasturing OF
stock on the native grass, and
some few areas where this native
grass is being cut for hay. The
| Impression on the stranger is one
very detrimental to the country and
he will either assume that the
much Wanted Rio Grande valley
is only a part of the great area of
waste lands which he is led to be-
lieve exists in greater part OF
the arid west, or else he is i'm
pressed with the idea that the res
idents of this. section are lacking
in push or good, common horse
sense which would start the recla-
nation of the land
1t is an undisputed fact that a
great portion Of the Rio Grande
valley is in the condition described,
where the water table is very near
the surface-in many places above
the surface--with great tracts of
uncultivated land which should he
producing abundant crops. When
the water table comes within less
than two feet of the surface of the
ground it prevents all plant life
of deep-rooted varieties from grow
ing or from reaching a stage where
they produce satisfactory crops.
Crop Limitations.
Practically every land owner in
| the valley is conscious of the limi-
tations that are placed upon him
as to the choice of crops that may
! be grown upon his land and many
| of them are awakening to the ne
cessity of drainage. The soil in
vestigatious made. by the govern
ment and the state indicate that
over more than 90 per cent of the
floor of the Rio Grande valley the
ground water table is within an
| the surface. This depth is too
| shallow for the successful growing
of many farm crops. Roots of
most plants grown on the farm and
! fruit trees utilize not less than
| four feet of soil for their best de-
! velopment and when confined TO
| less than one-half that depth, be-
sides having alkali to contend with
they are greatly hampered in find
| ing sufficient plant food, Roots o!
only a few plants thrive In water
! logged soil and most of these are
of little value.
The alkali in the soil is the re-
suit of the disintegration of rock
containing more or less alkaline
salts, the quantity so produced
would in ordinary cases be so small
as to be harmless to plant life, as
-. 4 Il thra,,rrI, n
soil to the ground water and car
ried away. Where the ground
water is near the surface, however,
capillary attraction brings to the
surface these salty waters and
evaporation leaves the alkaline
salts on the surface where it may
be seen as white deposit. AS the
alkali salts move up and down in
the soil and sub-soil with the water,
applied or during rainy periods
and again rising when irrigation
water is applied or during rainy
periods and again rising when the
| weather is dry, it can readily be
seen that by lowering the water
table and applying irrigation water
to the surface, these salts can soon
he washed down and carried off by
the movement of the underground
water.
Drainage Is Feasible.
The investigations by the state
have shown that while the Rio
Grande valley is quite flat, having
an average fall of less than six
feet to the mile, it may be success
fully drained and at compare
lively small cost per acre. The
meandering of the river between
the natural walls Of the valley viii
create natural drainage districts
which must be taken advantage of
for the most successful carrying
out of the project.
The drainage of a considerable
tract of land is simply taking ad-
vantage of the eEsoct of the natural
law that water will run down hill.
The water thai IS in the ground,
from whatever source it may come.
follows this natural law. but be-
cause it does not have free passage
way through the soil, its movement
is slow, and if the inflow into a
given district is greater than the
water movement below the surface,
the water table raises, the land be-
coming waterlogged.
BY the construction of open
bitches carried to depth below
which it is desired to have the
natural water table level, channels
are provided for the rapid move
ment of the water, thus draining
the land and accomplishing the
desired result of lowering the water
table. In draining the Rio Grande
valley it is proposed that main
open bitches or drains be con-
structed as near The rive- as prac-
ticable and Approximately parallel
to it from the lower end of the
drainage unit until these drains
reach the bluffs at the upper end.
These bitches will have slightly
less fall than the river, allowing
the water thus collected to drain
into the river. This main ditch
will act as an intercepting drain
carrying a large portion of the
water that would otherwise slowly
percolate under this area. through
the channel to the river at the
lower end This will have an eff
feet equivalent to lowering the
river channel between the hills and
the drainage ditch, allowing the
water to drain out of the sub-soil.
Side lateral bitches will also be
constructed flowing into the main
ditch to assist in the water move
ment.
Land Fertile When Drained.
The government soil surveys
show that most of the land in the