El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-03-18

II
II mend the construction of high line canal aque-
duct for Fl Paso and auxiliary irrigation system for the
upper valley Is less dscouragng for the moment
but the failure to make the hoped for recommendation VII
not daunt city that has the enterprise and resourcetu
ness this one has.
There always is more than one way to do thing but
FL Paso must get permanent cheap water supply.
The city depend upon its present pumping sys
ten much longer It is too costly AND THE SUPPLY IS
NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE GREAT CITY THAT Ell
PASO WILL BE IN A FEW YEARS.
When it Is taken into consideration that FL Paso has
grown from 5000 Inhabitants in 1900 to $4,000 in 1910
to close to 5000 1920 (he census this year VIII show
The population over $4,000 people, the enormy Of the
task that conronts US IN keeping up with what we may
expect Of the future, Is not to be underestimate The
present underground water supply from wells VIII prove
inadequate the Of years for the that the
cost Of financing the construction Of wells and the
expense Of pumping the entire supply Of city such
FL Paso VIII be N few years. viii become prohbitive
The thing to do Is to plan now for cheaper permanent
adequate supply II may cost several million dollars to
get it. but 1t is time to make d start
As George LeBaron and L. N. Lawson have both said
II Paso VIII eventually be compelled to look to the Rio
Grande for its water for domestic uses anyway. Some
rangmeHt other than the comprehensive plan outlined by
the high line canal advocates may be found for bringing
water from the river It viii of necessity be strictly
FL PasO affair, The method, the water and
power committee Of the chamber Of limited in its
statement Of Tuesday may be by Of conduit
lar to thar which brings water to Los Angeles vast
expause Of desert connecting local filters with point
along the upper reaches Of the Rio Grande which the
engineers VIII have to decide.
Instead Of an open igh line canal" the ctys recourse
possibly VIII be the construction of closed conduit from
LeasbuTg dam to l Pss0 This itself would be capable
Of generating considerable power but perhaps not enough
to pay for the construction power plants Engineers
could decide this question for US.
Il may be, some have suggested that a supply of
water could be pumped from the FL Paso into
settling tanks built IN the mountain canyons above the
city and from these tanks by gravity into publication
tanks then into the city mains This plan deserves in
vesgation- This would the lifting Of the water from
tie river by phmpS but the cost would small compared
with the present costly system of lifting with air
from deep wells the mess-and the supply of water
would be ending.
Mayor Davis and the city council realize the seriousness
Of the water situation for FL Pase The mayor and his
councen VIII have the backing Of the people IN whatever
efforts they make to solve this problem The council has
given hearty cooperation to the high line canal investiga
lions with the hope that its construction would be brought
zbout and the perpeng question Of permanent water
supply thus solved Now It IS necessary attack the
question from another angie.
To remain city fit to live in and attractive to out
deT E Paso must be kept beautiful To DO this cheap
water and plenty Of It must be available This is not pos
ble under the present system from the present supply
The city must have recreation parks and build these
is necessary to have cheap water and plenty Of IL
Manufacturers cannot afford to pay the prices If Is
now necessary TO charge for water If have fac
tories N the future, cheaper water must be provided for
them
There are many imperative calls upon the city for more
snd cheaper water.
While FL Paso wats,for the development of some plan
that VII bring water the recommendation Of the board
7f engineers with regard TO the construction Of power
plant at Elephant Butte dam can be taken advantage Of
Cheaper power for the industries Of the community viii
not only tend to decrease to the cost Of every
thing the factories produce but VIII bring other industries
here Besides labor supply, market and material,
there are two items every large factory always takes into
consideration. One power for the operation of its
chney and the other Is transportation facilities FL Paso
needs better transportation and better power supply and
must have more water We have cheaper and more plen