Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1921-01-11
PROPOSE TO BRING ELEPHANT
BUTTE POWER TO THIS VALLEY

Irving O. Harris, OF the engineer
Ing firm OF Cone 4 Harris, Los An
geles, spent Sunday and Monday Of
this week In Demlng In making a pre-
liminary survey OF the possibility OF
having this community use hydro
electric power from the Elephant
Butte dam, II present plans can be
worked out IN satisfactory manner.
About 1S,OOO-horsepower would be
available under this project and the
municipalities OF New Mexico and OF
Texas have the first say as to how
much they care TO use. Then the
farming communities OF the respec-
tive states have tine next claim on
whatever power they wish for irriga-
tion purposes The possibility and
probable feasibility Of using the
water OF the dam for generating
electricity have been under consider
alton ever since the construction has
been completed and the extreme
cheapness of such power has seemed
very attractive 10 any consumers Of
electricity who have even remote
chance OF availing themselves Of such
an opportunity.
The extreme fertility Of our farm
ing lands Is beyond question. and the
main obstacle In their proper devel-
opment has been the question Of
cheap irrigation. Some years since
II was thought that the installation
Of large electric motors for the pump
ing of water from the almost mex
haustible subterranean streams un-
derlying the Mimbres valley had
solved this question but the actual
generating cost OF the needful cleo
tricity and the consequent price at
which this had 10 he sold to the far
mer rendered the cost prohibitive.
Hydro-electric power could be trans
mitted into the valley and sold TO
these power consumers at only frac-
ton Of the present cost. and Incl
dentally the lighting rate Of the city
would be very materially affected as
a portion Of this current would be
diverted for town needs and city
lighting supplied through distribu-
tion company here In Deming
As previously stated about $4,000
horsepower would be available II the
proper power house and transmission
lines were constructed. OF this
power the city OF III Paso would prob
ably require GOO0-horsepower. 1t is
proposed to transmit power to the
mining community at Hurley. dis
mnce from the damb approximately
GO miles, and = estimated that Hur-
ley wi ouldmtvipregdofdh bbzbz
ley would use another GOO0-horse-
power A line could then he built
from Hurley to Deming and the Min.
bres valley. distance Of some 30
miles, and we would have more than
enough for our needs In fact. Mr.
Harris stated. Il Is not problem Of
obtaining sufficient power but to have
a sufficient amount Of centrally To-
cnted fnrming acreage available for
using power. lie would want 10
see at least 25,0O0 acres more or less
compactly located pledged TO use this
power. Were the farms too widely
scattered distribution costs would
make such a project impracticable. II
must be remembered In making any
plans for utilizing this power that the
communities interested win be the
ones who will have 10 finance the
proposition, In prorata TO the amount
of power they intend using. The gov.
ernment will simply give permission
TO have the power harnesser for such
use.
Mr.. Harris Is working under direc-
tlon Of the city OF III paso. whose city
council last week authorized the sign.
ing Of an agreement tO pay its pro-
portOin OF the engineers renort on the
feasibility OF the suggested scheme.
The firm Of ConeS Harris l. max
ing this survey. upon the completion
Of which n detailed report on the
feasibility and cost II the project viii
be submitted. The cost Gf this re-
port win probably be in the neigh
borhood Of $4,000, as the engineers /
have limited themselves TO 30 days
within which 10 make the survey and
report, at $50 per day. This expense
Is being born Jointly by the city of
III Paso and the Water Users Asso,
citation of Texas and of New Mezico I
In the project as at present outlined /
two separate irrigation districts IN |
Texas and New Mexico win he served |
ms well as the municipalities as pre- |
viously stated.
At a meeting Of the chamber Of
commerce early Monday morning Mr.. |
Harris was very enthusiastically re-
cclved and promised every possible
aid In completing his report He
was told that not only would 2l.0O0 /
acrcs q valley land be available. but
probably $4,000 acres. and that tho /
citizens Of Deming and an Luna |
county were willing 10 20 the limit
10 have the power made available for
use IN this district.