New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-12-16
REPORT OF MISS HART
HI-LINE DELEGATE
RECLAMATION ASSN

hSAN <NSSAS
Dear Friends OF the Hi-Line Irriga-
ton District-and other Friends:
BY the kindness and forbearance of
our local press | am taking this meth
cd OF making report to you of your
delegate to the Western Reclamation
association which convened at Salt
Lake City, November 10Th and 30th.
knowing that women would prob
ably be hopeleSsly in the minority at
this meeting, | was overcome with
timidity that almost amounted to ter
ror. | protested vehemently against
accepting the honor that had been
bestowed upon me, but as all the men
seemed to have important affairs to
detain them, it seemed to be me or
nobody, and representation seemed
necessary, as the president OF ithe
Water Users said, III you Hi-Liners
don't manifest some interest in your
own case you cannot expect others to
do it for you. Quite logical is it not
SO the morning OF the 10Th found
your woman delegate safely seated
with our splendid New Mexico dele
CATION in the Salt Lake Chamber of
! Commerce, a member of the Western
Reclamation association, and in much
more hopeless minority than was an
lticipated, as no other woman was pre-
sent except the stenographer (whom
| was very happy to see). However,
the gentlemen were all so very cour-
teous and accorded the lady delegate
such a hearty welcome that she soon
became at ease and most highly ap-
preciated the honor OF being associat-
ed with this chivarous, broad mind
ed body of gentlemen.
The association was presided over
by the president, Governor Davis, OF
| Idaho, a very earnest, fair minded
man, who at all times seemed to have
the courage to back up his conviction S
1t would hardly be possible to give
full report of all the things brought
up for discussion, YOU have probably
read the report in some OF the dailies
anyway
The main points of greater inter
est to us were, the unanimous en-
dorsemcnt OF the Smith -McNary bill
calling for an appropriation of $780,
000,OO0 for irrigation and drainage
a resolution favoring disarmament as
far as could be done within the ma
tional honor; a resolution favoring
the completion of incomplete projects
thereby giving employment to thous-
ands OF the unemployed and giving
a rich return to our government III
developing the national resources. Al
so that preference be given to ex-
service men and women in obtaining
homes in the reclaimed areas.
A resolution was also adopted fav-
oring a broad educational campaign
in the eastern centers OF population
to bring about a closer relationship
between the manufacturing and COM
mercial interests OF the east and the
agricultural interests of the west.
An appeal was sent to President
Harding begging that he include IL
his message to congress "a recon-
mendation that broad national pro.
gram OF development be undertaken
Mr.. Blaine of Washington state
was reelected as special representa-
tive for the association at the nation
, al capitol and in the educational cam
paign.
An executive committee was chos.
en-, the governors and one man from
each state, our Mr.. Tracy was re-
elected from our state. Seven OF tht
western governors left Immediately
after the adjournment of the session
for Washington, d. C., to further tht
cause of reclamation.
On the whole the convention wa:
quite educational and profitable anc
| we feel that great good may come
, from this convention which will b,
. followed by annual conferences, a!
, this year it was made into a perman
: ent organization.
. The writer had the pleasure of {
| discussion of the hopes and desires o.
the Hi-Lines with Gov. Mechem, ;
. most genial and affable gentleman, o.
whom our state may be very proud
He declared himself as strongly II
| favor OF the development of the Peco'
: Valley and the extension OF the Carls
bad Project, giving as one OF his rea
sons that the location and fertilit,
, OF the valley made it especially de
, sirable, living as il does on the east
ern border il is first to receive tho
, influx OF homeseekers from the east
and since it is level il will be cas-,
to further transportation in this sec
: ton
I was also granted the privilege
. of an interview with the director oi
reclamation, Mr.. Davis of Washing
. ton. ID. C.. a broad. fair minded mar
, fully in sympathy with the cause o.
, irrigation and most friendly toward
the extension of the Carlsbad Pro
liect. The writer asked IL he knew
{ of any hindrance lying in the wa,
of extension in case the McNary bill
, should pass He said that he did not
unless il should be found that tn,
third reservoir site be found insult
able. that he understood the geologisti
. were at work there now. and he hop
ed to receive favorable report iron
There soon. He favors including th'
lAlamogordo reservoir at Fl. Sumnef
land taking in as much land as ther'
will be water available for: admit
jting that the larger project was
more profitable investment for th'
government than a small one In an
swer to a question regarding the lif
or pumping plant to raise the waite
into the Hi-Line canal on the ex
| ltreme west side. he said he saw M
reason WHY it should not be prac
: ticable as the height would not b
extreme.
, On the whole the writer homes TO
: good results from this convention am
desires to express her appreciation
I OF the confidence shown bv her fel
low Hi-Liners and that she also es
I teemed Il an honor 10 be a delegat
to the Western Reclamation associa
ton
, But. friends. we have not vet r.
: ceived the water. and to nut II J
! horneiy terms. let none OF US Ia
! doxn on the lob" let us put otl
: l-L-..fd.. .r. r. -,-heef a-,d al mug