Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1921-01-18
LEGAL Boosters Decide That the Project
Is Fesihie and That the Conditions
Must be Met by Deming.
COST AT LEAST HALF MILLION
Consummation of the Plan Would
Mean Immediate Development Of
Mimbres Valley Agriculture.

There has been considerable discus
sion as 10 the feasibility Of bringing
,,power to Deming from the proposed
nyufO-eIectric plant TO be erected at
Elephant Butte dam. At first exam
, ination the plan seemed TO involve ex-
pendltures and engineering difficulties
and conditions that were considered to
he impossible; but more mature delib-
Grafton has convinced local boosters
that the proposal Is, fesible and that II
Is "A case OF having TO meet the require
ments, both fiscal and engineering. In
other words, II this power Is made
available, Demlng might as well hang
crepe ON the front door as 10 admit
that II lacks the ambition and energy to
put up fight for II.
II was thought at one time that the
Chino Copper Go. possibly would use
the power. hut IL can be readily seen
that the power Is only available dur
ing the summer irrigation season when
the wafer IL running and that the Chi
no people would hardly care TO shut
down their power plant In order TO gain
the doubtful advantage OF cheaper pow
or for so short n period and. In sense
make themselves dependent on outside
elements. Anyway, the cost OF power
To them would not be materially les
sened under the conditions. There
fore Deming would have 20 build all
of the high tension line for about six
~ miles, from the vicinity Of RIncon
to Demiqg 10y way Of Myndus. This
line would probably cost i'm the neigh
horlAod of u quarter OF a million dol
lars. Ii would cost another quarter
of n million dollars at least to deliver
the power 10 the customers.
According to report, Deming and the
Mimbres Valley farmers would have to
absorb about 1000 X. W. and IL now
using only 100 X. W. Approximately
1000 h. y. would be needed TO justify
the building of the high tension line.
There should be about $500 connected
h. p. with an average load Of about
JOO II. u.
To Justify the expenditure Of at
least half million dollars II would he
necessary TO develop the farming lands
of the valley in large groups. II IL
estimated that the line TO Deming
would he adjacent to about 10000
acres of tillable land between Myndus
anu Aiit WY ~ Nuf DitNtui Nlult
farms OF the valley are widely scat
tered and IL would be an impossibility
10 distribute power 10 them Ii Is
thought that capital coI!G ba interested
10 develop the $4,000 ucres before re-
ferred to In group and that there
would be ample water for the purpose.
Other districts could be served as soon
as they could meet the engineering con.
.ditions The suggestion Is made that
the first $4,000 acres could lN bonded
for SO an acre TO raise the money for
building the high tension line, or pow.
company could he orgaized and GER
tain lands turned in 10 II In exchange
for stock In the company. The latter
plan would involve the securing OF In
vestmcnt capital.
IL Is estimated that the farmers Of
the valley could stand net power
charge OF three cents k. W., but Il
Is not likely that II would cost more
than two cents at the most and prob
ably less. Power IL delivered from
the Roosevelt dam in Arizona to the
customers at one and one half cents
a X. W. The ultimate cost for power
will depend altogether ON the amount
used. because the first cost Of bringing
the power here would he the same for
small or large number of consumers.