The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-08-11
commissioners URGE DRA|NAGE
As Of FIRST IMPORTANCE To
CENTRAL RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Max Gutierrez Tells Rotarians Alkali Eats Up
Profits of Farmers While Irrigation System En-
courages Waste of Water; Other Officers Sup
port Development.

The findings OF committee of
Bernallllo farmers. headed by conniy
Agricultural Agent Ice Reynolds.
who recently Investigated tho Mesilla
valley irrigation and drainage project.
was the outstanding feature OF today's
Rotary luncheon at Alvarado hotel.
Reports ami opinions were voiced by
Reynolds, County Commissioner Max
Gutierrez Francisco Lucero and
County Road Commissioner Max
Chavez.
Mr.. Reynolds saId that a combina-
tion irrigation and Drainage program.
such a. has been carried out 10 the
vicinity OF Las Cruces would mako
available for agricultural purposes
more than 10000 acres OF arid and
waterioggcd lands IN this county
alone.
1T 10 only by drainage that We can
realize the possibilities OF the Rio
Giande valley" said MIR. ReynoidA
When this valley Is prepared for ag-
riculture we will save the freight on
the tons and toBs OF grain that must
now OF necessity be shipped ln. Right
nndcr cultivation than there was 10
years ago. and 1 predict that five
years from now Bernalillo county will
have less than 5000 acres Of tillable
land. unless drainage program is
put through at once"
Mr.. Reynolds expressed hts appre-
ciation OF the fact that the Hotary
club has put drainage well Co the
head OF ita program of acconplisli-
Gaiterrez secs Big Bencfits.
Max Gutierrez explained how drain-
age would eliminate the dreaded al
kali, which In dlscourasinE farmers
and eating into their earnings, while
the land remains water soaked. He
said that bccsiuse the farmers In this
district were assessed flat rate for
irrigating water. they were prone to
waste II. lilo said that the Meniila
valley ranchers were charged for only
he water they used. and conaequentiy
were economicnfi IN Its usf. ~ A
He pointed out the enormous waste
OF labor involved In the present COM
munity ditch system. He oid that
when the farmers were most needed
TO plant aud cultivate their crops
they were forced TO put the ditches
into shape. Under the drainage plan
used around Las cruces he said. this
was eliminated.
Chavez Urrss Dykes.
County Road Superintendent Max
Chavez advised that ample dykes
bc built before drainage Is attempt
ed. He said that the constant danger
from inundation now prevented many
ranchers from planting more crops
than their immediate wants demand
I'd. He explained that the irvees In
the district he Investigated were sit
uated 1000 feet from the river and
were very successful.
Francisco Lucero. who spoke In
Spanish, endorsed the statements OF
his eo-investigators, and also empha-
sized the. need Of protective flood
walls.
George Gcaks opened the meeting
by singing New Mexico. Arthur
Prayer announced the formation OF
a combination Rotary -Klwanis base-
ball team which will play the Amer
lean Legion team la the near future.
| DR.. Hugh Cooper spoke briefly on
Rotary education. Clinton Anderson
appealed for automobiles to take Boy
Scouts TO the Rotary camp tomor-
row
Out-of-town visitors included Hon.
BENJAMIN II. pankey OF Santa BE;
q. u. Jones, superintendent OF Las
Cruces schools and }, NJ. Hervey OF
| Roswell