The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-02-23

Don ] Rankin. Bcrnaiillo coun-
~ flood commissioner. TODAY pre-
scented 20 the county board a Wig
recommendation Tor con
nolida'ion Of ncoqui9 intake canals
both north and south OF tho city
as the wurcst meant to avert fu-
ture changing OF the river chan
mel thus aver'inx future flood
danger and expense 20 he county.
Calling attention a. the fact Ina:
he had made the same recon-
mendution years ago and that it
had gone unhvcdcd the flood
commissioner told fhe commission
crf. that failure 20 require the wa
ter users 20 protect the river
lankt whore Intakes r built had
osf tho county many thousands
~ dollars The engineer pointed
out that repair Of these intakes
o. not a. proper charge against the
public flood fund and that water
users should he made 10 bear the
cNpenrc OF pro ecung the river
banks where they are broken TO
tnSe in irrigation water into
bitches.
Commissioner Rankin urged one
large intake. properly protected.
FOR all lands south Of the city on
the west side of the river. and q
similnr project for the lands on
the onat side north Of the city,
This work. ho said. should De done
o. the expense Of the land wno
upon plans approved 10y the state
engineer
Mnndamus order
After Mr.. Rankin had made his
report to the commissioner. they
decided. on motion of chairman
a. O. Simms to instruct the dts
trict attorney to hnVc the court
mandnmus Mr. Rankin to furnish
protection TO the road and ditch
at p%arinrito.
This action was taken on the
suggestion OF Frank Huhbcu. who
Appeared before the commission
on behalf Of property holders IN
tho ParRirito district who pointed
out that, although the people paid
taxes FOR flood protection. tine
county commissioners. tho state
highway department. and the
flood commissioner an claimed
that they had no power TO spend
money from the fund for property
protection
District Attorney T.. o. Garcia
presented ar opinion in which he
stated that the mony in the flood
FUND was under control Of tho
food commissioner. that this CON
troll was exclusive. and thar the
commissioner could draw from the
fund He stated that he would
bring the mnndnmus proceedings
In the court and Judge Harry y
owen win be brought here cspcc-
iaily for tho case. ns speed is
considered necessary. and Judge
NJ T. Hickey r. now In the east.
Tho county treasurer reported
that there 10 now f3.3s5 ir che
county flood fund. and Mr. RAN
kin pointed out thnt 81 500 Of this
was already contracted out on a
: project NJ Mountain View.
additional DIFFICULTY
An additional difficulty was
brought out by Edmund Ross
county surveyor. when he pointed
out ia the commission that there
are many places along the river
th1t need protection. and gl need
q equally. but that the flood fund
VIII no; be sufficient "a take cnrc
81 an lie was asked 10 submit 20
written report 20 the commission
covering tho needed protection NJ
the Alameda bridge. M pajnrito.
and AZ Ranches de Atrisoo. no. well
1s any other place whore protcc-
ZION IL badly needed. He win at
tuch 10 each Of those reports au
estimate OF the COS Of the nocos-
Flry protection and an opinion hy'
the district attorney ms TO whcth-
or she project in question can
properly be charged against the
road fund OF the county.
The commissioners then In