Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-09
IRRIGATION FOR
ESTANCIA FARMS
BEING AGITATED
Association Is Formed to
Get Federal Aid; Water
for 100000 Acres Lies
lust Beneath Surface

Estancia, N. NJ, Dec, S.-Estan-
cia valley farmers have completed
the formation of an association for
the irrigation Of several thousand
acres of land in this section. Aid
will be asked for under the federal
reclamation act or the Smith-Mc-
Nary bill, now before congress.
A mass meeting of the citizens
Of the Estancia valley on Tuesday
was called to order by Fred IL.
Ayers, one of the local attorneys
of Estancia, and after outlining the
purposes of the meeting, Mr.. Jay
Turley, special expert engineer of
the u. S. veterans bureau and for
merly connected with the u. ).
reclamation bureau, was intro
duced. Mr.. Turley outlined the
possibilities of irrigation in the Es-
tancia valley. stating that he was
reasonably sure that the water sup
ply would be sufficient to irrigate
100000 acres; that such large
reclamation projects as we have
here can be carried out best by the
aid and cooperation of tho federal
government.
THE returns are generally too
slow and the investment relatively
TOO large for land owners to under
take, and for this reason, are not
attractive to private capital which,
has abundant opportunities forI
quicker turnover. The federal
government, by aiding these enter
prfses, is building our nation and
providing opportunities for its citi-
zens and adding to its wealth.
"Estancia valley has an unlimit-
ed supply of good shallow water,
good soil and q fine climate and
This question affects every person
in the valley, whether they are land
owners or not. Irrigation in the
Estancia valley will make more
and better business for all con-
cerned."
The shallow water belt extends
from above Moriarity, N. NJ, to-
below Willard, n. NJ. and included
about quarter of a million acres
of land. The central power plant
could be located at the coal mines,
which are on the edge of this
shallow water belt and by doing
this 1t would save the costs of
transportation, loading and un-
loading coal. Electric power lines
could then be run TO the different |
pumps throughout the valley. Also
ihe power plant may furnish !
cheap power to customers through /
out this region.
There were produced over
81, 100000 worth of crops in this
valley IN 1921, and practically
in 1929. The citizens here
realize what a small amount of
moisture will do for this valley.
Everyone present was enthusias-
tic over the project as outlined by
Mr.. Turley and a permanent asso-
citation was formed to bring about .
an irrigation district under the U.l
s.. reclamation act or the Smith |
1McNary bill, now before congress. !
The following officers were elect
ed:
Senator Fred II. Ayers, presi-
dent; Neal Jenson, vice president;
]. n. Burton, secretary-treasurer;
James J. Hall, assistant secretary,
Ill of Estancia, n. NJ.
The board of directors includes
The above named and f. W. White
hack, Moriarty, N. NJ: W. c. Glad
in, Moriarty, n. NJ; ]. NJ. Smith,
n. NJ; L. Il. Farley, Nc
lntosh, n. M; L. c. Hanlon, VIII
lard, n. NJ; George Alter, Willard,
N. NJ, and d. IL. Cowley, Willard,
N. NJ.
jay Turley was induced to come
TO the Estancia valley by Mr. Ten
lsyek. General manager OF the New
Mexico Central Railway company.