The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-06-27
RECLAMATION IS
PUT UNDER FULL
|. SAIL At MEETING
Federal and State Off
Gals Tell of Benefits
of Smith-M c Nary
Bill; Permanent Di-
rectors of Association
Elected

Federal and state admlnlat rators.
land owners and citizens OF the
four counties In the middle Rio
Crand valley discussed the pro-
ereas. economic benefits and costs
of the recla nation project which
u In hoped to carry out under the
provisions OF the Smith McNary
bill last night at a meeting In the
chamber OF commerce parlOrs. The
meeting. which was held under the
auspices Of the Middle Rio Grande
Valley association. was for the pur-
pose Of the permanent organization
uf the association.
Much enthusiasm was exhibited
In the addresses at the meeting for
the possibilities Of the project. But.
accompanying the picture n the
benefits OF drainage. greater fer
tility Of the lands In the valley and
flood protection. there was "A de-
mand for economy and careful
c~on.ideration Of the project. sound
ed by Frank A.. Hubbell. which
had the effect OF bringing out the
, practical aspects OF the project.
Harding Behind Project
That President Harding was be-
hind the measure which will be
taken up definitely In the next SEES
sion 81 Congress- in December was
the statement of Congressman at
large. NeSior Montoya Of this city
who addressed the meeting.
The measure has been extend
i. ed. he said from a sectional to
' IA national scope. II will provide
probably after amendments. for
the reclamation Of arid lands In
: the West. drainage Of the swamp
lands. In the south. the preparation
OF honorable lands In New Eag-
|, land and ~undeNeloped areas In the
Central WEST. This has led to the
gain of the support OF practically
all the congressional members
. from every section Of the country.
By OF a chnvaas.ng cam
palgn by the Western congressman
/. TN which Congressman Montoya
took an active par;-neariy nine
out of every ten members OF the
national legislature have declared
' themselves In favor Of the measure
A committee Of Western congress-
men consulted with President
!, Harding concerning the measure
: aud he stated hat he wished to
open the Western empir. by the
reclamation project. The presl-
, dent added that Il ~ "A business
proposition for the rest OF the
country as II would develop and
, settle the West. thus creating
market for the manufactures ul
the Fast. Harding told the COM
/. M ttee that he would send Tor the
leaders Of the Senate and House
OF Representatives TO push ahead
the measurc."
Congressman Montoya. however.
q note OF warning to the In
/, hRbitants 81 the valley to the ef-
feet thai they should have a firm-
ly organized. enthusiastic and
powerful association formed 80
' that when the n was con-
summated they could be able to
utilize its benefits Immediately.
Tie declared that the association
must secure accurate and COM
piete data and statistics on the
, approx mate costs OF the project.
the values % the lnnds. number OF
acres to be reclaimed and surveys
of the area. These details are to
he presented through the Federal
engineers to the friend ~ this
state. Secretary OF the Interior
, Albert H. Fall.
Explains Tar Burden
Governor NJ. g. Mechem Of New
q Mexico declared that he found that
the measure was favored by the
country at large but Il mus, he
nut owe definitely In the counties
Nnf this valley. 'The project has
10 be sold TO the people OF these
four counties" the governor said.
I and this can only be done by a
strong campaign OF education and
publicity among the people. The
d. burden Of taxation will spread owe
every bit OF property which gains
benefits from the project. This
will shif part Of the burden Of
sthe repayment OF the Federal al
propriations from the land owner
20 the city property owners and
the railroads-every bit OF proper
~ which derives benefit from tho
scheme In increased values. The
. estimates Of the Reclamation ser
Vice will he made known but re-
rRrdlrss Of the outcome the peo-
4 pie Of the valley know that the
4 ~ opueition u feasible
: y compares Whh Pas Projects
Senator u. ~ Holt OF las Cruces
who was n former president OF the
Elephant Butte project. gave an
I. outline OF the problems encounter
ed at the inception Of that scheme
aud compared u to the present
reclamation project. He declared
: that the New Mexicans must de-
pend on themselves for the de-
valopment Of the natural resources
tof the state and this project was
enc which would hasten the pro-
greas OF the state. There would
sbe in n Few years. he stated. the
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