p S85 Cornell University Library F 802.T2B85 A Brief sicetch of the Red River Land & W 3 1924 014 115 756 ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY PROSPECTUS Ike Red River Land ana >A^ater Company ^^SUNSHINE VALLEY^^ TAOS COUNTY NEW MEXICO PRINTED BY CLASON MAP CO.. DENVER r^^ ^^1 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924014115756 A BRIEF SKETCH OF Tke Red River Land ^ ^Vater V^ompany s PROJECT IN ''Sunsnine Valley' The "Cream" of Tlie WorlJ-Famous San Luis Valley. IN TAOS COUNTY, NEW MEXICO Published by Chas. Rohde, General Sales Agent. Suite 514-523 First National Bank Bldg., Denver, Colo. THE RED RIVER LAND AND WATER COMPANY is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Territory of COMPANY, f^g^ Mexico, with the principal offices in Suite 5 i 4-523 First National Bank Building, in the City of Denver, Colorado. PURPOSE ^^^ ^^^ RIVER LAND AND WATER COMPANY was organized December 26, 1906, for the purpose of entering into a con- tract with the Territory of New Mexico for the irrigation and reclamation of 30,000 acres of land belonging to the Territory, under the provisions of an Act entitled: "An Act to Authorize the Formation of Companies for the Purpose of Constructing Irrigating and Other Canals and the Colo- nization and Improvement of Lands," approved February 24, 1 867; and also under the provisions of Chapter 79 of the Acts of the Thirty-sixth Legislature, entitled: "An Act to Regulate the Formation and Government of Cor- porations for Mining, Manufacturing, Industrial and other Pur- suits," approved March 15, 1905. On May 25, 1908, a contract was entered into between the Com- MKAX/ P^"^ ^^^ *^^ Territory of New Mexico under which the Company bound itself to construct a System of Irrigation Works, reservoirs, headworks, main and later canals, etc., for the complete reclama- tion of the said 30,000 acres of land by the use laf the waters of Red River and its tributaries in Taos County, New Mexico; and the Territory, in said contract, binds itself to sell the said 30,000 acres of land belonging to the Territory, at a price to be fixed by official appraisal, only to settlers holding contracts for a perpetual water right fnom the Company, and to none other, until' after a period of ten years from the date of the completion of the said system of irrigation works; and Also on February 19, 1 9 1 0, a further contract was executed with the Territory by which the Company secured the right to ask and receive $60.00 per acre for psrpetual water rights from settlers purchasing lands from the Territory. The Company, by its Articles of Incorporation, duly recorded in the office of the County Clerk of Taos County (as then required by law) on Jan. 4, 1907, filed upon the waters of Red River and its tributaries sufficient for the irrigation of 45,000 acres of Icind. The Company also filed its Supplemental Claim and Record of Appropriation in the office of the County Clerk of Taos County on Oct. 15, 1907, for 629 cubic feet of water per second of time out of said Red River and its tributaries. The Territory of New Mexico by Chapter 49 of the Acts of the Thirty-seventh Legislature, entitled: "An Act to Conserve and Regulate the Use and Distribution of the Waters of New Mexico; to Create the Office of Territorial Engineer; to Create a Board of Water Commissioners, and for other Purposes," approved March 19, 1907, prescribed certain regulations for the use and distribution of the waters of New Mexico and created the office of Territorial Ejigineer. This law was patterned largely from the corresponding laws of Colorado. By advice of counsel, the Company, on Oct. 15, 1907, filed with :the Terri- torial Engineer "An Application for a Permit to Appropriate" 629 cu!bic feet of water under the said laws of 1 907, to supplement the prior and valid apvpropriatioes made by the Company under previous laws, as above set forth. This appropriation approved in the following words: — "This application is approved subject to prior rights and for use upon the following described lands, and is limited to the amount of water necessary when beneficially £uid economically used on these lands and shall not be in excess of 200 second feet of con- tinuous flow during the irrigation season. "It is further provided that all plans and specifications shall be made satisfactory to the Territorial or State Engineer and that construction work shall be done to his satisfaction and that reservoir shall be constructed as described in plans." The Company has also acquired the rights of Edward Halton to the unappropri- ated waters of Cabresto Creek (a tributary of the Red River) and of the Red River as filed by Hatton in the office of the County Clerk of Taos County, in March, 1 902. LAWS OF THE I" ' 899 the Legislative Assembly of New Mexico, Chapter 74, TERRITORY Section 34, created a Conunission of Irrigation. Section 34 pro- AFFECTING vided: "It shall be the duty of the said Conunission to investigate THE WATER ^^'^ select the most suitable sites for permanent water reservoirs RIGHTS OF ^^'^ irrigating purposes and for the improvement of the Rio Grande, THE COMPANY. ^"'^ ^^^° '° designate such tracts of public lands capable of irri- gation from such reservoirs as would, in their judgment, be advis- able to locate for the Territory under said Act of Congress, in order to secure the benefits of the enhanced value of the lands resulting from the establishment and construction of such reservoirs." THE LANDS ■^ ^^^ °^ Congress, approved June 21,1 898, greuited to the Terri- tory of New Mexico 500,000 acres of public land for "The Establishment of Permanent Water Reservoirs for Irri- gating Purposes," and defined the method of selecting the said lands by a Commission of Irrigation to be appointed by the Territory. This said Commission of Irrigation was appointed) by the Territory under the laws of 1899 cmd 1901, and, on July 2, 1902, selected the lands controlled by the Company under its contract with the Territory, as above stated. This selection by the Commission of Irrigation was officially known as "Territorial Selection No. I ." and said Selection and award by said Commission was approved by the Secretary of the Interior on Nov. 29, 1902. OWNERSHIP Under said laws of 1899 and 1901 the Territory inalienably dedi- OF WATER *^^'cd to the lands of "Territorial Selection No. I ," as approved by the Secretary of the Interior, Nov. 29, 1902, the waters of Red River, which are the natural and only source of supply for the irrigation and reclamation thereof. The Territory has since held the waters of the Red River, dedicated and appro- priated on Nov. 29, I 902, for the irrigation and reclamation of the said 30,000 acres of land, and the grant of such waters to the Company by the Territory is conditioned upon the use of said waters by the Company for the irrigation of said lands. THE RECLAMA- The Red River is a tributary of the Rio Grande and it is well TION SERVICE knovra that many meritorious enterprises in Colorado and New AND THE Mexico have been unable to secure title to the waters of the Rio WATERS OF Grande and its tributaries because of the demand made thereon THE RIO by the Reclamation Service for the Engle Reservoir, designated GRANDE. by the Government as "The Rio Grande Project" and commonly known as the "Elephant Butte Dam." On Dec. 5, 1896, the Secretary of the Interior promulgated the following order to the General Land Office: "Your office is hereby directed to suspend action on any and all applications for right of way through public lands for the purpose of irrigation by using the waters of the Rio Grande River, or any of its Tributaries in the State of Colorado or in the Terri- tory of New Mexico, until further instructed by this Department." On April 25, 1907, the Secretary of the Interior issued a further order to the General Land Office reading as follows: "I, therefore, recommend that the Department lay down the general policy that until the development of irrigation upon the upper Rio Grande in the State of Colorado and the Territory of New Mexico, shall furnish sufficient data to determine the effect of the storage and diversion of waters in that vicinity upon the water supply for the Engle Reservoir of the Rio Grand Project, no further rights of way be approved which involve the storage or diversion of waters of the upper Rio Grande and its tributaries, except applications of two kinds: 1 . Those in connection with which there is a showing that the rights of the parties were initiated prior to the beginning of active operations by the reclamation service for the Rio Grjmde Project, namely, March 1, 1903; 2. Applications which involve the diversion or storage not exceeding 1 ,000 acre feet of water per annum." PRIORITY Since the 30,000 acres of land belonging to the Territory, which are Or APPRO- subject to the rights of the Company under contracts referred to, were PRIATIONS selected on July 2, 1 902 and the said selection approved by the BY THE Secretary of the Interior on Nov. 29, 1902; and 1 LKRn OR I . Since the "Beginning of active operations by the Reclamation Ser- vice for the Rio Grande project, namely, March 1, 1903," was several months after the said approval by the Secretary of the Interior; and Since the Territory, by its laws of 1 899 and 1 90 1 , above referred to, reserved and dedicated to itself the waters necessary to irrigate and reclaim the said lands, it will be seen That the Territory of New Mexico has a valid right and appropriation to and of the waters of Red River prior to any rights of the Reclamation Service for the Rio Grande project. APPROVAL By the orders of the Department of the Interior, as quoted above, OF RIGHT the Department refused to approve any Righte of Way through public OF WAY. lands. "Which involve the storage or diversion of waters of the Upper Rio Grande and its tributaries, except applications of two kinds: 1st. Those in connection with which there is a showing that the rights of the parties were initiated prior to the beginning of active operations by the Reclamation Service for the Rio Grande Project, namely, March 1, 1903; 2nd. * * * ." However, because of the dedication and appropriation by the Territory through the selection and approval of these lands, as above set forth, of the waters of the Red River in 1 902, — thus being "initiated prior to the beginning of active operations by the Reclamation Service for the Rio Grande Project, namely, March I, 1903" — the Secretary of the Interior, on Sept. 9, 1908, or a year and a half after the promulgation of the order of April 25, 1907, above quoted, approved the application of the Com- pany for a right of way tJirough the Carson National Forest Reserve; thus evidencing the determination of the Department of the Interior that the waters of the Red River Were appropriated hy the Territory for these lands prior to March I, 1903. APPROPRIA- The appropriations of water from the Red River and its tributaries TIONS OF are as follows: WATER Edward Hatton, — all unappropriated waters in Red River and Ca- FROM RED bresto Creek for the irrigation of 50,000 acres of land as filed by RIVER AND 'Hatton in the office of the County Clerk of Taos County, in March, TRIBUTARIES. 1902. Now owned by this Company. No. 95. — The Red River Land and Water Company, for 629 cubic fast of water out of the Red River, appropriated by the Company on January 4, 1907, by filings in the office of the County Clerk of Taos Coimty; supplemental claim and record of appropriation filed in the County Clerk's office, in Taos County, on October 15, 1907; also filed with the Territorial En- gineer on October 15, 1907, and approved on November 12, 1910. No. I 1 9. — The Citizens Ditch Company for I second feet, from the Red River, filed Sept 2, 1907; approved January 22, 1908. Lama Canon. — A tributary of the Red River, — filed March, 1901, for the irrigation of 1 60 acres. This enters the Red River below the Company's headgates and does not affect the available supply. No. 76. — Ceibresto Lake cind Creek, filed September 3, 1907, for 15 second feet, for 1504 acres; approved April 18, 1908. No. 243. — Frederic Whitney, filed February 26, 1909; diversion of 150 second feet, for power purposes. This application was approyed with the provision that the waters applied for by Whitney be returned to the bed of the Red River above the j>oint of intake of the Main Canal of the Company. (Letter of Territorial Engineer of May 7, 1909). Latir Creek. — Filed Sept. 4, 1907, for the diversion of 43 second feet for the irrigation of 3,000 acres, approved February 1 8, 1 908. SUMMARY: Prior Rights: On Red River, No. 119, 10 second feet. On Latir Creek, 43 second feet. On Cabresto Lake and Creek, No. 76 for 1 5 second feet, for 1 504 acres. (These rights are all prior because of long continued use prior to the rights of the Territory to these waters) . The rights of Hatton have been acquired by the Company. Balance of appropriations are all subsequent to the rights of die Company. WATER The Red River has never been systematically gauged, but it has a drainage SUPPLY. area ot approximately 92 square miles, lying at an elevation of from 7,800 feet to 13,000 feet; Wheeler Peak, at the head of Red River, is over 14,000 feet high. The area of the water shed of Cabresto and| Latir Creeks of 86 square miles will increase the total water shed available for the irrigation of the lands of SUNSHINE VALLEY to approximately 178 square miles. There are also several natural lakes in the mountains emptying into Red Rivei and its tributaries. The precipitation is estimated in excess of 25 inches annually throughout this drainage area; the precipitation at Red River City, altitude 8,600 feet, was 25.81 inches per year for two years during which the records have been kept. The entire drain- age area is located in Sangre de Cristo Range in the Carson National Forest, and the mountain sides are covered with a heavy growth of timber. It is estimated that the drain- age area of 92 square miles of the Red River will yield an average of 600-acr6 feet to the mile, which would give an average flow of 55,200-acre feet annually from the Red River water shed alone, without counting the flow obtainable from Cabresto Creek and Latir Creek. Glimpse o£ CnbreNto Lake. The Sangre de Cristo Range, ShOTving the Western Slope of the Drainage Area of Red River and Cabresto and Latir Creeks, February, 1910. Sunshine Valley Lands in Foreground. Portion of the Red River Canon, Sbowiug Southern AVatcr Shed. April 3, 1010. Looking DOTFn Red River Canon, Kurly Morning, April 4, 1910. Snoiv ill Uert Uiver Ciinon, April 4, tOlO. Tlie Hert Rivrr at Us Contliiriice AA'lth Cnliimblne Creek, April 2, 1910. Gold Hill, 12,000 Feet High In Background. RAIN FALL. The rain fall of Sunshine Valley, as shown by the U. S. Climatological Reports, has averaged 14.42 inches annually for the past five years; and it is to be noted that of this amount 2.94 inches fell in July, 1905; 3.05 inches fell in July, 1906; 5.21 inches fell in August, 1907; 2.87 inches fell in April, 1908; no record given for 1909. This heavy precipitation occurs during the summer ir«nths, which is the "Rainy Season" in this section; this precipitation during the ordinarily "dry season" will of course supplement the irrigation works to be constructed by the Company. TEMPERA- The average mean temperature foV the same period has been 48.4 TURE. degree Fahrenheit, rangmg from 92.4 degrees for the highest, to-12 degrees for the lowest. SUNSHINE. During the same period the average days of sunshine each year have been, 229 days; of partly cloudy, 79 days; and of cloudy, 49 days. STREAM The various gaugings which have been made on the Red River indicate a GAUGINGS. maximum flow of 1500 second feet, and a minimum of. about 85 second feet during the winter. It has never been known to dry up. GAUGE HEIGHTS, VELOCITIES AND DISCHARGE OF RED RIVER April, 1910. Gauge Height A. M. P.M. Mean 0.9 1.0 0.95 0.9 1.0 0.95 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.05 1.2 1.3 1.25 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.15 1.1 1.2 1.15 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.25 1.2 1.3 1.25 1.3 1.4 1.35 1.4 1.5 1.45 1.6 1.7 1.65 1.7 ' 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.85 1.8 2.0 1.9 Velocities 6.25 7.4 Discharge in Sec. ft. 134.7 134.7 141.5 141.5 141.5 141.5 141.5 150.3 218.3 208.0 187.2 187.2 197.5 197.5 208.0 208.0 218.3 218.3 23 1.3 1.4 1.35 7.7 235.6 24 1.4 1.5 1.45 276.5 25 1.6 1.7 1.65 356.9 26 1.7 ' 1.7 1.7 384.1 27 1.8 1.9 1.85 464.4 28 1.8 2.0 1.9 517.2 Red River on Aug:u!4t 5, 1910, Near Engineer's Can»p Above Tunnel No. 3. I AND '^^^ entire thirty thousand acres known as SUNSHINE VALLEY lie AND son '" ^ compact body between the Sangre de Cristo Range on the east, and the Rio Grande River, which forms its western boundary, with the Red River for its southern boundary; the land slopes from the mountains towards the South and West sufficiently to give perfect surface drainage, and as the surface of the water in the canons of the Rio Grande and of the Red River are approximately 200 feet below the lands, the underground drainage is complete. Sunsliine Valley l.iiokinf; \\ e»l, Slortlnvest, to lUe Peak, Questa In Foreground on Slope. Taken Augu.st 6, 1910. 12 This Map shows the Southern End of the San Luie Valley. Canon of the Red River. Box Canon of Red River Just After the Red River Breaks Into tlie Mountains From Q.ueMta Valley. Questa Volley, Maroli 20, 1910; l^ooking: East to Sangre de Cristo Ranj^c. TIiIn Land Has Been Irrigated for 75 Years. Red River Issues From the Moun- taint* Through the Canon in the Center of Picture. Cahresto Creek Through the Canon at the Left. The Town of Questa, "The Crest," From Questa Vallejs March 20, 1910, Showing also the Eastern Edge of the Lands of Sunshine Valley. 15 NO ALKALI. There is no alkali to be found anjrwhere on these lands. A portion of the lands, as well as all of Questa Valley through which runs the Red River and Cabresto Creek, lying some 200 feet lower than the lands of Sunshine Valley, have been irrigated by the Mexicans for years; records show con- tinuous cultivation for more than 75 years under irrigation. It is well known that the Mexicans have never practiced economy in the use of water; on the other hand, they have and do now use an excess of water for their crops, and this condition would produce "alkali" were it possible. None is to be found, even in the bottom lands. CHARACTER OF SOIL AND DEPTH The soil is of great depth, being a chocolate, sandy loam, with some sections showing a black sandy loam ; it is of a very friable nature, easily broken and cultivated; retains moisture surprisingly well, and is of great fertiHty. This soil is a combination of the erosion from the mountains on the east, and the silt of the Rio Grande River, deposited in previous ages ; the soil is known to have) a depth of from 5 to 30 and more feet and is covered with a heavy growth of black sage brush. In excavating wells the soil has in some places been found to attain a depth of 90 feet, without encountering bedrock. In its nature it is similar to the soil of the famous fruit lands of Idaho. Ureiikinj:: Ground in Snnsliiiie Valley. 16 Pniioraiiin of Siiiisliine A'nlley From ii l*oiii^ About Five Miles Nortli of Qiiesta, March, 10] 0. BED ROCK. The entire Sunshine Valley is underlain with a conglomerate rock of uniform strata, not subject to seams or cracks and affording an ideal water table. ELEVATION. The elevation of the lands of Sunshine Valley is approximately 7,200 feet, but the valley lies in a warm southern belt, and being protected by the Sangre de Cristo Range on the east, the seasons here are two or three weeks earlier than near Denver. TRANSPOR- The San Luis Southern Railway branches from the Denver & Rio TATION. Grande R. R. at Blanca and extends south through the center of Sun- SAN LUis shine Valley. The San Luis Soutlieni l{. K. Plenty of Freisiit. Sun .\eiU'io, July, ]!)10. Tke Sun Luis Souilieru Ry. Xew AA'nreliouwe at Mesita. July. 11>10. ^UU 1 t icK:N This is a new road now being constructed, and the present season has KAlLWAi. jggj, i-j^jg ij^g built and in operation as far south as Jaroso, a town on the line between Colorado and New Mexico, five miles west of Costilla and six miles from the northern boundary of Sunshine Valley; Jaroso is about ten miles from the new town of Paxton, which will be the County Seat of the new county to be formed out of the land of Sunshine Valley in the northern portion of what is now known as Taos County. The line has been surveyed through Sunshine! Valley to Questa, a distance of approximately I 7 miles. It is well understood that influences close to the D. & R. G. R. R. are identified with the San Luis Southern, and by those best informed it is stated to be the intention of the railroad company to extend its line on to Santa Fe, New Mexico, as a new broad gauge line, to take the place of the exist- ing narrow gauge line from Antonito to Santa Fe. With the development of these lands the new line through the valley will give full transportation facilities before the irrigation system has been completed; and with the development which is now planned of the Taos Valley, lying 30 miles south of Sunshine Valley, it is only natural to expect the extension of the line to Taos, from whence the extension to Santa Fe will follow in due course. Additional proposed railroad facilities will be afforded by the St. Louis, Rocky Mountain & Pacific R. R., which is now operating I 10 miles of road running westerly from E>es Moines, New Mexico, on the Colorado & Southern, crossing the Santa Fe at Cliffton House (near Raton) and again at Preston, and the Dawson railroad at Colfax. This road has been in operation for some time as far west as Ute Park, which is 42 miles southeast of Sunshine Valley. We have been informed by the chief engineer of the railroad company that the next extension of the road will be built to Elizabethtown, on the eastern slope of the Sangre de Cristo Range, and that, if Sunshine Valley was settled, the road would be extended across Red River Pass and down Red River Canon to and across the lands of Sunshine Valley, whence it would be extended westward in accordance with the original plans, which contemplate a junction with the Southern Pacific near Farmington. Preliminary surveys have already been made for the line as far as Sunshine Valley and the route has been found to be most feasible of any to cross the Sangre de Cristo Range. CROPS. "^^^ *°'^ ^""^ climatic conditions of Sunshine Valley are adapted to a great variety of crops, especially all those which have been produced with such marked success in the San Luis Valley. It must be remembered that Sunshine Valley, while the extreme southern portion of the San Luis Valley, lies over I 00 miles farther south than that section of the San Luis Valley which has had so successful a record in crop production, and that the altitude is approximately 1 ,000 feet lower ; also it has the protection of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the east, thus making it in reality "Western Slope Country," with all the name implies. nPI n ^^^ field pea as raised by the farmers m Sunshine Valley, on lands which pp. . Q in some cases are completely surrounded by the lands controlled by the com- pany, and absolutely identical m character, rivals any crop of field peas ever produced in the San Luis Valley. -J* ' i ^ ^^^p "i^f^m --^'^ "■**•:* ^' aCvlfe^jt::^A^^^1 ^^ iHi ^ *'**ri jF***fajwi^jrQf iPjiri H^^^^^^vST^^Bv^^^r ^' m ^^^ Field Peas iu Siiiisliiue Valley. Au^^unI 7. liHO. Observe Hei;rl»t of \ ines. The Snii laiis A'alley Has a Praotioal Monopoly of the Field Pea. /■// / CARSON R. 13 E 20 PARTIAL CONTOUR MAP OF SUNSHINE VALLEY RED RIVER LAND & WATER CO:S PROJECT SHOV^ING THE WATER SHED OF THE RED RIVER AND OF CABRESTO AND LATIR CRECKS AND A PORTION OF CARSON NATIONAL FOREST Co/nanche RANTV:;:/ T. 30 N. CARSON R. 14. E 21 POTATOES. Potatoes, because of the nature of the soil and climatic conditions, yield in Sunshine Valley a greater quantity per acre, and of a superior quality, than even in the San Luis Valley, which, as is well known, has won many prizes for potatoes over the famous Greeley potato. One acre of ground in the San Luis Valley in competition has raised 847 bushels and 35 pounds of potatoes, the largest yield ever reported. (See report in February, 1910 Railroad Red Book.) Harve.stiiiK- Pot«*-' -•'««¥"«-*«?*«^.": /V'. , .^vv^ .Se<'(>.ii(l Crop of .VU'iill'n — SiiuNliiiie \nlley — July 20, 1!)10. 22 ALFALFA. Alfalfa, not only as a fertilizer, but also as a record breaking crop, is grown in the Sunshine Valley to perfection. ONIONS. Onions grow in these friable soils of exceptional quality and crops have been raised by the settlers on lands adjacent to those controlled by the Company of from 15 to 18 tons to the acre. TOMATOES. A recent yield of tomatoes has been reported on these lands where $130.00 was realized from the crop on one-third of an acre. BEANS ^ ^^ same conditions which produce bumper crops of field peas also produce exceptional yields of beans which have been successfully grown in this country for 75 years. WHEAT OATS Wheat, oats and barley produce heavy yields on these lands, a yield BARLEY. of 76 bushels of wheat to the acre not being uncommon. The Company has samples of oats 85 inches in height, with the head 32 inches in length. ■■■ . '.'. ■ ■! ' ' ,-^~ ■'■4''' ■' '■■'-. -'.-a-v-'"''' i'H*U'i A Wheat Field lu Sunshine Valle.v, August 7, I'JIO. nirm-c Sugar and table beets grow in this soil to great size, of exceptional quality and btLlL lb.. , . with a heavy percentage of saccharine contents. 23 FRUIT ^'■"'' '^on'^itions here are ideal; the warm summer chmate, the cool nights, pro- duces fruit of exceptional flavor and soundness, a good shipper and command- ing high prices. Yields as high as $1,300 per acre have been reported and it must be remembered that this fruit has been raised without nnodern methods, such as spraying and pruning, and entirely without the u«e of smudge pots. Apple Trees I.ailen With Prult in Siinslilne Valley, August 7, 1010. Bardett pears are now raised by the settlers in preference to other fruits but apples, cherries, grapes, peaches, plums, as well as all kinds of small fruits, are raised with great success. 24 < lierry Trees in Sunshine Vallej In a Corner of a Mexican Orehar.l, August 7, 1910. VEGETABLES '^^'''^en vegetables of the finest quality and of all kinds are raised successfully in Sunshine Valley. Products of the Gnrrten and F'ield in Sunsiiiue Valley. 25 HOGS AND Hogs and sheep thrive; the altitude, together with the government ranges SHEEP. on the mountain slopes for summer feeding, and the abundant crops of alfalfa and field peas for fall and winter feeding, combine to produce ideal conditions, freedom from disease and rapid fattening. Pea Fed Hogs Beinc Sblii|»eoi>l10. Engineer's Cnniii in C.inon Below. '^ »__ p^J^^HB^glgH ^fHHH|£'; V'JKit V ^ 1 1 1 R 1 ">■ *«i; 1 i ^/^^^m 1 ^■^^^hB^'/ •^ s 1 1 1 ■^^ B ^ ^ L^^M ■ Looking; up Red Rivor Cauou Acar Heudg^ute of i>laia Cnuul, Murcli, 11)10. 29 Tiiuuel ou Main Cnnnl, Reil lliver Canon, Sunshine A'^alley. Western Portal Tunnel IVo. 3, Ang:ust 7, 1010, in Process of Construction. E^ngrineers Making Camp, Red River Canon, March, 1010. 30 81 8 I! ■s S 5 > S 5" s^ .-^ s^ »s«; i- 1 ! S ? St- sk'^-?! 5 'l !• . .'s j'' ^ O y. ■- n n CI Vi 'n >> Z'^k s "s a *» "i '"• *" '* V ■« V N i; 5 « 1 ? S S b 5 G '■^ "^ "9 i) Vi, (, yj 2 'i 5 5 "2 „ V, '*) J, . -. T t, ■N. s' Vi v. S S v; << vi '^ Vs »^ Is r'5 ! ^ ■ •^ v> ^ >^ > 4 ' ^ ^ ^ V r ., s? .■».T^- ^^ a • 1 bALh Oh Xhe territory of New Mexico has appraised its lands, according to law, LANDS. at $5.00 per acre, payable in or within thirty years; one-thirtieth ( I -30th) down and the balance in equal annual installments for thirty (30) years with interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of five per centum (5%) per annum, with the right given to the settler to pay the amount due at any time, within the limit of thirty years, with accrued interest. Euginoer's Cnmp, Red River Canon, April 4, 1910. SAL-K Oh The Company has the right, under contracts with the Territory, to ask and WA'l'ER. receive Sixty Dollars ($60.00) per acre for a Perpetual Water Right, and, by specific approval of the Territory of the water contracts of the Company, is permitted to receive a first payment of Six Dollars and a half ($6.50) per acre, with interest on the balance at six per centum (6%) per annum; the said bal- ance, of $53.50 per acre, being payable m from five to twenty years. The settler purchasing water rights executes a contract with the Company, ap- proved by the Territory as to form as aforesaid on November 30, 1910, under which he executes and delivers to the Company notes for the balance of the water right payment, including the interest thereon, secured by a mortgage upon the water, which under the contract and the laws of the Territory, is made appurtenant to the land. 33 LIMIT OF Under the terms of the Act of Congress, approved June 21, 1898, ACRES PER as above referred to, the Territory is prohibited from selling more than PERSON. I 60 acres of land to any one person, firm, corporation or association of persons. This insures a large number of settlers and limited acreage to each, resultmg in the complete settlement of the lands and avoiding any opportunity for special mterests to secure the control of a large body of land for speculative purposes. COMPANY' Under the contracts v^^ith the Territory the Company retains perpetual CONTROL ownership and control of the system of water works after completion OF SYSTEM and has the right to charge an annual maintenance fee not to exceed $2.00 per acre per annum, forever. Gliinptte of tlie *'Proiiii»t'€l I.ainT." Sunshine Valley IrriKiltiou District, TjOOkln;^ AVest ill Red River Canon Prom Lookout Point. IRRIGATION ^^^ Company has determined to dispose of the irrigation wiorks and DISTRICT water rights owned by it, as soon as completed, to a Municipal Irrigation District to be organized by the settlers of the lands of Sunshine Valley owning perpetual water rights acquired from the Company. This will favor the settlers in the following manner: It will relieve them from the mortgage liens of record against their lands and water rights, as the bonds of the Irrigation District will be a tax lien, and not a mortgage 34 lien of record; thus their property will be free and clear of incumbrance as soon as they have paid to the Territory the full amount lof $5.00 per acre for their land; It will relieve them, also, from the annual, perpetual maintenance charge wihioh the Gjmpany has the right to make of $2.00 per acre, as the settlers will, after the district becomes the owner of the works, have to pay only the annual charge for actual cost of maintenance under their own (district) control. It will also give the settlers the absolute ownership and' control of the entire system of water works and water rights as soon as completed and accepted by the District. The laws of New Mexico contain an act entitled : "An Act in Relation to Irrigation Districts," being Chapter 1 09 of the Acts of the 38th Legislature, approved March I 8, 1 909. This act is a close copy of the Municipal Irrigation District Laws of Colorado, under which so many irrigation districts have been organized their works constructed, and (heir bonds successfully floated. ORGANIZATION The organization of this district, under the above Act of 1 909, OF DISTRICT. will commence immediately, to embrace the entire 30,000 acres of land controlled by the Company, and as soon as the various legal Steps may be taken, under the advice of counsel, the district will contract with the Company for the purchase of a completed system of water works and water rights owned by the Company, agreeing to pay therefor with the legally issued and validated bonds of the district. Upon the delivery to the Company of these bonds, the mortgage notes of lihe settlers given to the Company will be released and discharged, and the bonds accepted by the Company in lieu thereof. The Company will receive a certain proportion of these bonds as a down pay- ment, in payment for the water rights owned by the Company and sold to the district; and also for work performed by the Company to the date of the issuance of the bonds by the District. APPROVAL Under Territorial laws the plans and specifications for the Irriga- OF PLANS BY t'on System must be approved by the Territorial Engineer, and TERRITORY. such approval was had on November 12, 1910, and under the Irri- gation District Law the Territorial Engineer must approve the water supply as being sufficient for the proper irrigation of the lands of the projjosed district before the district can be organized. ACCEPTANCE. The Territorial Engineer, under the law, must pass upon the con- BY THE struction work after the completion of the system, and if satisfactory, TERRITORY'. must accept the same and issue a Certificate of Acceptance thereof on behalf of the Territory; if not in conformity to the plans and specifications, the work must be made to conform thereto, before such acceptance will be made by the Territory. 35 TITLE TO Title to the lands of Sunshine Valley passes direct from the Territory of LANDS. New Mexico to the settler, and as the Territory received the title to these lands direct from the Government, all questions as to validity of title are done away with. CONDITIONS The only conditions attaching to the purchase of lands by settlers AFFECTING are that not more than 1 60 acres of land shall be sold to any one SETTLEMENT person, firm, corporation or association of ptersons; also OF LANDS. That they shall make affidavit that they are purchasing lands for their own account for the purpose of improving the same. Settlers who have exhausted their homestead and desert entry rights are eligible to purchase any amount of the lands of Sunshine Valley up to 1 60 acres. Settlers who already own lands under the Carey Act in any State have the right to acquire the full amount of 1 60 acres in Sunshine Valley. There are no restrictions as to residence upon the lands of Sunshine Valley. LOWEST I" *he "Enabling Act" of Congress, whereby New Mexico is PRICE FOR permitted to acquire statehood, the new state is prohibited from LAND AFTER selling any public lands susceptible of irrigation from any project, STATEHOOD. whether Government or private, at less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) per acre; the words of the Act being: "And no lands which are or shall be susceptible of irrigation under any projects now or hereafter completed or adopted by the United States under legislation for the reclam'ation of lands, OR UNDER ANY OTHER PROJECT FOR THE RE- CLAMATION OF LANDS. SHALL BE SOLD FOR LESS THAN $25.00 PLR ACRE." The advantage of this law to the settler is obvious, as, under the contract between the Company and the Territory of May 28, 1 908, which has been approved by the Secretary of the Interior, the Territory agrees to sell these lands at their value as appraised by the Commissioner of Public Lands under the existing laws of the Territory. These lands have been officially appraised, as heretofore stated, at $5.00 per acre, and settlers applying for the lands prior to Statehood will have the benefit of the saving of $20.00 per acre; in other words, settlers buying this land before Statefhood will have an immediate profit of $20.00 per acre because of the enhanced price of the land as fixed by law. 36 TOWNS TOWNS '-y'^S °" *^^ southeastern boundary of the proposed irrigation district, comprising the lands of the Sunshine Valley Project, is the town of QUESTA, with a population, as given by Clason's Guide of New Mexico, of 700 people. QUESTA is one of the oldest towns in New Mexico and is an important trading point for the surrounding territory; has several large general stores, postoffice, schools, churches, etc., and a weekly newspaper — the Questa Gazette. CERRO lies about five miles northwest of Questa and has an estimated popula- tion of 600, with postoffice, stores, etc. Scattered along the eastern boundary of the proposed district are many tracts of settled land — all the available agricultural land having been taken up adjacent to the lands owned by the Territory and forming the Sunshine Valley Project of the Company. The Territory has refused to sell any of the lands of the Sunshine Valley Project to settlers except to parties owning a perpetual water right through the Company. The postoffice of VIRSYLVIA is located on the eastern boundary of the pro- posed district and about two miles south of the northeast corner thereof. EXISTING '^^^ lands along the eastern and southern boundaries and adjacent to CULTIVATED Q^^^s'^ ^""^ Cerro have been irrigated for years with waters diverted LANDS ^'^°™ ^^^ Latir and Cabresto Creeks and from the Red River under the appropriations noted on page seven. Also certain lands within the boundaries of the proposed district had been setded prior to the selection of the lands of the Sunshine Valley Project. All these lands within and without the district are of a similar nature and equally valuable for agriculture under irrigation. The success of irrigation practiced on these lands and the kind and qualities of the crops raised thereon, determine absolutely the value of the lands of the proposed irrigation district when put under water. 37 SUMMARY The "SUNSHINE VALLEY" PROJECT OF THE RED RIVER LAND AND WATER COMPANY has the following strong features to which especial attention should be directed: 1 . All the operations of the Coonpainy are under the direct control of the Secretary of the Interior through the officials of the Territory of New Mexico. 2. The contracts between the Company and the Territory of New Mexico have the approval of the Secretary of the Interior. 3. The lands are derived direct from the Government, and title passes directly from the Territory (the Government) to the settler, without burdensome restric- tions. 4. The lands are sold by the Territory to the settler at the officially appraised valua- tion of $5.00 per acre, payable in 30 years, with interest at 5 par cent on the unpaid portion, which is payalble, with accrued interest, at any time. 5. Under the Enabling Act of the last Congress, New Mexico, when it becomes a State, in 1911, is prohibited from selling any of its public lands which are susceptible of irrigation from any project, whether Government or private, at less than $25.00 p>er acre; that is to say, should settlers acquire public -V lands, under any irrigation project, after New Mexico becomes a State, (even if the lands were not as good as those of Sunshine Valley) they would be compelled to pay $25.00 per acre; an absolute saving to settlers under the SUNSHINE VALLEY PROJECT of TWENTY DOLLARS ($20.00) per acre. 6. The ownership and control of the waters of the Red River and tributaries by the Territory of New Mexico, and the grant of the same to the Company for the purpose of the irrigation of the lands of SUNSHINE VALLEY owned by the Territory, gremts to the settlers acquiring water rights from the Com- pany, the prior and inalienable rights of the Territory. 38 7. The limitation by Congress of I 60 acres as a maximum 'holding to any one person, assures the greatest number of settlers and the cultivation of all the lands, and also the greatest security for the bonds to be issued thereon. 8. Adequacy of the water supply passed upon by the Territorial Engineer. 9. The soil, its nature, the slope of the lands, the southern latitude, and the Western Slope conditions (with the protection of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the east) are all exceptionally favorable. 1 0. The Territorial Engineer has approved the plans and specifications for the Irri- gation System. After the construction work is completed the Territorial Engineer must make an examination to determine if the work conforms to said plans and specifications. If it is found that it does so conform, the Territorial Engineer must then issue his "Certificate of Acceptance" as provided by law. If the work does not so conform, the Contractor must remedy all defects at his own expense before the said "Certificate of Acceptance" will be issued. APPLICATIONS FOR SUNSHINE VALLEY LANDS SHOULD BE SENT TO CHAS. ROHDE, General Sales Agent for The Red River Land Q^ W^ater Company Suite 514-523 First National Bank Building, DENVER, COLO. 39