THE CENTRAL RIO GRANDE VALLEY 



Albuquerque in 1881 



above them. In winter these mountains are snow capped, but they pro- 

 tect the valley below from the driving cold of the east winds, while in 

 summer a constant, cooling breeze comes from their slopes rendering 

 more pleasant a temperature never sufficiently warm to cause discomfort. 

 The eastern slopes of the Sandia range expose the mighty record of half 

 a dozen geologic ages, lending light to the story of the formation of the 

 fertile valley, a valley with a soil so deep that drills punching holes a 

 hundred, five hundred and a thousand feet deep have thus far failed to 

 find a rock to mark its bottom. 



The location and area of the Central Rio Grande Valley and of the 

 region immediately adjacent may be readily traced upon the maps ac- 

 companying. 



Within the Central Rio Grande Valley, from White Rock Canyon to 

 the southern boundary of Valencia county is a total area subject to ir- 

 rigation from the Rio Grande of 120,000 acres. Of this area, forming 



one of the largest irrigated districts in the world, 

 LAND SUBJECT- probably 100,000 acres are now under ditch 

 TO IRRIGATION (irrigation canals now in use), while of the area 



under ditch but about 6,000 acres are in actual 

 cultivation. Approximately a fifty per cent increase in the area under 

 actual cultivation will occur within the next twelve months, through ex- 

 tensions of the present irrigation system and construction of new canals. 



Approximately 20,000 acres within the Central Valley are included in 

 the boundaries of Pueblo Indian land grants, under control of the United 

 States for the Indians and not subject to sale or lease. This area alone is 

 greater than the entire Riverside district of California, and while not 

 now available for the farmer a portion of it must eventually be thrown 

 open for development, the Indians finding a very small portion of the 

 vast tract of fertile land held for them sufficient for their energies and 

 needs. Eventually the major portion of this land will become available 

 for American farmers, but in the meantime h(pre is a vast area now ready 

 to be turned into profitable farm and orchard lands, offering unusual 



