THE CONQUEST OF ARID AMERICA 



New Mexico is distinguished by large land grants 

 dating from the days of Spanish control. They were 

 naturally located along the watercourses, in what ap- 

 peared to be the most attractive portions of the field 

 open for selection. These enormous grants have ma- 

 terially retarded development, for the reason that their 

 titles were in dispute for many years and their owners 

 generally "land poor." 



One of the most important of these properties is now 

 known as the Maxwell Land Grant, and constitutes a 

 principality in the northeastern part of the Territory, 

 encroaching slightly upon Colorado. Large capital has 

 been used in the development of the mineral and agri- 

 cultural resources of this grant. Its principal streams 

 are the Vermejo and the Cimarron. Both have been 

 utilized extensively in connection witli systems of reser- 

 voirs and canals which are notable for some of their 

 engineering features. Large areas have been irrigated 

 and are cultivated in various crops. 



The waters of the Rio Grande have been diverted 

 at many points along its course. This river rises in Col- 

 orado, where a large portion of its supplies are taken 

 out for use in the San Luis Valley. This interferes with 

 New Mexico irrigation during the stage of low water in 

 the summer. When the stream reaches old Mexico it is 

 still further diminished, with the result of making in- 

 ternational complications on the south even more vexa- 

 tious than the interstate troubles which it creates in the 

 north. The solution of both difficulties will be reached 

 through extensive storage arrangements at favorable 

 points in the valley, and some wise administrative plan 

 looking to the equitable distribution of the much-vexed 



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