mental to the lands served. The excessive use of water on the upper sections of the streams results in great losses from seepage and evaporation, depriving those along the lower river of the water needed to mature their crops, and causing the formation of marsh and alkali lands.

Investigation shows also that much of the great scarcity of water complained of in the middle and lower Rio Grande valleys is due not to a lack of water in the river, but to a failure of the irrigation system, either from high water carrying away the primitive dams, or to breaks in the ditches, rendering it impossible to operate the system.

In considering the subject in detail I have found it expedient to divide the Territory into districts, each of which will be considered in detail.

SAN JUAN.-DISTRICT No. 1.

Geographical location: Northwest portion of the Territory, covering San Juan and parts of Rio Arriba and Bernalillo counties Acreage irrigated, 13,870.

This district comprises the area drained by the Rio San Juan and its tributaries in New Mexico, and occupies the extreme north western part of the Territory.

The river enters the Territory just below its junction with the Piedras, a short distance below Arboles, Col., and thence turning toward the west, passes ont near the northwest corner.

This stream receives several tributaries of importance in its passage through the Territory, and all of these are from the north, rising in the San Juan and La Plata mountains in Colorado.

The drainage entering from the south is exceedingly small and uncertain and may be entirely neglected in a general consideration.

In 1896 the mean flow of the Rio San Juan during the irrigation season was 580 second-feet at Arboles while the Piedras was delivering a mean flow of 380 secondfeet during the same period, making a mean flow for the river at the Colorado line of 960 second-feet.

The flow from the Rio de Los Pinos at its junction with the San Juan is unknown, and but few measurements have been made at any time.

From an examination of the data available, however, it is believed that the mean flow may be safely placed at 80 second-feet.

Las Animas is the largest tributary of the San Juan in New Mexico. Its mean flow at Durango in 1896 was 855 second-feet, and it is probable that this flow reaches the San Juan below Bloomington with but little change, for, although the Rio Florida enters about 12 miles below Durango, its waters are entirely in use during the dry season for irrigation, while its surplus at other times perhaps no more than compensates for losses from seepage and evaporation below.

Rio La Plata enters the San Juan about 3 miles below Farmington. No data is available as to the flow, but it is believed to carry a mean of 50 second-feet.

These streams are all permanent in character, but the flow fluctuates with the season, depending primarily upon the melting of winter snows in spring and upon the so called rainy season, occurring here usually in the latter part of August and in September.

Spring flow usually begins in the early part of March and reaches a maximum from May 10 to 20, thence gradually declining until the forepart of July, when it reaches the normal summer flow. The rainy-season flow, occurring in August and September, is characterized by sudden freshets which are at times of great volume, as is instanced in September, 1896, when a flow of 7,800 second-feet was observed on the Animas River.

The irrigation system in this district comprises nineteen ditches on Las Animas, eighteen on La Plata, and eighteen on San Juan.

There are also a few small ditches on Rio de Los Pinos, but here the valley is narrow and the fall heavy, every ranch having its own small ditch.

All these ditches are either private or community with the exception of "The Animas, La Plata and San Juan Canal," which has been built for speculation purposes.

There is in actual cultivation under the 19 ditches on Las Animas, 4,480 acres ; under the 18 on La Plata, 3,200 acres, under the 18 on San Juan, 3,810 acres, while on Rio de los Pinos some 300 acres (estimated), or a total of 11,820 acres actually under cultivation on these streams.

This acreage could be increased to 25,000 without extension of the present systems. On the Rio Navajo, in the northeast portion of the district, there are 750 acres actually in cultivation, with a like acreage on the Dulce. This, with 450 acres on Cañon Largo and 100 acres on Cañon Campanero, is the extent of the actual area in cultivation, or 13,870 acres in the entire district. The total land under ditch is in the neighborhood of 50,000 acres, that portion not in actual cultivation being used for pasturage; of this, at least 25,000 acres could be put under cultivation without increase in the present system.

CHAMA.-DISTRICT NO. 2.

Geographical location: Northern portion of the Territory, covering portions of Rio Arriba and Taos counties. Acreage irrigated, 21,700.

This district covers the drainage area of the Rio Chama with all its tributaries. It extends from the Continental Divide on the west to its junction with the Rio Grande on the east; from the Colorado line on the north to the Vallas Mountains on the south, covering in all about 2,400 square miles.

Its surface is greatly broken, being high and mountainous over the greater portion, affording a catchment area which, with the exception of the districts including the Sangre de Cristo Range, is unsurpassed.

The valleys in general are characterized as being narrow, with steep slopes, and shut in from the surrounding country by high, steep walls.

There are, however, several mesas of fine land in the northern and central portions, although they are as yet almost entirely undeveloped.

From the junction of the Chama with the Rio Grande to about 4 miles above Abiquiu the river flows through a broad valley from 1 to 2.5 miles wide and with considerable fall. This valley has been in cultivation for many years and is one of the most fertile sections of the Territory.

Above Abiquin the river flows through a narrow canyon, there being but few small isolated tracts capable of cultivation until the Park View section is reached, where from La Puente to Los Brazos is one of the best agricultural areas in the district. Above Park View the river is confined to the canyon, affording no irrigable lands between this point and the Colorado line.

The tributaries of the Chama are some fifteen in number, and may be divided into two classes, those which flow through wide, sandy valleys and whose channels are broad near their mouths, thus affording much loss from seepage and evaporation in the lower portions, and those streams which are confined to more permanent channels and whose valleys partake more of the canyon character, thus affording comparatively little loss. Of the first class are all streams below Cebolla, while those above are of the second class.

The Chama is an exceedingly muddy stream, its waters carrying great quantities of silt in suspension. This characteristic is due entirely to the tributaries of the first class mentioned above, the waters of the second class being comparatively clear and free from silt excepting in times of freshets.

The flow of the Chama partakes of the character of that of the San Juan with the exception of the rainy-season flow. This occurs in general during the months of July and August. and is characterized by freshets of great volume which at times are very destructive to property.

Concerning the amount of water carried by the river and its tributaries, there is but little data available.

During 1895-96 the hydrographic division of the United States Government Survey maintained a gauging station at Abiquiu, but sufficient data were not obtained to warrant an estimate of the maximum and mean flow of the stream, as the bottom is of an exceedingly shifting character.

On April 4, 1889, an estimate of the flow of the river and its tributaries was made by the same division, which is here appended, as it is of value in showing the relative importance of the various streams as well as suggesting the possibilities.

It will be well to bear in mind the fact that at the time these measurements were taken the spring flow had but begun, and would not reach its maximum until the middle of May.

Summary of water flowing in the tributaries of the Chama, as measured March 26 to April 4, 1889.

Second-feet.

5

75

33

14

28

40

12

12

10

26

150

12

95

525

This estimate does not include the water in the main branch of the Chama above the town of Chama, which was flowing at the rate of at least 300 second-feet. The total discharge of the Chama at Abiquiu at this time was estimated to be 750 secondfeet.

Irrigation in this district is more extensive than in that of San Juan, and whereas in the San Juan district the irrigated lands are principally confined to the main or trunk streams, in the Chama district the reverse is the case, by far the greater acreage being on the tributary streams in the mountains. This is explained from the fact that the streams display two distinct features in their course from the mountains to the Chama: first, an upper course characterized by deep canyons among the mountains, and second, a course characterized by wide, sandy river beds of comparatively light fall.

In the upper course there is never, or rarely, any scarcity of water, but in the lower sections along the wide valleys the seepage and evaporation are excessive and scarcity of water frequent.

The irrigated lands are usually found at the head of the valleys, taking the water from the never-failing mountain streams.

The total acreage cultivated in this district is 21,700 acres. This includes 4,500 acres between Espanola in the valley of the Rio Grande and the junction of the Chama, which is irrigated from water diverted from the Chama.

The last stream, although included in this district, flows into the Rio Grande in Colorado and should probably be placed in that district.

There has never been any shortage of water on the Chama, but it sometimes occurs on some of the small tributaries.

On El Rito the water is wholly used, there being no surplus whatsoever, and during a year of drought it is severely felt.

On the Gallinas the same conditions apply, and a shortage has also been felt on the Coyote Creek, a small branch of the Puerco.

With these exceptions there is a large surplus in all sections of this district. While the irrigated area is 21,700 acres, the total area under ditch is about 40,000 acres, and with some slight exceptions this entire area could be brought into cultivation without any increase in the present system, while the total irrigable acreage in the district will reach 80,000 and possibly 100,000 acres.

TAOS.-DISTRICT NO. 3.

Geographical location: Central northern portion of New Mexico, covering the major portion of Taos County. Acreage irrigated, 36,240.

This district extends from the Chama district on the west to the crest of the Toas rauge on the east, and from the Colorado line on the north to and including the drainage of the Embudo Creek on the south.

It is characterized by the great number of small perennial streams which, rising in the high ranges on the east, debouch at about one-third the general width of the district upon the high mesas forming the central and western thirds.