Identifier: watersupplyirrig6571unit (find matches)
Title: Water Supply and Irrigation Papers of the United States Geological Survey
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: United States Geological Survey
Subjects:
Publisher:
Contributing Library: Clemson University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation

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nt of lack of water in theRio Grande. Ysleta, Socorro, and San Eliza-rio ditches.—There are three oldMexican ditches taken from theRio Grande below El Paso, on theAmerican side, on grants of landmade to the inhabitants of Ysleta,Socorro, and San Elizario, capableof irrigating from 1,000 to 1,200acres each. (See fig. 1.) The ditchon the Ysleta grant was taken outof the Rio Grande about 3 milessouth of the present station ofYsleta (not the old town of Ysleta),and continued through the Socorroand San Elizario grants, followingthe banks of the old river bed afterpassing the present station of SanElizario. The total length of themain acequia was about 10 miles,and the two branches, the AcequiaLittoral and the Acequia Madre,were 4 and 3 miles long, respec-tively. The Acequia del Comaltook its water from the Rio Grandeabout 15 miles below El Paso, on theLower part of the Socorrogrant. Itfollowed the general course of theriver for 2-J miles, then ran almostdue east for 3; miles, and finally
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taylor.) TO YAH CREEK. 15 deflected to follow the banks of the old riverbed, (ts total Lengthwas about 10 miles. The Acequia de la Cuadrilla look its waterfrom the Rio Grande 2 miles below the intake of the Acequia delComal. Its total length was aboul 9 miles. These .Mexican ditches are capable of irrigating about 3,000 acres,but the tlow of the Rio Grande at Kl Paso has been so unreliable forseveral years that il was impossible to base any calculations upon ii.A reliable storage reservoir in the mountains above Kl Paso wouldserve during its lite to make the whole Kl Paso Valley on both sidesof the river for :> miles one of the most productive countries in theworld, for it possesses an unrivaled climate and is capable of pro-ducing fruits with a flavor that easily commands for them the highestI price wherever they go. The total area on the American side that:could be brought into active production would be not less than 40square miles. Irrigation has been practiced here pro

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