Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1920 — Assert Ancient Tribes Did Much Irrigating [ARTICLE]

Assert Ancient Tribes Did Much Irrigating

Albuquerque, N. M. —That prehistoric peoples of New Mexico did a good deal of irrigating is indicated by the remains of canals and ditches found in the state, as well as in "other parts of the Southwest, according to H. F. Robinson, head of the Indian irrigation bureau here. ~ - ■ The remains of 217 miles of ditches built by the Pueblo Indians alone are to be found, and there are evidences of elaborate water systems at the Salt River valley in 'Arizona. These ditches were all dug by hand, according to Mr. Robinson, and clay banks and beds were constructed where the way lay oyer a sandy plain, while the method of blasting through rocks was to heat the rocks, crack them with large stones and remove them from the way.