New Mexico. Territorial Irrigation Engineer.Microfilm. Lubbock, Texas: Southwest Collection, Texas Tech University, 1973.Originals retained by the New Mexico State Records Center.The five-member Commission of Irrigation and Water Rights was created by the Territorial Legislature on March 18, 1897 for the purpose of investigating irrigation and water rights throughout New Mexico as well as irrigation laws in other states and recommend such legislation. This resulted in the 1899 Board of Public Lands Act, to which an Irrigation Commission was attached, and the creation of the office of Territorial Irrigation Engineer, aided by the six-member Commission of Irrigation. The 1899 act was repealed by the 1907 Legislature, which passed the basic water rights legislation that still governs basic use and appropriation of public waters in New Mexico. But the Territorial Engineer was retained to supervise the control, appropriation and distribution of water, aided by a three-member Board of Water Commissioners.Includes Territorial Irrigation Engineer and Territorial Engineer letterbook of Communications sent, biennial and miscellaneous reports, minutes and reports of the Commission of Irrigation, and letterbooks of correspondence sent and received.Cite as: New Mexico Territorial Irrigation Engineer Records, 1897-1911, Southwest Collection, Texas Tech University.Agriculture New Mexico History.Irrigation New Mexico Management.Water conservation and distribution New Mexico.New Mexico Politics and government 1897-1911.View this collection description in WorldCat.org: