The investigation into the character of the soils of the upper Rio Grande Valley as planned, consisted of a personal examination of that part of El Paso County adjacent to the Rio Grande from El Paso to a line below the site of Fort Quitman, for the purpose of ascertaining the character of soils and of the water supply, with especial regard to their capacity and suitability for, irrigation.

The scope of country investigated is some eighty miles in length and from two to six miles in width, varying with the breadth of the valley, upon the Texas side of the Rio Grande, and having an average width of about three miles. For this entire length the valley is either traversed or skirted by the G. H. & S. A. R. R. and the T. & P. R. R., these railways using the same track from El Paso to Sierra Blanca, ninety miles southeast. For about thirty miles below El Paso the greater part of the valley is now under cultivation. In many instances the orchards and vineyards are brought up to the highest state of perfection, rivaling in beauty and value those of the Pacific Slope. Many varieties of grapes are grown in the most satisfactory manner. Pears, peaches, apples, and plums are also found in many different orchards. Vegetables of almost every variety and melons of different kinds give the most satisfactory returns to the market gardener. Of the farm crops proper, corn, oats, wheat, rye, and alfalfa seem to be the most important. Alfalfa is grown in great quantity and, as represented by responsible and prominent farmers in the valley, very profitably; from two to four cuttings are made during each season, and from two to three tons to the acre are produced at each cutting, the value of which is from ten to fifteen dollars per ton. These variations in the quantity raised are dependent almost entirely on the supply of water for irrigation. The supply of irrigating water as managed at present is entirely inadequate to meet the demands of the valley, or even to properly supply that portion of it now under cultivation. In many instances a crop is entirely lost from a want of a supply of water at the proper time, and often water is obtained too late to give anything like satisfactory results. In consequence of this and of the class of farm laborers employed, farming proper is very improperly managed and conducted. Most of the Americans living in the valley give their attention to viticulture, orchards, or market