Hagerman Irrigation Company Records,
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0245
Scope and Content
The Hagerman Irrigation Company Records provide an overview of a small irrigation company in southeast New Mexico. The records span the years from 1903-1983. The collection is organized into six series.
The first series, Office Files, represents the bulk of the collection. These files are arranged alphabetically by subject. Although this series maintains the original filing system used by the Hagerman Irrigation Company, additional files were created to accommodate loose documents. These newly created files are identified by brackets around the file title. Major portions of this series consist of correspondence; deeds and water rights certificates; proofs of completion and applications for permits; and stock certificates.
The Water User Files are arranged by individual water users. These files are limited, appearing to have been created during the late 1950s and only used through 1961. Although the inclusive dates of this series is from 1949-1971, the majority of the material is from 1958-1961. The Water Users Files contain documents relating to water rights and litigations.
The Ledgers series contains 26 ledgers. Twenty-three ledgers are devoted to water use from 1904-1927. The ledgers contain accounts on individual users of the company and the amount of water used on a yearly basis. Also the series contains a ledger of the early board minutes (1907-1922), Articles of Incorportation, and By-Laws of the Hagerman Irrigation District.
The final three series: Graphs and Charts, Maps, and Advertisement represent mostly miscellaneous materials. Of note in the Graphs and Charts series is a chart of the average flow of the Northern Canal, 1903-1920.
The first series, Office Files, represents the bulk of the collection. These files are arranged alphabetically by subject. Although this series maintains the original filing system used by the Hagerman Irrigation Company, additional files were created to accommodate loose documents. These newly created files are identified by brackets around the file title. Major portions of this series consist of correspondence; deeds and water rights certificates; proofs of completion and applications for permits; and stock certificates.
The Water User Files are arranged by individual water users. These files are limited, appearing to have been created during the late 1950s and only used through 1961. Although the inclusive dates of this series is from 1949-1971, the majority of the material is from 1958-1961. The Water Users Files contain documents relating to water rights and litigations.
The Ledgers series contains 26 ledgers. Twenty-three ledgers are devoted to water use from 1904-1927. The ledgers contain accounts on individual users of the company and the amount of water used on a yearly basis. Also the series contains a ledger of the early board minutes (1907-1922), Articles of Incorportation, and By-Laws of the Hagerman Irrigation District.
The final three series: Graphs and Charts, Maps, and Advertisement represent mostly miscellaneous materials. Of note in the Graphs and Charts series is a chart of the average flow of the Northern Canal, 1903-1920.
Dates
- 1903-1983
Language of Materials
English.
Access and Use Restrictions
This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with copyright and other applicable statutes.
The copyrights possessed in this collection have been transferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.
The copyrights possessed in this collection have been transferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.
Creator Sketch
The Hagerman Irrigation Company was formed December 29, 1906 as a stock company. Since its creation the Hagerman Irrigation Company has managed and distributed water from the Hagerman Canal, also known as the Northern Canal.
The beginning of the Hagerman Irrigation Company dates back to 1879, when the canal was created by diverting water from the Berrendo Creek, Rio Hondo, and South Spring River. The canal is located east of Roswell and extends south of Hagerman. Further development of the canal and the Pecos Valley area was initiated in 1888. Pat Garrett, ex-sheriff of Lincoln County and local land owner, and Charles B. Eddy, a Pecos Valley cattle rancher, began promoting irrigation projects encouraging agricultural development in the Pecos Valley. Eddy soon bought out Garrett and formed the Pecos Irrigation and Investment Co., with Charles W. Green, to develop irrigation in the Pecos Valley. Lacking capital to finance the projects, Eddy met with James John (J.J.) Hagerman of Colorado Springs, Colorado. J.J. Hagerman, a wealthy retired businessman, was intrigued with the prospects of developing the Pecos Valley into an agricultural center. In 1889 Hagerman moved to the Pecos Valley and played an active role in its development. In 1895 J.J. Hagerman and Charles B. Eddy dissolved their partnership and Hagerman became the sole owner of the company.
The Pecos Irrigation and Investment Company was not a profit-making venture. In 1898 the company was placed in receivership, with Robert Weems Tansill appointed receiver. The local water users purchased the Northern Canal from J.J. Hagerman in December 1906 and formed the Hagerman Irrigation Company. The canal was then named the Hagerman Canal in honor of J.J. Hagerman.
The beginning of the Hagerman Irrigation Company dates back to 1879, when the canal was created by diverting water from the Berrendo Creek, Rio Hondo, and South Spring River. The canal is located east of Roswell and extends south of Hagerman. Further development of the canal and the Pecos Valley area was initiated in 1888. Pat Garrett, ex-sheriff of Lincoln County and local land owner, and Charles B. Eddy, a Pecos Valley cattle rancher, began promoting irrigation projects encouraging agricultural development in the Pecos Valley. Eddy soon bought out Garrett and formed the Pecos Irrigation and Investment Co., with Charles W. Green, to develop irrigation in the Pecos Valley. Lacking capital to finance the projects, Eddy met with James John (J.J.) Hagerman of Colorado Springs, Colorado. J.J. Hagerman, a wealthy retired businessman, was intrigued with the prospects of developing the Pecos Valley into an agricultural center. In 1889 Hagerman moved to the Pecos Valley and played an active role in its development. In 1895 J.J. Hagerman and Charles B. Eddy dissolved their partnership and Hagerman became the sole owner of the company.
The Pecos Irrigation and Investment Company was not a profit-making venture. In 1898 the company was placed in receivership, with Robert Weems Tansill appointed receiver. The local water users purchased the Northern Canal from J.J. Hagerman in December 1906 and formed the Hagerman Irrigation Company. The canal was then named the Hagerman Canal in honor of J.J. Hagerman.
Extent
8 Linear Feet
Abstract
An irrigation company located in southeast New Mexico, formed in 1906 and continuing in operation. The collection contains the company records including: correspondence, Board of Directors minutes, deeds, contracts, water rights, quitclaim deeds, stock certificates, water users files, water use records and miscellaneous graphs and maps.
Acquisition
- RG85-84 Gift of Hagerman Irrigation Company
General
Contact Information
- Archives and Special Collections
- New Mexico State University Library
- P.O. Box 30006
- Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8006
- Phone: (505) 646-3839
- Fax: (505) 646-7477
- Email: archives@lib.nmsu.edu
- URL: http://archives.nmsu.edu
General
- Title
- Inventory of the Hagerman Irrigation Company Records, 1903-1983
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Processed by New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute
- Date
- © 2000
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//New Mexico State University::Archives and Special Collections//TEXT (US::NmLcU::Ms 245::Hagerman Irrigation Company Records)//EN" "nmlcu1ms245.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository