
That cruel joke called water law
In weeks to come, the New Mexico Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a water-rights case.
We're sure the judges have had at least some exposure to that field of law so crucial to this state — but we're equally sure they'll learn a lot more from a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the San Juan Agricultural Water Users Assn. — 15,000 or so senior water-rights holders along that river above Farmington.
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Off we go, into the styled blue yonder ...
Lest the taxpaying American public — and you know who you are, and aren't — wonder how well its dollars are being applied to the president's war against terrorism, we should take, well, comfort, from a report yesterday in The Washington Post.
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Domenici Medicare vote doesn't help his party
Pete Domenici is helping build a case for Tom Udall, not Steve Pearce, replacing him in the U.S. Senate.
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Obama Spanish pitch a call for inclusiveness
He didn't win friends or influence people from the English-only bloc, but Barack Obama's recent advocacy of Spanish struck a nice note here in the American Southwest. It should resonate around the country.
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From The Santa Fe New Mexican:
July 20, 1958: There is an echo in the old mining camps, amid the dark and empty shafts. There is this one hope: "the camp will come back." At the oldest lode mine in the United States, the Mina del Tiro mine at Cerrillos, the camp has returned. Antedating the Ortiz and Santa Rita mines by 100 years, containing "the only real evidence of ancient lode mining in the southwest" the mine has a history of slave labor and torturous work, going back to the cruel days before the Pueblo Uprising of 1680. Although many of the old Spanish mines were filled in by the Indians after the uprising in 1680, Mina del Tiro was apparently left untouched. Worked to the water level, the mine has been thought worked out. Since 1956, when work started again, a crew of 15 men has worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on the mine. The water has been pumped out and below the water level ores of lead, zinc, silver and copper have been found. The ore that has been dug has been left inside the mine until production begins. It is thought there is enough ore uncovered to keep the mine producing for about a year.
July 20, 1983: Carlsbad — New Mexico and Texas have made a fowl deal that's a turkey for both states. The deal concerns two subspecies of turkeys the states have trapped and traded to boost the states' bird populations. In southeastern New Mexico, the trade-out means that the Dark Canyon area near Carlsbad now boasts wild turkeys for the first time in years. Ben Hanson, wildlife information officer, said 66 Rio Grande turkeys were released in January in the Dark Canyon area of the Guadalupe Mountains west of Carlsbad. The birds were trapped near Canyon, Texas. In exchange, New Mexico provided Texas with 45 Merriam's turkeys. The birds were trapped near Raton and were released in the Davis Mountains of West Texas.
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The past 100 years July 19
The past 100 years July 21
The past 100 years July 18
The past 100 years July 17
The past 100 years July 16

Pull plug on 'gotcha' politics
Your July 15 story about John McCain's visit to New Mexico contained the zinger quote from the candidate: "We've got to let 1,000 flowers bloom ..." That is the common misquote of Mao Zedong's invitation to the Chinese intelligentsia in the summer of 1957 to criticize his government: "Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend." Of course, many of those who took Mao at his word were executed.
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Enron was rehearsal for main event
Letters to the editor July19
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Letters to the editor July 16
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Reader opinions on the issues
Alan EckertEfficiency is best near term energy investment
David R. PennelDWI witness was misled by police
Joe RuizRuiz: Remember personal contributions to Santa Fe
Robert B. KvavikReal estate already taxed to death
Sean GardnerPledge of Allegiance is about a united nation
George StoneWhere's proof McCain's a war winner?
Mary D. SchroederUse windfall to fund affortable housing
Jane DickinsonKeep eye on important prize — the student!
Beatríz RiveraWind power blows other sources away
Mary GarciaH-board rullings not created equal

Gregg Bemis
City windfall fiscal caution a no-no?
Inez RussellBlock that kick! Or is that vice versa?
Lee Yobbi'I wanted to do it for them'
Bill StewartTaliban need only disrupt local security
Marc SimmonsTrail dust: Petrified forests were spectacular findings
Jim GordonAnti-Fan: Perchance to scheme: Ay, there's the rub
Bill StewartObama takes 'center' stage
James BarronBarron: A look at the many names of Northern N.M. sports
More columns
More from The Santa Fe New Mexican
Shark circling with 2-shot lead in British Open
SOUTHPORT, England — Gusts that approached 50 mph required Greg Norman to manufacture shots from his 53-year-old memory Saturday in the British Open, which he called among the toughest tests he has ever faced in golf. »Story
Time for Tradition
Spanish Market is nothing if not tradition, and nothing illustrates this better than the Youth Market. In fact, the Youth Market, whose artists must be at least 7 years old, has "grandmothered" in 6-year-old Isaiah Valenzuela. »Story
New generation of robots hopping in
You might wonder what the shoebox-sized rover is doing when it nears the 8-foot wall, pops a pen-sized eyeball out of its midsection and has a look around. »Story
Links
- eTaste: For food lovers.
- The Green Line Santa Fe: Share concerns about the environment.
- Green Chile Chatter: Kate Nash's blog on all things New Mexico
- Water Blog: Staci Matlock's takes on water issues
- e-Pasatiempo Electronic replica of the arts and culture magazine
- Santa Fe Scoop: For pets and their owners
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