In 1895, the Department of the Interior approved construction,
but stipulated it had to be completed within five years. Then,
Boundary Commission General Anson Mills proposed an alternate
dam four miles north of El Paso, which would have flooded the
Mesilla Valley and displaced its residents. They objected. The
U.S. District Attorney for New Mexico claimed the Elephant Butte
dam would impede navigation of the Rio Grande and violate the
1890 River and Harbor Act. He sought an injunction and legal
battles ensued. The court found the river wasn't at all
navigable above El Paso. In January 1900, the judge ruled in
favor of the Rio Grande Dam and Irrigation Company and gave them
the go ahead. But by then the company had forfeited its right to
build the dam. Not only had the project not been completed in
five years, it hadn't even begun. New Mexico Mile Markers are
copyrighted features of Explore! New Mexico aired on public
radio around the state, including KRWG at 1:04 and 7:59 p.m. You
can hear last week's storie