The Water Supply of the El Paso and Southwestern Railway from Carrizozo to Santa Rosa, N. Mex. American Society of Civil Engineers: Transactions, No. 1170

Set amid the stark desert west of the 100th Meridian, a long stretch of railway in New Mexico wrestles with a relentless shortage of usable water. The original wells, dug from a few hundred to over a thousand feet deep, produced water so contaminated that it fouled boilers, choked steam pressure and forced frequent repairs, draining both fuel and morale.

Tasked with finding a remedy, the engineer turned to the snow‑fed South Fork of Bonito Creek on the slopes of White Mountain. There the water’s mineral load was minuscule, prompting the construction of a concrete dam, a series of wooden and iron pipelines, and a network of storage reservoirs—including a massive 422‑million‑gallon basin—to convey the clean supply across rugged terrain.

The new system, a blend of gravity‑driven sections and strategically placed pumping stations, promises to restore engine performance and slash operating costs, offering the railway a reliable lifeline through an otherwise unforgiving landscape.