The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-02-21

/ AAO OesPAoeiAoo VIII cStdU1lSIl6S Il WUOiei
mill in Ell Paso will realize large percent
age on his investment. A wool-cleaning es
Establishment might also be profitably estab
| lished in the neighborhood. Over go pel
cent. of the weight of wool is washed on
in cleaning, and if the product could b.
cleansed in proper shape before packing
and sending East, shippers costs woulC
be materially reduced.
On paper, returns in sheep raising art
something like 25 per cent. per annum
In reality, it is the same in Colorado as
anywhere else, and in raising sheep as in
any other avocation, eternal vigilance and
hard work are the price of success. Large
fortunes are often made by ranchmen and
there are others who end their career in
Ell Paso with the sheriff to draw the cur.
tain. The cattle business is less prosaie
and troublesome than that of sheep-rais-
ing. The cattle are branded, turned loose
to forage for themselves and only looked
after at the season of the yearly s'round.
up" There is less labor, more risk, and
later but larger returns than in sheep-rais-
ing.
AGRICULTURE.
The hay crop of Ell Paso reaches ten
thousand tons, and some attention is de-
voted to alfalfa. Farming in this neigh
Dorhood is far from being what it should
be. Thousands of dollars are sent away to
purchase what the land would weld ifit
were given chance. The necessity for
irrigation frightens timid capital away.
while we sincerely believe that the best
openings which this country offers are for
the farmer. Irrigation is neither very
expensive nor very troublesome, and its
results are sure. There was some truth in
the opinion of the son of the soil who pre-
ferred irrigating to the old fashioned
shower-method." Statistics prove that
farming in Colorado is two-fold more prof
liable than in the East, where crops are at
the mercy of the elements. Not one-tentlr-
OF the land in this section is at present put
into crops and last year Colorado took the
lead In the list of wheat producing States.
Ihere is water enough to supply 5000
acres OF agricultural land, and there is
steady market for all that can be raised,
in Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
Irrigation, which seems bug-bear to
those unused to it's beniicent results.
should be made the Colorado farmers
primary study. Our attention was called
not long since to the fact that the highest
ancient civilizations the world has ever
known existed in countries similar to
Colorado, breezy, sunshiny plateaus
with complete and stupendous
system OF irrigating canals. Notable ex-
amples are Assyria and Egypt; and such
IN fact, was the climate of the probable
cradle of the human race. The American
aboriginal races which attained the high
EST degree of civilization, namely, the
Aztecs and Peruyians, also fortified their
ands by means of acqueducts and connect
ng canals. Why. then, should irrigation
20 considered a clog upon agricultural or
other development? Colorado's present
water supply is scanty, but the problem of
abundance will be solved when
The needs of the people demand it, either
by arteslan wells, or perhaps, as some
,ondly hope, diversion of the tributaries of
The Missouri basin. At present, not half
he water in this immediate vicinity, ner
n the State is utilized, so there is as yet
10 necessity for looking elsewhere'for sup
'lies. Hayden estimates that with Colo
ADDS present imperfect irrigating system
he has one and a quarter million acres
# land fit for cultivation, of which only
me hundred thousand are yet titled Elev-
n-twelfths await settlement. AS to the
PRACTICAL cost of irrigation we quote from
Mr.. w. E. Pabor, Colorado's most expe-
fenced and practical agriculturist: g The
igures vary from ten cents per acre up to
ixteen dollars. Water generally rents for
rom one dollar to three dollar per acre
and taking a fair average may be
et down at two dollars per acre. Where
'tnals have been built on the cooperative
'ltn each land holder having an interest in
hem the cost only covers superintendent
md repairs and does not reach over 25
ents per acre.
Fruit growing is another industry
which should be great. All small
ruits are successfully cultivated here.
nd though the history of Colorado horti-
ulture is almost too recent to include
ruit trees, indications are that such will
hriye with the exception of the peach,
which does not take kindly to Colorado
Oil. The wild plum, currant and rasp-
erry, fill the canyons and cultivated vari-
ties succeed admirably. With black
erries and grapes, it is necessary to study
hose varieties to which the climate is
lest adapted !; in fact this is not amiss fox
he fruit grower in any case. In regard
o the outlay in cultivating small fruits,
We quote again from Mr.. Pabor, taking
he strawberry as a representative of
ruits of the class 6 The cost of cultivat-
ng one acre of Strawberries is about $50.
Water costs two dollars per cubic inch
nd two inches is sufficient to water an
GRE of berries. 1t costs cents per quart
or picking and about 2 cents for boxing
nd preparing for market. A yield Of
Eighteen hundred quarts can be taken
rom one acre. The entire cost of cult
alton and placing upon the market is not
yer one hundred and fifty dollars,
eaving a net profit of three hundred dol
airs per acre." The profits of horticulture
nay be Appropriated from the following
igures In Colorado Springs and Manitou
arly strawberries cost so cents per quart,
nd the price never falls below 35 cents.
Pears, peaches, and plums, 25 cents per
'ound grapes, 40 cents per pound goose
'erries, raspberries and blackberries cost
ike Strawberries, from 80 to so cents per
Luart. The man with garden patch and
'erhaps a greenhouse and hot-beds, bee
lives, with honey at 25 cents per pound)
nd small fruit on his land, and eggs.
hickens and butter to sell, besides, will
ind in Colorado not only an Arcadia, but
substantial bank account.
The following newspaper clipping gives
N account of a new industry which will
Utilize the omnipresent yucca: 1t has lately
'een discovered that the fiber of the soap
liant, which resembles hemp, can be made
nto the very best of paper stock and that
is preparation for that purpose is very
asy and inexpensive. The supply is mex
laustihle and manufacturing it info nanar