Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-04-19
NEW MEXICO,
Where There Is No Lease Law and
Northers Arc Unknown.

special.
SEvEN RIVERS, LINCOLN CO., N. M.
April 1i,--As the enquiries relative
TO the prospects and business capabili-
ties OF New Mexico are too numerous
to answer individually we will en-
deavor to give such of your many
readers as are interested some facts
regarding this comparatively new
field for enterprise and capital. We
shall, of course, speak only of that
portion OF the territory with which
we are personally acquainted, or Of
which we can obtain information
from those known TO be reliable.
The soil of Lincoln county, for the
most part, Is OF a dark chocolate loan
more or less mixed with alkali, and
holding sufficient sand 10 acour the
pillow. Hitherto, sufficient rain has
rarely fallen, but, as the country opens
up and more soil la turned 10 the sun,
rain will become, and IL becoming,
more abundant, fact strongly ex-
emplifed In the present spring. The
cheap system OF irrlgating bitches
renders the farmers here independent
OF the clouds, 1t being no uncommon
sight to zee tiourishing orvps
upon which little or no
rain fell since they were
planted. Root and vine crops are per-
haps better adapted to this soil and
climate than any other. Potatoes,
pumpkins, cashaws, cucumbers. water.
melons and the like are especially
productive. Onions tthe eltaso), lur-
nips an beets can be and are grown ss
large rs In any OF the states. In the
grass CROPS the native grammas and
salt grasses keep the stock in good
condition the year round. The vnrle-
ties that succeed best with cultivation
are alfalfa or California clover and
johnson grass, IA much as five and six
tons OF the last two kinds having been
cut 10 the acre. Agriculture Ia yet In
its Infancy and very little on the in-
crease, attributable rather TO the lack
OF transportation facilities 10 the mar
kets than TO any other cause. Never
theless, large crops are and will be
raised. Onions grow here that meas
ure seven inches in diameter and
weigh nve pounds. Irish potatoes FREE
quently yield 400 bushels per acre, and
average 200. Cabbage weigh rs much
as forty pounds to the head and the
pumpkins and csshaws will Compare
well with any In size and weight.
The presumption and homestead
laws are generous In the extreme, II
being within the capability Of any
man, however poor, to procure a home
for himself and an Inheritance for his
children. A man, whether single or
the head OF family, can take up 1850
acres OF land ut 81 so per acre, with a
liberal time to pay Ii out. He can
take up 100 acres under the homestead
act and secure himself home without
the expenditure OF any money except
1 for the necessary fees. The far West
In Its former state OF untrammeled
! freedom 10 fast becoming a thing OF
the past. II men want free homes
now Is the time 10 secure them. The
range IL sufficient for an immensely
larger number OF cattle than already
occupies IL, and Is of such quality and
grows In so favorable climate for
stock.rnising that dead cattle or sheep
are practically unknown.
The muoh-dreaded Texas 1ortheIs
and billiards pass iis by and leave our
''cowsp fat and sleek the year round,
beeyes being In az good killing order
| in March as atany season OF the year.
! AS for that terrible "bugaboo;n the
quarantine law, II really amounts to
nothing. 1t Is simply an inspection
law, and reads thus. "rhat no di-
seased cattle shall be permitted to pass
the line, nor any that have crossed or
been on trail over which diseased
cattle have been driven within PEE
Rod OF twelve months.p Men drlv-
ing cattle already diseased will not
want 10 put them on the trail and no
man will cross condemned trail with
his stock, If he be alive to his own in
terests.
Farmers and small stockmen, come
and try our territory, and see for your.
selves II we have not good land, good
grass and hospitabIe and friendly
people.
The grass aleng the Pecos trail 10
better now than IL has ever before
been known at this season Of the year,
fact due 10 plentiful gprinQ rains