Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-04-27
LAND OF PROMISE.
What New Mexico Holds Out to the
World-Better than Cali
fornia.
A Country that Produces Cereals, Fruit
and Vegetables in Unlimited Album
dance Vast Enterprise.

DENVER, April 26.-The Evening Times
known cattleman, has just returned from
Eddy county, n. NJ, where he is largely
interested. Mr.. Mernod is closely asso-
ciated with the Pecos Irrigation 4 In
vestment company, one OF the wealthiest
corporations in the western country. Mr..
Charles B. Eddy is the originator OF this
vast enterprise and the vice president and
general manager, with headquarters at
Eddy, some 200 miles north of FL Paso
city. The object OF the company is to
cover between 100000 and 800 900 acres
of land with water, thus irrigating Il strip
OF country heretofore apparently worth
less.
AS matter OF fact the land is OF an un-
usually fertile quality, comparing very
favorably with lands of California. 1t not
only grows all kinds of grasses in abun-
dance, but the richness OF the soil may be
Judged when it is known that five crops
of alfalfa are easily grown i'll one season.
Fruits of every species also thrive wonder
fully we'll, the climate being practically
the same as that of Southern California.
No winter weather interferes with the
rapid development OF fruit trees and straw
berries. Grapes grow in great abundance
and profusion, and the quality is superfine.
Figs, pomegranates, apricots, prunes, En-
glish walnuts, peaches and apples grow
rapidly and are known to be free from
worms, rot, and other damaging draw
backs.
"This land" said Mr.. Mermod, who
was at first diffident about talking, sis un-
doubtedly all that is claimed forit. have
I examined it with great care and have
talked with many people who have made
it n study. do not think am exagger-
ating when | say that it is unexceled in
the United States. Taken in connection
with the almost tropical climate, anything
and everything can be raised in the great
est abundance and with unusual profit
travelled nearly thousand miles by
buck board, and know what am talk
ing about when / say that there is NJ
comparison between Southern New Mex
leo and Oklahoma. once had cattle in
terests in Indian territory and | was glaC
enough to get out of there. AS between
depending on rain in Oklahoma and irri
CATION in New Mexico, the chances arr
largely in favor of the latter territory.
"Of this vast extent of land which vii
be covered by the ditch company, ther
vet remain 100000 acres susceptible O
government entry under the desert act
This entities any adult having the right
to $40 acres, or a square mile Of land, an
my impression is that it is the only or
portunity of the kind in the United States
AS soon as the railroads reach the cour
, try, and they will get there before Ions
this land will be worth from $75 to SIC
per acre. | would not sell mine for les
than that now. There is good health
immigration at present, and during tn
season expect to see large share OF tt
land filed upon. Farmers will eventual
learn this part of the country has attra
tions that other sections Of the west
not possess, and when this becomes gel
orally known, we expect big rush.
81 need only to refer to Mr.. Eddy
experimental farm, which incorporate
/ several hundred acres, to prove that a
right. He has grown alfalfa and 9th
! cereals with wonderful success. His q
, chards are extensive and promise gre
results when sufficient time has elapse
His vineyard is in a line with other e
periments. So far as vegetables are CO
cerned, they are astonishing. | W
illustrate by saying that watermelons a
grown there which weigh as high as six
pounds. Sugar beets, potatoes, pumpkin
squashes, turnips and the like, wou
make Coloradoan very curious. This
only one instance, as other parties ha
been farming there for years with ev
more tangible results, and as soon as N
Eddy'sD efforts reach into several me
seasons expect to see farm there II
will make any sensible man fall in 10
with the country.
eve expect the immigration this seas
will create demand for merchanta1
goods, and in consequence we anticip
extensive improvements. We are
enough along, also, to commence the C,
sideration OF establishing canning a
. other factories. All we need for an
~ petus is the construction of one railro