Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-09-28
A GREAT WORK.
Pluck aud Perseverance and Capital
Combined to Develop Northeast
ern New Mexico.
Manager Pels, of the Maxwell Grant,
Speaks of Affairs Of Modern
Progress.

Mr.. NJ. ?. Pels, manager Of that vast
domain in northeast New Mexico known
as the Maxwell grant, is q guest at the
Palace hotel to-day. A representative OF
the New MEXICAN called upon him this
forenoon and asked what was going on in
his locality toward making New Mexico a
great and progressive state. Large guam
titles of fine agricultural lands under the
Maxwell Grant compapys system
of irrigation canals and reservoirs
are now being sold to home
seekers" said he. "The buyers are
mostly from Michigan, Iowa and the
northwest, sons of farmers, Hollanders,
Swedes and Germans, who have resided
there for years who have thorough
knowledge OF American agriculture, and
who realize that the remarkable growth
of the central west can but repeat itself in
New Mexico, where the soil, climate and
market conditions are superior to
those in the more northern states. Every
harvest excursion train brings large
numbers of these land buyers. They
come through the influence of the land
agencies which the Maxwell company
has established at Chicago. New York
and other points. Many of these settlers
are of class that desire to come in
colonies and locate near Il town and have
their own churches ond control their own
public schools. To accommodate these
we have organized in New York city a
corporation with abundant capital which
will undertake the building of Maxwell
City, a station ON the A., T. & S. f., for
merry known as Pembroke, and which
is beautifully located some three miles
distant from lands covered by our Yer
mejo system OF canals and water storage
reservoirs.
This New York company begins at
once to plant trees, lay out and grade
streets, put in system OF water works
and build a large hotel, bank, livery barn,
store, houses, etc. 1t is under the control
OF men Of capital, pluck and perseverance,
and they intend to make it a success.
Under the "Vernejo irrigation system
the company has now 10000 acres OF
agricultural lands, which it is selling at
SIS per acre, including permanent water
rights. The company's farm consists of
4 900 acres wherein excellent crops
have been produced. Alfalfa, oats, corn,
sorghum, potatoes do well there and sew
eral hundred young fruit trees are grow
ing to perfection, also 80 GOO grape vines.
In fact, horticulture is destined to be one
OF the great industries OF this region, and
many old farmers on the grant have
bought this year large tracts with Il view
to going into fruit raising on an extensive
scale"
Mr.. Pels said that further improve
ments looking to an increase OF the water
storage systems would begin next month.
l lie .oGervoirs already in operation are to
oe pauken w higher and enlarged. Last
week he spent l.,'he mountains and foot
hlllS with surveyors IN o>.~ch of reservoir
sites and many draws will be c1istfueted
this full and winter to be id readiness to
catch and hold the storm waters OF the
spring, thus extending the water system
SO that ali abundant supply will be
assured in the dryes seasons.
Mr.. Pels remarked incidently, that he
was something Of crank on this subject
OF storage reservoirs; believed their ea-
Establishment would prove the salvation
of New Mexico, and counted them as
absolutely necessary to attract q thrifty
population of American farmers, every
one CT which would put his shoulder to
he wheel Of progress and work for state
hood.
"The Grant company" continued the
speaker, "stiIl pursues its course of con-
lliation and fairness toward all the set
lers OF the grant, those who went on
lnder the belief that it was not
private property, and not day passes
)ut that either the grant buys the
settlers Improvements or sells him land, |
hus amicaby adjusting all differences.
The company is negotiating for two
ines OF railroad to connect Maxwell city
With existing lines east aud west and
o reach Taos valley across the
Mountains. 1t is expected these nego-
iations will lead to practical results in the
ear future. Other Improvements on the
rant consist OF system of eighty miles
t telephone wire connecting the towns of
aatol, Springer, Maxwell City, Cimarron
nd The company's cattle ranches and
itch systems. This telephone service
as proven Of great convenience and will
e extended as the settlement of the
rant demands.
"We have now about So 5000 head of
attic on the range. The past season has
cen dry, and we may, perhaps, look out
or a rough winter, but we have plenty of
eed on the plains for our stock and grass
! the foothills and mountains is very
God, and as most OF our cattle lun in the
we have no reason to expect
ny extraordinary loss this winter"
Again, in speaking OF the new settlers,
lr. Pels said that from this time on till
re holidays the grant expected to supply
ONES for several hundred well-to-do
rners. Many of these have come and
nrchased and gone back to get their
miles out OF the north before the rigors
winter come ON there, while, on the
her hand, many have also returned to
ut in the winter disposing of their effects i
} that thew will be foot loose to locate in
ew Mexico early next spring. Mr.. Pels
inks the statehood movement will help
ew Mexico very greatly, but he insists
'at statehood and immigration must come
and in hand and be jointly labored for by
re people before New Mexico's complete