The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-02
FROM ropo1oRAMpo
The Productions, Railroad Chances, the
Ditch, Health, etc.
OK THE RIO DEL FUERTE, !
March IA, 1891.


In my previous letters / have said
nothing of the cotton, coffee, rice, cocoa
nut, pine apple, castor benn. and other
| subtropical productions of this country,
which, upon investigation, l find to be
quite considerable. But what bids fair
to be the leading and most profitable
production Is the sugar industry. About
the time our Kansas party arrived here
Mr.. Edward Lycan, an extensive sugar
grower and manufacturer from the
Hawaiian islands, was here at the col
ony, making investigations in regard to
the colony and the capabilities of this
(Sinaloa) country for the production of
sugar cane. He was so well pleased with
the principles of the organization-being
an earnest co-operator himself-that he
became member and subscribed 81 900
to the Improvement fund" He stayed
here several weeks and made tests of the
different manufactures and pronounced
the cane 2 per cent richer in saccharine
matter than the cane raised in the Haw-
allan Islands. Beginning at 10 per cent
y
percent in April and decreasing to 10 per
cent by the 18th of July, making 2 per
cent greater than the famous Klaus
Spreckles Sandwich Island production,
and the season for harvesting one month
longer. While here he closed contract
with Don Zachariah Ochoa, a large
owner of land and poems. to put up
sugar factory at a cost of $50. 900, to be In
operation by January 1, 1892, Ochoa to
guarantee 10000 acres of cane and
Lycan to manufacture it for one-half of
the product for ten years. Of course
OchOa has nearly that account of acres
in cane already, but only manufactures
''panoche," or the common raw brown
sugar, which sells at wholesale for IS per
cargo of 400 pounds. According to Mr..
Lycan's estimate the yield will be from
three to five tons of refined sugar to the
acre, which never brings less than
cents per pound at wholesale. With
our appliances one man can
tend to twenty acres of cane,
besides a small tract in fruits, vegetable,
and other products as easily as he could
tend to forty acres of corn in Kansas.
Mr.. Lycan has became quite wealthy
in the sugar business in the Hawaiian
islands; but, having taken a decided
stand against the Chinese, and been on
the loosing side, he has no desire to live
there any longer, and will move to
Topolobampo with his family in a short
time. In a letter to the management
here few days ago, he informs them
that since mis- return to San Francisco
where he now lives-he has purchased a
steamer of 200 tons capacity to ply be-
tween Topolobampo, Guaymas, La
Paz, Mazothan, San Diago, San Fran
cisco and other gulf and Pacific coast
ports in the interest of the colony, and
to become the property of the colony as
soon as they feel able to pay for it. We
expect Mr.. Owen will have arrange
ments completed. and will be here with
the April party to begin operations on
the railroad, which will be known
hereafter as the Mexican Western. But
we are in no haste about the railroad,
as we are, and will be for several
months, too busy with the work we have
in hand, that of irrigation. With this
we are progressing to the satisfaction of
all concerned. Never in my life time
have seen SO many people working and
to their duties so harmoniOusly
and with such kind, good feeling towards
each other, as the men and women en-
gagged in this enterprise. 1t is something
to be proud of. Here are about 400
people, without even the semblence of
what is termed law, or any restrictive
government whatever, except such con-
ditions as are laid down in the business
to each other, since the first
coming together, and this fact furnishes
h subject of daily comment, which is
very pleasant to contemplate. With the
exception of a few cases of slight sick
ness, incident to the change of diet and |
our people are enjoying the
best of health. In many cases
they are much better than before
coming here, especially, is this the case
with quite a number-among them my
self-who had formerly suffered from |
nasal catarrh, l don't find one that is
afflicted with that troublesome disorder |
but what have entirely recovered from |
it. / find that this is quite a country for |
game, deer, queeches (pheasants) quail, |
jack rabbits, 'coons, peccerieS, (wlld hogs |
heaps of coyotes, and other varmints are |
very plentiful. The natives have their
logs trained to very nice degree Of |
usefulness. Today noon, while resting
put on the ditch line, making a few |
notes under the shade of huge lignum
Vita tree, flock of sheep and goats
passed along through what might term
he Jungle" accompanied by a tired
ooking dog limping along on three legs.
These dogs do all the shepherd work;
they 60 out with the fiocks in the morn
ing, and follow along with them all day
wherever they may roam, protecting
hem from harm, and return with them
very night safe, and without one miss
ng.
The birds Of this region are a contin-
Ial source of interest to me. 1t seems
20 odd TO see so many parrots of differ
snt shades and colors flying about at
arge, perching on the trees and keeping
Up an everlasting chattering to each
>ther. l can hardly imagine how they
make out to exist without the usual sup
by of crackers. They seem to be mat
ny at the present. They no longer go
n fiocks but always in pairs. There are
many kinds of birds of rare plumage.
md many fine singing birds. The mock
ng bird is still here but l suppose he viii
hortly depart for the north.
Nv last letter missed getting away at
he proper time and had TO lay over here
week after it was written. | see By
he EAGLE that times are not improving |
much / think when the agricultural
population of Kansas learn to devote less
ime TO the reformation of politics and
apply themselves more TO the study and
,ractice Of cooperation they will have
made big stride on the road 10 peace
md plenty. WILLIAM Ross.
TIMBER CULTURE GREATLY
NEEDED.