Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-06-25
COL, HINTON G|vESAPPROVAL,
The Great Work and Enterprise
of One Man.
What an Expert Has to Say of What is
Being Done in the Peoos Valley
Under the Direction of
Charles W. Greene.

EDDY, N. NJ, June 18, 1s92.--The sun
was somewhere over the nineties, with q
cloudless sky and the dust flying in all
directions, but chiefly settling upon the
persons Of the foreign visitors to this
valley.
These were the conditions Of our jolly
party, as we made way in the forenoon to
see the cultivation and Improvement that
is being SO extensively carried on some
miles below this town, by Mr.. Charles w.
Greene, of Eddy and New York, one of
the founders and energetic developers Of
the reclamation enterprises now progress
ing in the Pecos valley. In spite OF the
heat the drive was delightful, and the
work with its organization, which has
been laid before us, was even more attrac-
tive than the scenery and weather. Mr..
Greene has, believe, the second largest
vineyard in the United States. 1t is not
as far along, Of course, as the celebrated
one given by Gov. Sanford to his new
university at Palo Alto. That en-
braces 900 acres, and is already famous
for the brands of wine made from its
grapes. Mr.. Greene's vineyard covers a
section-640 acres. 1t was put under
fence and plow in November last. The
vines presented thrifty appearance, and
the mile.long furrows and vine rows
showed the effect and bear every appear
ance OF the most thorough cultivation.
At the upper end of the section extensive
farm buildings have been erected. They
consist of large barn, stables and dwell
ing in the form OF quadrangle, built on
three sides and open at one end, for the
use of the workmen employed. l was
delighted to notice that in respect to the
quarters of the workmen, Mr.. Greene
carried the conception of an older life as
to their necessities, more than that which
generally prevails out here in the newer
west. Comfortable rooms, clean, with
wainscoted walls and ceilings, good cots,
etc., occupy two sides of the quadrangle,
the lower portion of which is utilized for
the kitchen, dining room, Office Of the
foreman, and living rooms for the family
employed to run the boarding department.
I have seen the great wheat farms of
North Dakots-huge in extent-and the
ranches of California. have seen cattle
range buildings in Wyoming and else
where, but nowhere have l noticed as
comfortable dwellings, manifesting as
much care for the labor employed, as
those which Mr.. Greene has provided for
his extensive farms in this valley. These
buildings are duplicated upon what is
known as the Lower Farms, which we
also visited, and similar ones are to be
erected at the farm now being plowed and
otherwise cultivated upon the Rio Feliz,
some sixty-fve miles above this town.
Their character, especially the barns,
show the influence which the early ex-
perience of Mr.. Greene, in eastern Penn
sylvania, etc., has had upon his judgment
of agricultural necessities. Commodious
and conveniently arranged, the effect Of
the construction will probably be felt in a
minor degree upon all the smaller agri
cultural operators in this region.
ORGANIZING NEW HOMES.
Below the vineyard section we drove
about five miles to what is known as the
Lower Farms, embracing an area Of l 1920
acres. The lovers of agricultural life,
from old Virgil down, would have been
delighted with the scene upon which our
party looked, with its wide expanse OF
fresh brown earth, its cloudless blue sky,
the full blaze of the sun and the hum Of
farm work all around US. This area Mr..
Greene has laid out in accordance with
the plan framed by him from the very
beginning of irrigation development in
this section. Himself a pioneer, with
years of experience behind him, he has
realized fully the perilous first years Of
all such labor. The losses Of the civil
war have been many times multiplied
during the past forty years of western
development by the death from undue
labor and exposure Of the sturdy families
who have pressed forward in the work Of
making states beyond the Mississippi
With clear business insight, the owner
and organizer of these enterprises has
seen from the first that irrigation as a
means of cultivation requires a high de.
gree Of preliminary organization and
development, and he has done much to