The Lamar register., 1892-05-14

dustries than by the use of figures. Com
mencing at the extreme western part Of
the valley is the Colorado canal. 1t
takes water from the north side of the
river east Of Pueblo. There are now
miles completed; and, whom
finished, will cover 11S miles. The width
at the head is forty feet, and it is ex-
pected to carry 700 cubic feet per second.
The La Junta and Lamar canal is IN
miles long, is thirty feet across at the
head and covers hundreds OF thousands
Of acres Of now most valuable land. The
Colorado and Kansas, when completed,
will be 155 miles long, reaching into
western Kansas, and covers 100000 acres
in Colorado. This was the fourth ditch
built IN the valley and was tho first Of
any great size.
The Bed Rock is a mutual ditch, is
eleven miles long and covers 1900 acres
of fine bottom land. The Amity canal
waters the land north of Lamar. It is
now sixty seven miles long and will,
when completed reach the State line-a
distance Of eighty miles from the head
gate. 1t now covers 1OS, 900 acres, great
portion Of which is improved land. The
cost Of construction Of this ditch wss
100000. The Lamar Land and Canal
company was organized in 1890, having
bought out several small bitches for
s101 600. Their main ditch is fifty three
miles long and capable Of irrigating 3o,-
600 acres.
Among the private bitches are the
Hyde, eight miles long and irrigating
5000 acres; the Marvel, fourteen miles
in length and covering 1900 acres; the
Graham, having 10000 acres under it
and being twelve miles in length; the
Buffalo, irrigating 1900 acres, with
length Of fifteen miles, and the Sisson
bitches, six miles in length and covering
1000 acres.
There are many other well-equipped
and costly bitches, but these will give
some idea OF the rapid development of
the country. Where has there been
more rapid and lasting development?
The mining camp is exciting, and
wealth seems near at hand when the
costly mineral is before the eyes, but
here has quietly yet surely been devel-
oped such resources as have proven that
Colorado could be Nation in .hereself.
The two great sources Of the valleys
wealth are the raising of wheat and al
falfa. For several years the milling in
terests have been in a very fourishing
condition. La Junta has q mill of 100
barrels capacity. Rocky Ford has one OF
sixty barrels and Las Animas one of sew
enty-five barrels capacity. But the
country has been 30 rapidly and success
fully developed that an unusually large
one one is being erected at Lamar. This
mill is the largest in the State except
the Hungarian mills of Denver, and save
that one, is the largest between Denver
and Kansas City. Its capacity is 400
barrels day, is a four-story brick build
ing 84xl42 feet, and has a steam elevator
with capacity of 125,O00 bushels.
This valley should be tributary to Dem
YER; but owing to the discrimination
made by the rulers of transportation the
expectation must go elsewhere. But the
time is not far distant when the valley
will be crossed in another direction, and
we will be on the direct route from Den
yer to the deep harbor on the southern
coast.
Our chiefest pride is in the raising OF
alfalfa. But someone may say: where
Is the great profit in raising common
hay?" I answer: alfalfa is not COM
mon hay, although it is old enough to
be so. Its first name was Mediaee, and
history says it was brought to Greece
from Media. It was then carried to
France, Italy and Switzerland The eli
mate of these countries is Of such char
acter that it has reached it's greatest de-
velopment there. 1t was brought to
California, and is now as far east as this
State.
year, or one of hay and one of seed. It.
has an unusual amount of fattening
properties, and takes the place of grain
in the feeding of stock.
The seed is used for dyeing purposes,
and always commands a high price. At
present it is worth S6 bushel.
An acre of alfalfa ought to yield two
tons OF hay and five bushels Of seed each
season, and, with hay worth S5 ton, it
is quite clear where the great profit is in
raising Colorado's common" hay.
But no country is complete without
foliage and fruit. Originally there was
nothing to break the monotony OF the
landscape except the cottonwood trees
along the banks of the river, but now all
varieties are planted everywhere, and
are growing luxuriantly. Fruit trees
and vine, ards greet the eye in every di-
rection.
An orchard of but two years growth
has been known to bear fruit, and the
trees bud and leaf out several months
sooner than in most any other section OF
the country.
During the hast few years this valley
has taken almost 100 premiums from
r. -