Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-05-24
33,4O0

"AG COlOraQo ana santa Inor6Sa ana
from Rlncon south toward Dona Ana there
are 1900 more acres. In Tularosa, in
cluding Three Rivers, there are 1000
acres, thus making total of 40,40O acres
watered in bona Ana, of which over 80
per cent was actually cultivated during
the year ended June 80, 1890. This esti-
mate is very conservative and somewhat
below the actual figures of cultivation
by irrigation in this county. Land en-
titled to water in this region is too val
liable to lie idle; besides, if few large
ranchers of four to two terrenos of land be
excluded, the average size of the farms in
Dona Ana county will be about twenty
acres, all of which are intensely culti-
,ated."
As to the value of the agricultural pro-
ducts the writer desires to say emphatic
ally that $3.50 per acre is absurd. AL
falfs will bring 1870 per acre; wheat and
corn are low at $40 per ac.a, aad these
are the least remunerative crops. Grapes,
at 700 vines to the acre, averaging twenty
pourds per vine at cents pound, would
pay $3.50; while tho finer varieties such as
Muscat and Tokay will average over $500
per acre. Two sales are known during
1890, when the census figures were
taken, to have run to $500 per acre. AL
falfa is to-day running $l2 per cured
ton, and will undoubtedly run over SIS
per ton before the close of the season.
Judge Woods crop of peaches sold for
$500 per acre. The average value for
peaches and apples throughout Dona Ana
will run up to $500 per acre. On Major
W. H. II. Llewellyn's place, near Las
Cruces, Wild Goose plums, of which an
accurate account was kept, averaged $3.50
per tree. The reader can take it as fact
that any tree in full bearing that does no.
produce gross revenue of ~ would be
grubbed up. 1t would not pay for its
standing room at less figure. These
values are cited to correct false i'm
preston diligently circulated through the
east for sinister reasons.
THE WATER PROBLEM.
The assertion is constantly made that
Dona Ana county is poorly watered dur
ing the latter portion of the summer; but
there has never been an instance in which
tree or shrub has failed to mature and
bear for want of water. On the contrary
Dona Ana is one of the best watered soun-
ties in the arid region. More water flows
through the Rio Grande at Las Cruces
than in all the six southern counties Of
California. This is statement borne
out by official records of the river flow,
and is absolutely incontrovertihle. Be-
sides this, the Rio Grande flows through a
wide alluvisl bed, . few feet from whose
surface flows constant and vast under
sheet of water. When investors begin
the construction of high line canals this
sure and sufficient source Of supply will
be tapped, and where oae stalk Of alfalfa
Or one tree grows to-day there will then
be dozen.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMES.
Major W. H. II. Lewellyn, live stock
agent of the Santa Fe railroad, makes his
home on a little thirteen acre ranch in
Las Cruces. He has 1000 trees, many Of
which have not como to full bearing; but
be realized last year little over 50 per
tree, or $4,000. Three thousand grape
cuttings. yielding an average of fifteen
pounds to the vine paid him $500; be-
sides he has 285 stands of bees, each yield
ing over fifty pounds of honey, which sell