Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-12-27

various sources. Another question is,
how far will it be profitable to store
water by means of dams built in the
stream beds. There arc many thousands
of acres of arabic land in the county, but
according to present knowledge it can not
be said that there is water in sight to
reclaim more than 100000 acres.
PAsTURAaE AND STOCK.
At present it would seem that the prop
er method by which to approach the
reclamation problem in Lincoln county
is by means Of small colonies. A suffi-
cient area of irrigable land should be
taken in some of the many river and
creek bottoms. The contiguous range
should then be improved by the system
attic development of it's springs and
water holes. In this way stock and agri-
culture could 60 hand in hand, and the
development of the garden and orchard
would be simultaneous with better
methods of stock raising. 1t may be
said right here that no matter how rich
OF resourceful section of country may
be, the individual irrigator can do little.
Either cooperation or coordination
must prepare the way for success. The
united efforts of colony always tell in
the line of economy, the concentration of
ordered forces by corporation makes
far more rapid development in its widest
degree. This region is particularly
tempting to the colonist. Stock men es-
innate that the profit on cattle in this
county is so cents monthly per head
from the time they are calved, and that
the profit on sheep is 80 per cent. This
is on stock raised by the "open range"
methods. In the plan suggested above
for colonies the range would became a
stock farm. 1t is not meant that the
farmers should own their land or stock
in common but only that they should CO.
operate for the common good in the
development of water.
Circumstances are go favorable to stock
raising in Lincoln county that prudent
managers think 2 per cent is very
liberal estimate of loss from all causes
while the cattle or sheep are on the range.
Both sheep and cattle men have shown
wisdom by importing to their ranges the
very best and purest blood to cross with
the native breeds. The focks and herds
are now splendidly graded, of fine form
and size, and are vigorous and healthy.
The bountiful and lasting pasture, the
excellent climate, where snow scarcely
ever covers the grass, combine to make
this country an ideal stock region.
AGRICULTURE.
OF course all agriculture in Lincoln
county is conducted by irrigation, and
the people enjoy all the advantages of
that style of farming. Until recently
agriculture was very primitive, though
the yields were always phenomenally
large. The old and laborious methods
of the past have given place to modern
science. The best agricultural i'm plements
have been employed and to-day the coun-
try is dotted with thrifty farms. All the
valleys should be covered with them.
Grapes and currants grow wild in this
county and when cultivated mature in
the utmost abundance. All the vegetables
thrive. Cabbage, lettuce, celery, turnips
parsnips, carrots, radishes, peas, tomatoes,
pumpkins, SO uashes, onions, melons, okra
and cucumbers have been planted and all
have yielded larger crops than the farmers
ever thought could oe raised. The size
of all is astonishing and the quality per-
fection. Beans are staple crop. The
average yield is 900 to 1900 pounds per
acre. They are sure in their results and
command from to cents per pound.
Alfalfa is also notable in its yields.
From four to five cuttings are made every
year and the crop will average from five
to eight tons. There is another thing
that should be remembered, and that is
that some of the best agricultural and
grazing lands in Lincoln county still be-
long to the public domain. Good loca-
tlons are plentiful, and there are great
chances here for the men who are willing
to grow up with the country.
TIMBER.
The plains, plateaux and valleys, indeed
all the level country is generally without
timber, but the mountain areas are
heavily forested. This supply is SO ex-
tensive that taken as whole it may be
said to equal that of any other section of
the territory. 1t extends in a somewhat
broken line from the northeast to the
southwest distance of 1866 miles. The
wood consists of plnon, pine, juniper
ash, cottonwood, oak, etc, and affords
excellent building material. In the Cap
itan mountains there is large saw-mill
capable of supplying the present demand
for lumber.
The county has several good and
tht,vlng towns, wnlen' a.'noush on ae .ne
in tho % tsrrito ito nv '
LINCOLN