Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-10-04
Important Information Concerning
the Rocky Ford Country

We have received letter from an Iowa
man asking II number of important questions
concerning the country tributary to Rocky
Ford. The questions and answers we give be-
low:
| What is land near Rocky Ford worth?
Land adapted to field crops is worth from
SO to SIS per acre according to distance from
town and improvements. Small tracts near
| town are worth from $50 to si,O.
About what is the area under cultivationf
We have 100000 acres of land susceptible OF
Irrigation, of which 5000 are under cultiva-
| tion.
Is there always plenty of water for irriga-
| tion?
Under the older bitches there is no scarcity
at any time. Some of the newer bitches are
not fully supplied in times OF extreme dry
ness. The scarcity, when 1t does occur, is
early in the season. the supply of water for
maturing crops being sufficient and reliable
| Is tho crop entirely dependent on irriga-
tion?
Yes. Occasionally rains assist, but the de-
pendence is on irrigation. .s
What are the future prospects OF Rocky
Ford?
Rocky Ford is enjoying the somewhat I'M
usual situation of being behind the country.
| the valley this year and IL is confidently ex-
| pected that this fall and winter will witness
large uccessions both to country and town.
| A region growing such crops as are raised in
| the vicinity OF Rocky Ford cannot but have n
steady and reliable growth, and there Is no
| town In the west which has better prospects
| for increase in business and population. We
do not expect boom-do not want one-but
certainly anticipate constant and healthfui
| growth.
What Is the width and depth of the river ut
Rocky Ford?
| Tho Arkansas Is wide and shallow, has n
rapid fall, and is not navigable until 1t gets
several hundred miles nearer the Gulf OF
What are the principal products of the
country
All products belonging to the temperate
zone are successfully grown. Among the
leading crops are corn, wheat oats barley,
alfalfa, watermelons cantaloupes and toma-
toes. Alfalfa is most proata Bile crop to grow,
not only for its remarkable yia1t of hay per
acre In the Ahree or four cuttings each season.
but from the seed which brings large profits
to those farmers who give careful attention
to that branch of agriculture. Potatoe grow
ing is beginning to attract attention and
many of our farmers believe that the
given such prosperity to the northern sections
of the state where this tuber is a specially
profitable crop. No section of the Omitted
States has been more successful in the raising
of bees and production of honey. Hog raising
is particularly profitable, the hogs making ex-
cellent growth on alfalfa pasture alone,
short season of corn feeding being necessary
to finish them for market. canning factory
furnishes market for all the tomatoes which
can be grown, and the profits from this crop
are large. Vine crops of all kinds have enor-
nous yields. Cantaloupes yield over $3.50 per
acre gross. Rocky Ford waterrnelons have
state, If not national reputation. As Elgin
butter is the standard of quality in the Mis-
sissippi valley, SO are all watermelons in the
west gauged by the nearness of their ap-
proach to Rocky Ford excellence.
Is fruit growing successful
That's the question, above all others. We
like to have asked. Had you been present at
our late Fair and seen the tables crowded
with apples, plums. pears. grapes, etc., you
would have been convinced that this Is pre-
eminently fruit country. MI only do we
grow the best of fruit and abundance of 1t
but apple trees in tho Arkansas valley will, in
eight years, attain size and fruit-bcnring
capacity equal to fifteen year-old trees in the
Mississippi valley.
What success with corn and small grain?
Both excellent. The soil is not quite equal
to Illinois or Iowa for corn, but this year there
are many crops near Rocky Ford which will!
almost equal tho famous Illinois corn belt.
Wheat and barley do we'll. Z,
| Is the soil sandy?
| Moderately so-a sandy loan.
How much snow in winter?
| The snowfall is light.
Do stock require hay In winter or do they
range the year round2
| Most of the cattle range the year round but
are fattened on hay. Many feed hay during
the wintor and find it quite profitable.
| Thousands of cattle are shipped here from
| other states and are fattened for market on
alfalfa hav.
What is the average price of hay? OF corni
or lumber?
Alfalfa hay from 50 to ~ per ton. Upland
hay from S. to s6. Corn 80 cents per bushel.
Lumber from SIS to $22 per thousand, both
native and Texas.
What is the charge for irrigation per acror
| Where the irrigation expenses are paid an
nually the cost is from 81, ,25 to S1,J0 per acre.
| A perpetual water right costs from $40 to S12
per acre. to which must be added the actual
expenses of keeping the ditch cleaned, which
| is about 30 cents per acre.
Is the country well settled?
Yes and no. The farms are too large to say
that the country is thickly settled, but the peo.
pie are compact enough for social, education.
al and church purposes. We have abundance
n room fer industrious, energetic men, and
the benefits will be mutual. Capable farmers
can nowhere do better than here, and we need
their aid in developing thousands of acres OF
fertile lands. Irrigation makes high-grade
farming possibility, the intensity OF agricul-
tural and horticultural operations being linn
tied only by the ability, energy and ambition
Of the farmer and fruit grower. When the
vicinity of Rocky Ford shall have been cut up
into from ~ to 40 acre tracts. and the land de-
yeloped as 1t will under our reliable water sup
ply this portion of the Arkansas valley of
Colorado will be unequalled in the west
H. A. Dawley is reported to have got
off the follow ing: A Chicago boy who
was spending week at Bingham's ranch
saw cows for the first time. Their con-
slant chewing OF the cud moved the city
youth to ask: "Mr. Bingham, do you
have to buy chewing gum for all those
cows?"
The Rocky Ford public schools find
the large school house crowded. having a
larCer attendance than ever before, New