Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-04-11
THURSDAY, APR. IL, 1895


as second-class mail matter.
THURSDAY, APR. IL, 1895.
Rocky Ford should celebrate the
Fourth of July this year. 1t has been
a number Of years since we have had a
broadgauge celebration and we suggest
that our citizens at once preempt the
coming National holiday for an old-fash-
ioned patriotic demonstration.
The rapid expansion of the fruit in
dustry in the Rocky Ford country is
shown by the arrival on Tuesday last Of
two car loads Of trees for distribution
Catlin nurseries and are only a portion OF
the large number which will be planted
this season. The great enlargement Of
orchards by farmers who have tested the
horticultural advantages Of the valley is
unluestioned proof of the value OF our
lands for fruit-growing.
The Florence News has an article
headed, "Should the State Canal plan
Die" The defeat of the appropriation
is charged to the people down the valley.
The following portion Of the article we
heartily endorse: Private enterprise
could, undoubtedly, construct the canal
throughout more cheaply than the state,
and tho plans originally drawn on so
large scale could no doubt be SO modi-
fed that part of the expected benefits
could be had within few seasons" The
future work on the canal should be by
private enterprise-if at all-the state
donating the work already done to any
corporation who will undertake the COM
pletion OF the canal.
"A meeting Of the Artesian Well Exec
utive committee was held at the Enter
prise office Friday Evening and the situ-
alton canvased. 1t was decided that the
success attained by the Santa Fe at La
Junta justified Rocky Ford in going to
work Immediately. Sec. Robins was in
structed to correspond with two artesian
well borers with view to making a con-
tract at once. The committee also
planned to see a portion of our citizens
who had not yet pledged any subscrip-
ton and urge on them the duty of aiding
in the good work. The benefits to be de-
rived from an artesian well are SO great
that the work should secure the cooper
alton and dollars Of every public spirited
citizen. With a good flowing well in
Rocky Ford (Which we have every reason
to believe will be securely the only objec-
ton to residence here will be removed
and immigration largely promoted.
Hence, let every citizen have a share in
this valuable public enterprise.
Last Monday Directors Kearby and
Dawley made an official visit to the pub
lie schools. They found the rooms hives
of educational activity and everything
moving successfully. The fact that there
are so more pupils enrolled than this
time last year, shows the rapid growth
which Rocky Ford is enjoying. The
graduating class this yeGr will be ten in
for the proper observance Of Arbor Day,
Friday, April 10th, on which occasion
not only trees, but flowers will be plant
ed. Our readers will remember that the
Arbor Day exercises at the school last
year were of high grade of excellence
and interest The Enterprises extensive
account Of the occasion elected favorable
comment for Rocky Ford and our public
schools in the columns OF newspapers in
distant parts Of the state. That the Ar
bor Day observance in 1895 will be equal
ly meritoriois we have no doubt. School
exercises on Arbor Day have much more
than the immediate results would indi-
cate, educating the children in regard to
the importance of forestry, which impress
sions will bear valuable fruit in after
years.
In an article urging the general OBJ
servance Of Arbor Day the Denver News
unintentionally pays tribute to Rocky
Ford in the following paragraph: "In
the young towns and cities of the state
small concern. In the contest for popu-
lation and growth the town that can
present the finest shade trees along its
thoroughfares is certain to win the best
class OF people as its residents and the
most of them. In Colorado as well as
the other trans Missouri states and terri
tories, a town without trees is not a very
inviting place to locate. People will
avoid it for some other place where trees
add beauty and comfort to the Streets u
Rocky Ford is widely known rs one Of the
finest shaded towns in the state. Papers
in other localities in urging the planting
of trees cite Rocky Ford aa a shining ex.
ample of what trees do for the beauty
and comfort of town life. While we have
an abundance of shade the work Of plant.
ing trees should not stop. The town is
growing and the area now finely shaded
will soon be built upon. The owners oi
outlying lots should begin to plant trees
that the future additions to Rocky Ford
shall be as we'll shaded as the original
town.
The squabble in regard to the dep.
uty district attorney is getting Otero
county into disrepute. District Attor.
ney Collins has reappointed Thos. R.
Hofmire, bat the County Commissioners
have chosen to exercise their privilege Of
refusing to confirm the appointment
The awkwardness of the situation was il.
Illustrated last Monday in the case Of the
Finch boys, arrested for stealing cattle
They were arraigned before Squire Clarl
and plead guilty. In answer to tele.
phone message from r. L. King Mr..
Hoffmire came up on the "Nelly Bly,
Before he arrived the prisoners had plead
guilty and were on the road 10 La Junta
II not already in Jail there. When the
matter of calling on Mr.. Hoffmire was
proposed, Commissioner Waahburn, who
was present said no, that he was not dep
uty district attorney and the Commits
sioners would refuse to recognize any OF
his acts. When Mr.. Hoffmire arrived in
Rocky Ford and found the business had
all been transacted without his aid he
was quite angry. He claimed that the
proceedings before Squire CLARK were ir.
regular and that when he returned to La
Jpnta he would have the Finch boys re-
leased on habeas corpus and properly
committed by himself. He also proposed
70 Gpo forv w r Gobin uho aesiafed in