Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-01-09
ARKANSAS VALLEY ATTRAC:
TIONS.
As Reported IN the Great Daiiies
New Years Editions.

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The Denver News, Republican ano
Times all issued New Years editions Of
remarkable size and value, giving exhaus
tive reviews of the resources and pro
eress of the state. We make the follow
ing extracts relative to this portion OF the
valley:
The Rocky Mountain News Says:
The agricultural development OF the
Arkansas valley may be said only to have
begun. It's early growth was retarded
by the want Of railroad communications
by distance from markets and by lack
Of irrigation canals. These obstacles
have now all been overcome, and with
every facility Of growth, with an abund-
ant water supply, most favored climate,
and soil susceptible to the highest cui-
tiyation, its future progress is assured,
and it's destiny us one OF the richest,
most populous and most prosperous por-
tions Of the commonwealth is most GER
tain to be realized.
Within the last ten years, great canal
Ford and Las Animns and Lamar nave
placed thousands OF acres under cultlva-
tion and given it o continuous develop
ment from Pueblo to the east line OF the
state. The valley about Rocky Ford is
noted for its productions Of melons, and
also for its diversified agriculture,
Otero county in the lower Arkansas
valley is coming rapidly to the front as o
horticultural section. In 1894 the acre
age was stated at 1,70O acres, which was
Increased to $500 in 1895. Contracts are
already let for planting 200 acres in the
spring and the trees for 500 acres are al
ready in the county awaiting planting.
The orchards are still young, but the
small fruit yield is large and still grow
ing. The orchards that have come into
bearing made large yields OF apples
pears and plums.
Owing to the large canal systems IN
operation in tho Arkansas valley this re-
eion presents one OF the most promising
ields in the west for the agriculturist.
Tie mildness Of the climate, the oppor-
tunity for the diversity Of crops and the
excellent railroad facilities for the snip,
ment Of the products OF the farm all
poipt to the valley OF the Arkansas as
region which cannot disappoint the hand
Of industry.
The Denver Republican Says:
On the Greedy farm Charles Vogan
raised 20 acres Of barley that ran ~
DuSQel6 70 tue hCIcS Gull osSAo6S ~
bushels and SQUASH II tons. Many hogs
are FED here, the feeders estimating one
acre Of squash equal to four acres OF
corn for hog feeding. "a hundred and
sixty acres to the man." is what Mr.. Vo-
gan says, "and down our way every man
will be above the petty troubles OF the
world. Plow your alfalfa for manure
and the trick is done." is what this sue
cessful man lays down as the first step
ping stone to getting rich. He is doing
t.
Much Of the Republican'e special was
devoted to the big crops grown under
the Bob Creek canal, most Of which fig
uree have been published In the Enter
prise. The Republicans writeup has
this paragraph which is deserving of
special notice:
Otero county il one Of those places
which has heretofore suffered for the
want Of water, but several years ago tho
ton purposes suggested itself to some,
and last year eight were driven. The
result was eminently satisfactory. Crops
were raised under theso flows and as
high as 60 bushels OF oats and 30 buRh.
els Of wheat to the acre.
The above is monstrous lie as to our
artesian wells being used for irrigation.
In no instance have they been thus util-
lied. The truth told about the Arkan-
sas valley is good enough without the
manufacture OF such whole-cloth false
hood as this artesian irrigation inven-
ton. The Republican was badly i'm
posed on by the writer OF the above.
I'VE have on hand for next week ex-
tensiye extracts from the Chieftain's
write-up of Rocky Ford, Ordway and the
Holbrook country.l