davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

of their happy family. use the word
As the members of household are
banded together by similarties Of mu-
tiial interest and sympathy, as one
member OF the human family cannot
he injured without the rest suffering,
so a member OF n family or town cannot
he affected without a relax action ON
all others. All interests center In one
grand local point. the general welfare.
Rocky Ford seems inspired with the
same ambition In spiritual rs In eiu.
cation matters. We find here the Pres
bytcr.an, NJ. T.. Baptist. Episcopal and
Catholic churches and all have large cor
gregations.
The Young Peoples religious societies
are well represented by strong organIzi-
tons OF the Christian Endeavor. the Bap-
tist Young Peoples Union and the Ep.
worth League. All three are doing excel
lent work.
CIVIC SOCIETIES.
This feature of town or city will
always bc found a safe and reliable
standard from which to judge the men
who constitute the element OF the town
and surrounding country. Banded to-
gethcr by solemn and irrcvocablc ties.
for the abstract purpose Of friendship.
morality, bUthcrly love. sympathy,
council and support. wherever they are
found strong In number will always he
found harmonious and united COM
munity. In which contentious seldom
arise. except that noble contention Of
who best can work for public good.
Silent. often In their charitable work.
ings. the outside world can never know
to what extent It Is indebted to these
noble organizations for their numerous
anicliorations OF distress In the hour OF
their need or their specific Influences
In auietina conflicting elements and
rcstorations OF harmony so vitality cs.
scntial 10 the general welfare OF the
community in which they operate. Al.
and suspicious are but the legitimate
orsprings OF an Ignorance OF their ma
tivcs and workings. Any community
In which these praiseworthy institu.
lions exist can always be trusted ms u
peaceful and law abiding and n goodly
land wherein TO dwell. We find well
represented here: I. .. o. +. lodge No.
81. with large membership and the
officers are us follows: b. Il. Smith. N.
c.: I. ID. Hale. v. c.: A.P. Kouns. Il.
secretary: w. B. Goblin. +. secretary:
George A. Daring. treasurer. Trustees:
II. A. Dawley, +. NJ. Clark and George
A. Daring and in connection with the
lodge is the Odd Fellows Building as
ISOLATION, with n capital stock Of $4,000
and Its officers are: J. @. Gracey. pre-
sidcnt: II. A. Dawley. secretary. and Il.
c. Maltby treasurer, and they are all
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

TEN Of graded schools Is maintained In
ing great pride In the educational facili
ties. \ free public library is main
tained. The unequalled agricultural
environment of Rocky Ford. In con.
prise OF Its citizens. insures II steady
and constant growth which cannot bu,
commend II to those seeking new
homes In the West.
During last year three ar,esian wells
Were drilled at Rocky Ford. and all prov.
cd highly successful. Wells drilled a
other points In the county seem to estab
lish the fact that Rocky Ford Is In tn,
center of the artesian basin OF Southern
Colorado. All OF the wells In the towr
proving far superior to those In other por.
tions Of f'- valley. One Of Rocky Ford's
wells sui more water than any Other
in the STATE. Not only Is the supply good
bu, the pressure Is such rs to send the wa
ter to the height OF 100 feet. making the
wells wa;cr-power OF great value. An
analysis OF water shows that It Is of a
high degree OF purity and possessing
enough medical properties to he beneficial
In many diseases.
SCHOOLS.
The fountain head. the main spring
of national greatness. we find here In
all Its glory. Rocky Ford. withou,
doubt. now has some OF the most
valuable school property Of any city her
size In the state. II is fine two-story
brick building costing $4,000. with six
departments. and there are about 3JC
pupils on the daily enrolment. Tie
officers OF the school board are as fol
lows: DIR. T.. W. Kcarby, president; II
A Dawley. secretary. and w. @. Steele
Il r-er. The schools this season are
in charge Of Prf +. b. Bolles and is
assisted by Miss Nellie Guthrie. Miss
Laura Gates, Mrs. GARDENER. Mrs. Elscr
and Mrs. Taylor. ana they are nll care.
ful and competent teachers. This scho,
Is above the average OF schools In towns
of this size and there were seven gradu
ated last year. two of whom entered the
junior class OF the state normal with
out examination. Prof. ltoilcs WAS c,lu
Gated In Illinois. where lie taught school
for sixteen years In three diffcrcn,
schools and came 10 this city three year.
ago. making his ninteenth year OF school
work. and is now serving his third
.ear here and to the satisfaction of bot
scholars and parents. Graduates n; this
school are eligible to enter state nor
NAL college without further cxnmina.
ton. Prof. Bollcs works hard and is {;
constant student, when not In thc
school room, keeping UP with the edu
cation Of the times. The school Is In a
very prosperous condition and the OF.
iicers are very proud Of the school and
superintendency. Rocky Ford certainly
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

destined to he one of the most extensive
anu profitable industries which can en-
gage the attention of the industrious
hllsbandman. All vegetables known to
this latitude are grown to perfection In
quality and in most generous quantity.
Among the most profitable are water
melons, cantalopes. tomatoes. cabbage,
celery. cucumbers. beans and peas and
beth sweet and Irish potatoes are highly
profitable crops. Those whose inclina-
tons or experience are In the direction
of market gardening should carefully
investigate the claims of the Arkansas
valley rs n place In which to engage
permanently In the profitable pursuit
FRUIT RAISING.
Among the many reasons why this
valley Is especially adapted to fruit
raising Is, not only that 1t is the lowesl
valley In the state. that 1t has the warm.
est and most eluable climate. and the
finest system of irrigation. but the fur
tler fact that there is nothing to mar or
destroy the fruit while growing. We
are not troubled with insect pests, n
fact that but few fruit regions can
boast of. The Importance of this fact
will he readily understood by the fruit
growers of the worm infected fruit dis
second year will bring paying returns.
and as Il rule the third will be the best
Tree fruits require long time to mature,
but less labor In care. culture and
marketing: and when ut mature age.
they will yield more profit per acre. In
apples this is especially noteworthy and
is one Of the most attractive features OF
the valley, and II Is known rs .he ..home
of the big red apple"
CATTLE INDUSTRY.
The range business OF Colorado Is di.
vidcd Into two branches. The firs,
comprises what In former years was the
more general form. viz: running cattle
on the range all the year round. The
second consists of grazing cattle on the
free range during the summer months
and gathering them during the winter.
The large herds Of cattle running loose
upon the range. and which were nj.
lowed To roam free all the year round.
except when they were rounded up In
the spring In order TO brand the calves.
or In the fall In order TO gather the beef
cattle. are still To he found In Colorado.
but not to the cx;en; they were when
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07
THEY ARE COMING.

They are coming from the deserts Of the dim
and dusty East.
where to raise stuu;ci turnip Is the pros
pcct of u feast:
Where the farms are made OF gravcl anu 'he!
pillow with dynamite:
where the festive chatici mortgage sings Its
dirE,- day and night
They arr coming In their wagons-;hcy are
coming ON the train
They arc coming from the regions where they
struggled long and vain;
They are coming from the cabin-ihcy are
coming from the hall
They are coming to Colorado. where there =
plenty for them all.
Where the savage used to wander. ycarnins
for his crop OF hair.
Now the farmer takes his porkcr to the .ncat.
est county fair:
And til. wheat il daily growing where III"
greasy wiEwnm stood.
whcr, he burned the wailng captive. now
tho chickens scratch their fooh'
And the people who are coming to this pleas.
nnic>t OF cllmcs.
Show the Happy knnck Of keeping with tile
progress OF the times
They will IND n country bcIminE from tile
sprlnsilnc to the fah.
II they land In Rocky Ford, whcfc ihrrc
plenty for them NIL.
OBJECT.
In presenting this article io ilic public
1t is the writer's aim TO give plain and
truthful statement of the advantages
OF Rocky Ford and Otcro county. SIT
uatcd near the center of one of the best
states In the union. Nothing will he cN'
aggcrn,cd, and no attempt will he made
TO make the county and city appear bet
ter than II really is. II is not the in'cn
tion OF the writer to go into all the de
tails Of the early settlement OF Rock!
Ford and Otcro county. nor Is 1t cN
pectcd. for that is left for the historian
THE TRANSFORMATIONS.
The transformation. growth and de
velopmcnt OF Colorado was the pro
duct of the Omnlpoient. But yesterdn!
an unboundcd wilderncss-a vast I'M
known cxpansc-the abode of savager!
the playground OF the bison-thc nap
py hunting grounds Of the Nomads u
the plains who rcigncd in peace serene
The world Is familiar with the phc
nomcnnlly rapid growth of the west
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

superiority and quantity of those pro-
ducts. The town is one Of the hand
soonest In the state, made so largely by
its great abundance of shade trees,
both business and residence streets be-
Ing made attractive and pleasant by
wealth of native trees A splendid sys-
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

to their God, their country, their neigh
bors and themselves. so that In old age
they may enjoy the happy reflections
consequent on a well-spent life and die
in the hope of glorious Immortality
CHURCHES.
Next In order comes the various re-
liglous denominations which we find
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

In one brief generation we have looked
with amazcment at the flight OF the vast
herds of wild game and the advancing
caravans OF the immigrants; seen the
locomotive climb chamois-likc over
GINS and the very cresis of the Rocky
mountains; seen web of steel spread
over the wilderness by the great spider
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

Rocky mountains and the state me
II IL thirty by sixty miles in size, with
nm area of LOO square miles There
are 1000 acres under 300 miles OF
l,riyating canals. now built ana IN
opcrat,on; the remaining area Is one of
the best stock ranges In the state The
I.npuun canal on the north side Of the
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

the ground Is most favorably adapted
ton OF water FOR irrigation and FOR
r:iising good crops. and In conversation
with reliable farmer he Informed us
that he had never seen a total failure
Of crops in Otcro county. Wheat does
cxccllcntly. especially the fall varieties.
The character Of the soil and the favora.
bic climate invariably prevent freezing
out. and uniformly good crops result.
Rye thrivcs well and IL n good crop {"
grow. But little attention Is paid TO
barley. but II produces well. In corn
growing the valley presents advantages
which have no parallel In tile state,
The soil has u special adoption to corn.
which makes II u profitable crop to
grow and the quantity per acre is
large. especially when planted OH alfalfa
sod turned under. and the punlity en-
ccllcnt. Oat fields turn or remarkably
large crops. especially where alfalfa has
been grown OIL the land during a few
years previous. The yield per acre is
large. the quality superior and the
weight per measured bushcl FAR henv-
icr than IN the Eastern states. and at
this time oats Is one OF the most pro.
iitablc crops grown by the farmers Of
the valley. and
ALFALFA.
Raising is the most distinctive feature
of irrigated farming In this valley. II
is one of the most valuable products
of the farm and is to irrigation farm
ing nil. and more. than red clover is to
the Eastern farming. lii properly pre-
pared soil good stand of plants Is
easily obtained, and good stand Sc
cured the field may remain in alfalfa fol
a century, furnishing from three to iiv,
crops of from five 10 eight tons of the
finest hay each season. and show NJ
diminition in growth or yield. The roo
J pcnctrates the soil much deeper thar
, any other farm product-oftcn from
I six to ten fcct-and draws nourishmcn
, from the soil nll along the root
n VEGETABLES.
ii Market gardening is yet almost In 1T
6 infancy In the Arkansas valley, but Il
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

panding the air cells OF the lungs. the
climate affords a sunnincss and mildness
which enables the invalid TO live out
doors much OF the timc-n most i'm
portant feature In the recovery from all
chronic troubles.
q. $. FowLERS OBSERVATIONS.
~. :. Fowler. the celebrated phrenol-
ogist. who travelled all over the United
States and Canada, lccturing and
studying the conditions Of health and
prosperity. sent many people TO this
valley from both the Atlantic and Pa
ciiic slopes for the recovery of their
health and to make homes. SO great
was his confidence in the salubrity
of this climate and Its rcmcdicai effect
on pulmonary diseases. asthma and
other kindred troubles. that in the spring
of 1857 he invested some thousands of
dollars In nm irrigation enterprise. in
tending TO form a colony where inva-
lids afflicted with such diseases might
come. make homes. and with restored
health, live lives of comfort, prosperity
and happiness. But. unfortunately, in
the fall OF that year he died. and his en-.
tcrprisc for the benefit OF humanity
came to naught. The town OF Fowler
IN this tOterol county was named In his
honor. and the ditch he projected and
| commenced has since been built by the
people who settled there during his
| operations.
| But what about
ROCKY FORDy
We think we hear someone about 10
remark: Rocky Ford is one Of the best
known towns In the state. 1t has been
mn,ie so by the enterprise. push aud
public spirit of Its business men and
the farmers of the surrounding country
and has a population OF about 1000
souls. 1t is centrally located In Otcrc
county and In the midst of the fines,
farming region In Colorado. Seven
large canals irrigate the country which
is tributary to Rocky Ford. making II
one of the best watcred and most relia.
ble farming and fruit growing portions
of the West. II is the great shipping
point for water melons. cantalopes and
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

of the Valley and Rocky Ford Has
Very Solid Bank An Iowa Editor
Our o~n
Truthfu Them. the Surrounding
Country Most Enter
prisng People
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07
the high price of beef enabled the own.
crs 10 bear the winters losses.

the high price Of beef enabled the own
crs To bear the winters losses.
HOG RAISING.
Closely related 10 the alfalfa crop Is
the raising OF hogs. This is one OF the
most profitable departments OF farm
operations In the valley. and. as In the
ease OF honey. we have the whole coun-
try for market on account Of the cheap.
ness with which hogs can he raised here.
The common method of raising hogs
In the spring, the shoats that are to he
sold the next fall and winter Shoats
in good growing condition AMI weigh
ing a. pounds or more. If turned into
the pasture when the alfalfa is from
eight inches to foot high-whcn young.
cr II is too watcry-will grow right
along all summer without grain: and
when the corn hardcns in the fall they
are in the finest possible condition to
put OH tat. With cheap corn and plenty
Of alfalfa the problem OF cheap pork
is solved. The farmer in this valley
has both. and has besides a climate
that is almost continuous sunshine.
These facts. all taken together. show
why hog raising has such financial ut.
fractions for the farmer. II is not an
uutircd theory in this valley. hut a
practical fact that has stood the test
of experience TO the great profit Of ON
I fn
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

has good reasons to feel lnudable pride
in her pull, sc,'.ols and mn, those
receiving instructions there fully appre-
ciate the benefit II confcrs on them and
occupy themselves diligently to the ac-
quircments of a useful knowledge in the
days of their youth and In the days of
their manhood apply that knowledge
to the discharge OF their various duties
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

FARMERS DEPEND UPON NATURE FOR RAIN
BUT EACH CROP WHEN NEEDED
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07
The Great Rich Arkansas River Valley
Of Colorado.
OR INTENDED THE HOME THEPARMER AND RRuITRAISDR
Abundant Work for the industrious.-Rare Oppor.
tunties for the Manufacturer.-A Beet Sugar
Factory talked of in Otero County,

IT'S THE BREAD AND MEAT BASKET OF THE
ROCKY MOUNTAINS WITH ABUNDANT
FRUIT FOR DESSERT.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

The Pedomnang Resources of this Particular Part of the Valley
are Alfalfa Fruit Hogs and Bees, While Health and
Climate are Free to ALL
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07
BEES AND HONEY.

There is no more pleasant and proiita
BILE industry in this valley than rails.
ing bees and producing honey for mar
Of fruit ard dairy. Honey can be pro-
duccd here for not more than ouc-half
the cost OF its production In the dampcr
climate farther East. Some of the con
litions that tend to the cheap produc-
tion Of honey i'm this valley will. on a
moments reflection. be recognized by
all that have any knowledge OF the
habits Of the honey bee. Among these
conditions are the long. warm. growing
Gus sunshine. The production of honey
is already n very important Industry In
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

In the Center Of this is Rocky Ford, one Of the
liveest Little Cities in the Universe
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-07

ROCKY FORD IS SITUATED UPON The SANTA E RAILROAD AFFORDNG
EXCELLENT RAILWAY FACILITIES
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-19
THEY HELD UP THE TRAIN.
The Daring Work Of Two Men In
Alabama.
GOT ONLY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
Held n Pistol At the Head Of the
Engineer and Forced Trainmen
to break Open the Cnrs.

Birmingham. Ala. December ls..-Tra'u
No. 81, west bound on the Southern rail-
way. which left here yesterday afternoon at
4 o'clock, was held up at Z o'clock last
right between Berry and Bankston. In Fay
cite county, sixty-five miles from here by
two masked men. The men flngsJd tho
trcin down on bridge and one got on the
engine and covered Engineer Jones and his
fireman with pistols. while the other rob
Der boarded tho express and baggage cars
The robber In the engine forced the eugn
Ger and fireman to assist In breaking the
door OF the baggage car down. Messenger
A. l.. Burlington was covered ana one OF
the safes in the car was broken into. The
large through combination safe was also
tampcrcd with.
The robbers got very little for thcli
trouble. The exact amount is not stated.
Superintendent Frazier OF the Southern
with bloodhounds from Coalburg peniten-
tary went to the scene of the robbery or
a special train and every effort is beinr
made to eaten the robbers.
Assistant General Manager T. w. Lcary
of tho Southern Express company confirms
the report Of the train robbery that oc-
CURED on the Southern railway west oil
Birmingham last night. lie says tho rob
bers secured about $500.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-19

London. December 1S.-The morning pa-
pers very generally comment upon the
gravity OF the situation between the United
States and Spain, brought about by the ac-
ton Of the senate foreign relations COM
mittee in agreeing to the Cameron resolu-
tion for the recognition OF the Cuban re-
public. They agree for the most part in
the belief that President Cleveland Will
have to veto the resolution If sent to him.
but in the present temper Of the American
people the resolution would be passed by
congress over n veto.
I'm that case" says the Chronicle. the
recognition will be tantamount TO de-
caration of war. Great powers would have
declared war. hut ii Is difficult TO say
what Spain will do.
Looking to the momentous probability
of the popular will overriding President
Cleveland and the cabinet" the Chronicle
thinks that ut is a bad outlook for the
relations of all nations with the United
States The danger, however, is far greater
for America herself than for any other M =
ton Besides the senate action is virtual
population of the Monroe doctrine
The Daily News thinks that hut little
except talk will come Of the resolution.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-19
Un,busin.m at Atlanta.

Atlanta. CT, December 1S.-About 2ooc
rcoplc g; hered at the house tonight to
attend a mass meeting in behalf OF Cuba.
The meeting was presided over by ex-
Governor W. ]. Northern and Albert \.
Cox. John johnson. Jr.. J. h. Blackburn.
Hamilton Douglass, r. d. Fielder and Senior
Jastaverti n Cuban refugee, spoke. NO such
enthusiasm was ever Witnessed In public
gathering here and volunteers could nave
been mustered on the spot. hundred Gu
han men and women. chiefly those who
had fed from Cuba, attended and added
the shout CUBA libre' to the yells of the
Sontherners Resolutions We're adopted In
favor Of Cuba's independence and con-
demning the method of SPANS warfare.
| permanent Cuban club was organized
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-19
Philippine RcvoI, sprendtn.,

New York, December Is--A special 10
the Herald from Manila, via Hong Kong.
says; The rebellion In tho Philippine Is
lands has spread TO the provinces OF Bulu
ca Batangas and Pampanga, and in a less
degree 10 Morong. embracing the island OF
Luzon, south Bulucan--in fact all the
Tagalog provinces.
The chief interest is In Cavi,e. which
the Spanish will shortly attack in force,
ueneral Polevicja probably directing the
troops In person.
General La Chambre has assumed COM
mand In Bstangas and Lamunga, aud has
started forward TO clear the rebels out OF
that region
Railway traffic is suspended consequent
upon the operations Of General Ranagos.
The people OF the Northern provinces are
still loyal
On Friday a column of 250 native troops
deserted from Bulucan. There are frequent
executions. but they are Intellectual There
were twonty-one In Cavite and four hero
on Monday
Emilio AQuinaldo. who commands the
rebels at Cavitc. has two Spanish ladies
imprisoned In the rebel stronghold
The Japanese cruiser Yoshma has ar
rived, and the consulate Is nightly guarded
10y blue jackets. Boats are kept In readl .
ness al many places for wealthy foreign
merchants to Zee in case Of the expected
outbreak In Manila, where widespread dis
loyalty exists.
The British cruiser Spartan left Hong
Kong today to reinforce the Daphne Pig
my and Pique at Manila.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-19

New York. December 1S.--During the
coming week large quantities OF provisions
be entered before January /. On that date
Ger eral Weyler's order raising the tariff
on imports goes into effect, and it is to
avoid this increase that Cuban merchants
have hurried then orders, Thousands of
tlerces of lard and hams and boxes OF bacon
are being hurried Off. This rush began i'm
mediately after Weyler's order a month ago
and has increased steadily to the present
time. Some flour has also been shipped,
but not any great amount owing to the
discriminating duty.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-19

Little Rock, Ark, December 1.-two
carloads of heavy artillery passed through
this city yesterday. going south over the
Iron Mountain road. The cars came In
from the north on the early morning fast
freight from Poplar Bluff and we're inlme-
diately coupled on to the Texas fast freigls
and left for Texarkana The artillery was
way billed from St, Louis, but an effort to
learn where the shipment originated ana its
destination proved fruitless. The conductor
in charge of the train carrying the two cara
from Little Rock to Texarkana, said that
the cars were billed to Texas port ana
that the artillery was consigned to CUBAN
parties, but would not give their names nor
the port to which the cars were desunch.
The conductor stated that the arms were
for the Cuban patriots.