The Lamar register., 1897-11-27
THE ARKANSAS VALLEY.
Great Interest Taken by OmciaIs of
the Santa Fe in Its Development.

Below we publish a letter OF Paul Nor
ton, third vice-president OF the Santa F'e
railroad system, to their industrial com
missioner which shows the unbounded
faith the officials of that road have in
the future development OF this valley.
and also that they intend to use every
possible endeavor to assist in and hasten
that great work. The letter also con
tains some good advice 10 the farmers in
regard to which branches of their bust
ness will prove the most profitable as a
permanent thing, and also the best mar
lIets, etc. The farmers viii find much of
iAterest to them in this letter, as Mr..
Morton has made a thorough study Of
this section OF the valley, aud come TO
the conclusion that it is the greatest ag
ricnltural section of the west
Chicago, Ill, Nov. 10, 1897.
MIR JAS, A. DAVIS,
Industrial Com'r A. T. S S. f.
Dear Referring TO Our talk today
relative to the Arkansas Valley and the
Importance OF our doing everything We
can consistently to assist its further de
yelopment.
The progress OF this section OF the
country during the last few years has
been very gratifying indeed to everyone,
and yet, in my opinion, it has barely
commenced It's march to where it will
ultimately halt, either in industrial de
velopment or population.
In connection with this valley and its
future, the following suggestions are
made.
LIST. Everything possible should be
done to still further encourage the sheep
feeding industry. The banks in the val
ley are, am told, glad TO lend money at
reasonable rates TO parties owning alfalfa
and other feed who wish 10 buy sheep.
II the sheep are cautiously bought good
prodt can be made in this branch of tine
business. New Mexico and Arizona can
supply the sheep and the Kansas City
market demands them after they are
fattened.
2nd. The melon production should be
pushed. Nowhere in the United States
can melons be raised more successfully
and nowhere in the country have the
melons raised established such a reputa
tion as from Rocky Ford and other points
in the valley. For flavor and general SUI
periority, those melons cannot be beaten
and the demand for them will more than
keep pace with the supply.
Bird, More vegetables OF all kinds
should be raised in the valley. This is
especially true of potatoes, onions and
celery. Texas takes hundreds of car
loads OF Colorado potatoes every year
and there is no reason why, il it is intel
ligently pursued, the Arkansas valley
should not supply most of them. II Is
said the town OF Kalamazoo. Michigan,
ships annually over sl,oOo,OOo worth of
celery The Arkansas valley in my opin-
ion can produce better article than
Michigan does and there is every reason
why the cultivation of this plant should
be prosecuted in the most vigorous way
by the inhabitants of the valley. l eS,
pect to see the day when western celery
in proper sized bunehes and tied with
bine ribbon will take first premium at
all the state fairs and command pre-
mium in the market over celery from
anywhere else in the world.
4th. The cultivation OF the sugar beet
should be carefully and intelligently ex-
perimented with. There is no doubt IN