Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-07-02
EXCELLENT MARKET ADVANTAGES
Products from Espanola Valley Reach
the Market in Much Better Condi-
ton Than Those from the Mid.
die Western States and
California.


nature. From Santa Fe to the river thu
Denver & Rio Grande railroad crosses
stretch of country resembling a frog
pond in heavy wind storm, loses itsel
in the hollows, doubles back to find the
trail, lodges mountains, crosses and re
CROSSES canons. rsvines and gulches, and
finally in cheer desperation slides dowr
hill to the stream, which can be seer
from the car window long befo;e it is
reached. There are many places in tht
territory where the mountains are higher
but none where they assume more fan
tastic shapes, neither is there another
road which takes the sightseer all arouns
hill before hunting up another.
BEAUTIFUL VIEW.
From the point where the river il
reached north to Embudo canon, the in
terest never lags, but the one particulal
spot land it is larger than an ink spot
that interests every one who visits thii
section of New Mexico is the Espanolt
valley. Much has been written concern.
ing the valley, but it has not all beer
told yet. Along the western side runs
the Rio Grande river, furnishing never
failing supply of water for irrigation
east of the stream are the fields, gardens
and orchards, and this season of the year
green and inviting. From the mesa or
the west may be seen the towns of Santa
Cruz, Espanola, Ohamita, San Juan, Plaza
del Alcalde and Velarde, with the church
spires pointing the way all good people
hope to travel. From Santa Cruz to EN-
budo canon the distance is II miles, the
average width of the valley being about
two miles. But it is not my intention to
attempt description of any one of the
many beautiful farms and orchards in the
valley in this letter, that is another story,
as Kipling says.
A GREAT AGRICULTURAL VALLEY.
The entire valley is devoted to agrioul-
ture, and is remarkably adapted to that
purpose. The soil is fertile, and with the
aid Of water from the bitches which
radiate from the river, produces bounti
tifully, wheat, oats, corn, alfalfa, ap-
Piles, peaches what is the use of
enumerating, anything that will grow
aside from tropical products, will grow in
this valley and produce prolitically.
The first crop of alfalfa has been cut
and the second, which will be followed by
third and fourth, will soon be ready for
the mower. The wheat, which will equal
that grown in any of the northern states
is fast ripening, and will be ready fol
harvest next week; the grain promises tc
be very heavy, the yield enormous.
The orchards are not large, but quite
numerous, and we'll cared for. The ap.
Pile, peach, pear and plum trees are
bending to the ground under the weight
of the fruit, and much of it will have tc
be taken off or serious damage will re-
suit to the trees.
FINE FRUIT SECTION.
The altitude of the Espanola or San
Juan valley, 5,4O0 feet, seems to be par
ticularly favorable to the growing o.
fruits of all kinds, and it seems strange
that the advantages of altitude, climate
soil and plenty of water have not been
taken into consideration by people look
ing for fruit lands, and large orchards Sc,
out years ago. The markets to the nortf
are easily reached, and the fruit from
this valley reaches them in a much more
perfect state than that shipped from the
middle western states and California
The territorial bureau of immigration
will make no mistake In calling the at
tention of farmers and fruit raisers to
this valley, since it offers many advan
tages to the intelligent, Industrious east
ern homeseeker.
Let no one imagine chat all the tillablt
land in the valley is under cultivation
II does not require an expert to see the
lies above the level of the present system
Of bitches. On this upper level, from
the main ditch east to foot hills, are
about $4,000 acres of rich soil, which
when placed under irrigation will pro
duce sugar beets, fruits or grains equally
as well as the lower land, and the water
for that purpose is ready to hand. AL
that is required is little capital and
labor to make veritable garden of q
vast tract of land now lying idle. But
forgot, the people of Ell Paso declare
that the Rio Grande is navigable stream
from the gulf to Alaska. However, WI
up and down the river, and carry out The
new irrigation scheme for this beautiful
valley.
PLENTY OF LAND AND WATER.
At the mouth of Embudo canon q
diverting dam could easily be constructed
and canal skirting the base of the foot
hills would convey the water along the
upper side of the $4,000 acres, which slop,
gently to the west, and water the entir,
tract. Twenty-Five thousand acres 0
cultivated land added to this alread,
prosperous valley would make OF it on
of the foremost agricultural districts o
the southwest. may be somewhat Wis
ionary IN regard to the feasibility of thi
scheme, but all the same the day of it
accom- plishment is not far distant.
4 FINE HEALTH RESORT.
Plaza del Alcalde, under the energeti
efforts Of Mr.. Elias CLARK, is beginning &
attract considerable attention as healt
resort, a number of people having alread
spent some time here in search of healt
with beneficial results, and inquiries con
cerning the altitude and climate are re
ceived daily. There is no reason VIII
persons looking for pure, dry air with
medium elevation should not find ther
here, for nature has done her part.
addition to climate and elevation there
good hunting and fishing, pleasant drive
and splendid accommodations, what moi
could be askedi O. 1. n.