Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-04-24

| Aii' ophh ~ AuNOiutOt pOhptihibB ~ uSlti
one half in orchard, aud supporting GO
stands of bees; Mr.. s. A. Steel's creamer
farm, where herd of 25 fine Jersey COW
are kept and butter made; Judge New
combs home place of ~ acres; the Had
! ley house and ranch of 70 acres, set t
| fruit trees and some in alfalfa. The en-
tire valley is covered with fine orchard
and alfalfa fields, to visit them al
would require weeks, but had a person tn
time he could spend month in drivin,
from one ranch to another, without tir
ing of the trees and scenery and ditohes
One year ago this morning occurred tn
late frost which resulted SO disastrousI,
to the fruit growers in the valley, and vi
to this time there has been much anxiet,
over the possibility of just such anothe
frost. The latest date frost was eve
known was the Oath of May, many year
ago, but the weather is so warm that tn,
people begin to feel that all danger ii
now past, and are arranging to care fo
the enormous yield that seems assured
Since coming to New Mexico much hal
been told me of the wonderful Mesillt
valley, and herstofGr. have been in
elinea TO look with .lspicion on talk o
that kind and the fellows who did thu
talking, but seeing is knowing, and nov
| am ready to believe anything told m,
about the fertility of the soil, the orch
ards and .he alfalfa fields. II the people
will turn out and grade mp the roads te
keep the water from overlooking them
the Mesilla valley would be as near {
paradise as is possible to find in this
country of ours.
LAS CRUCES CANNING FACTORY.
Las Cruces boasts OF the only canning
factory in the territory, and that institu
tion will do some canning this year, bar
ring all mishaps. Mr.. Theodore Rouault
the proprietor, has 100 acres planted ir
tomatoes, and other persons have planted
100 acres more, the product to be used by
the factory. Fruits of all kinds are also
canned. Mr.. Rouault has succeeded il
making reputation for his canned goods
and heretofore has not been able to sup.
ply the demand, but this year he hopes to
be able to fill all orders with the best
ming business Mr.. Rouault conducts a
large general merchandise store in town
where he does good business.
LoHMAN's EXTENSIVE BUSINESS.
The most extensive business in
Las Cruces is that of Mr.. Martin Lob
man. He has wholesale and retail store
which occupies 81 large rooms, and car
ries the largest assortment of goods in
the territory. His retail department has
and he ls now figuring on putting up a
suitable building the coming summer.
Mr.. Lohman is also proprietor of fine
Touring mill situated in tho south part of
town. This mill is equipped with a COM
plete roller system, having a capacity of
so barrels per day, and is run by either
steam or water power as desired. The
mill is run constantly on Mesilla valley
wheat and makes "the best flour in the
world" as Mr.. Lohman states; the demand
for the output exceeds the capacity. North
of town is another mill Of 30 barrels
owned and operated by Messrs.
Lncero & Carbonier, which runs all the
time and dads a8rsad5 market for the
output.
THE sHALAM COLONY.
Up the valley seven miles is located one
of the queerest institutions | ever heard
of. It is known as the Shalam colony,
but-the colony feature has long since de-
parted. This settlement was established
about II years ago by an eccentric indi-
vidual from New York, but the property
is now owned by q Mr.. Howland, retired
wool merchant from Boston, and consists
of 1000 acres of land. But before attempt
ing description of the place it will be
we'll to explain the purpose for which the
scheme is carried on. Mr.. and Mrs. How
land are vegetarians of the strictest type,
and it is their dream to establish, or rather
raise up, race of non-competitive, nom
men, who shall live in an ideal
state of communism, eschew all animal
foods, and | suppose bring about the
millennium. The colony WAS originally d.
vided into two branches. Levitica was
the colony proper. Here some thirty
house we're erected on five
acre plats, and large general store. For
the privilege of living in these houses
and using the land the colonist paid tithes
which went to the support of the Waits
home. The other branch is called Shalam,
and here are located the Waits home and
the buildings for the schools, religious
purposes and the residences of the pro-
prletor and his associates and boons.
The entire tract is under high state of
the irrigating system consist
ing of reservoir and tanks supplied
from wells, the pumping being done by
seven windmills. There is no doubt that
this is the finest property in the entire
southwest. Mr.. Howard is very wealthy
man, and has spent money lavishly in
erecting the buildings, the irrigation sys-
tem and in other improvements, and it is
estimated by those persons who know the
thoroughly that half million
dollars has been invested. At one time
Levitica was filed with solonists, but they
gradually drifted away, and now that part
Jf the place is abandoned, although the
buildings are kept in good repair. At
ranging in age from little babies to IL or
Ia years. The children are dressed in
,otton slips, given two meals and a bath
each day, and have school which they
attend. These little ones are brought ont
from the eastern cities, and although II
years have passed since the establish.
ment of the home, not one has staid on
the place after reaching an age when he is
able to care of himself. Both girls and
boys are taken but they all 60 the same
road. Many are the stories Of the eccen-
tricities of Mr.. and Mrs. Rowland told by
the people Of the valley, and from all ac-
counts the beliefs in a religious way, and
the management of the property are en-
tlrely unique. Despite the many failures
to procure the right material from which
to make non-com bative men and women,
Mr. Rowland continues his work, and no
doubt, in his way, thoroughly enjoys life.
o. L. r.