Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-06
THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY
A Section of the Territory That Has
Been Wonderfully Favored
By Nature.
VERY MUCH ENCOURAGED
A More Favorable Spring for This In
dustry Has Not Fallen to the
Lot of the Territory for
Many Years.

Special Correspondence New Mexican
Los Lunas, May 4.-The Rio Grand
valley is certainly favored section o
New Mexico this year. OF water there i
an abundance, with every prospect of
plentiful supply for the entire season
The river is bank full now, and the snow
in the mountains to the north have hardl,
begun to melt; this condition insure
against any failure in the supply TO-
good rains are falling and all nature dowI
here is rejoicing. The plains are grow
ing green, the planted fields are in fine
condition, while the fruit-well, it is very
much in sight. I stood on the principa
street of Los Lunas today, looked over {
wall into an orchard and to make the as
sertion that the little pears and peaches
on the trees were as thick as hair on q
dogs back, is no exaggeration, if the ex
preston is not an elegant one. Danger
from frost is practically past, but there
is danger from serious damage to the
orchards by breakage of trees, unless a
portion of the crop is picked off before
much greater growth is attained. How
ever, imagine the fruit growers are as
fully alive to the situation as person
who only passes by, and will care for the
trees at the proper time.
WONDERFUL CHANGES.
New Mexico is territory of wonderful
resources and changes, and only few
miles of travel throughout the territory
are needed to convince one of this fact
Sunday afternoon stood on the reservoir
hill east of Santa Fe, and looked over the
valley to the west. Almost at my feet
was the city, veritible bouquet of red
and white blossoms in setting of fresh,
beautiful green leaves; farther to the
west we're the brown foot hills, and in the
distance loomed up the mighty bulk of
the snow, capped Cochitis, while over all
shone the blessed, health-giving sunlight
No picture was ever placed on canvass
by master hands that could compare with
that view. Today, only 100 miles south,
rode through green fields, groves and
orchards in full summer dress, while the
distant mountains we're made almost
luminous by the clouds on their summit
that reflected a summer sky. Across the
plains drifted rain clouds which scented
the atmosphere with the fresh odor of
growing vegetation, and | thought no
other land could possibly present such
varied scenes in 80 short distance.
But it is more to the purpose to leave
pictures and thoughts and get down to
every day surroundings and facts.
GREAT SHEEP SECTION.
At present Los Lunas is an extremely
quiet town. The busy season for the
sheep men is at hand, and the greater
portion of the male population is out
on the ranches caring for the f1ocks. Over
in western Socorro county Hon. Sol
Luna and over 100 men are busy looking
after 10000 fleece. bearers; northwest of
Los Lunas Mr.. A. M. Bergue, with large
force Of men, is caring for good many
thousand sheep, and Mr.. Louis Huning
and his assistants are busy with $4,000
more; other sheep owners are equally as
much interested in sheep and lambs and
wool, and thus several hundred of the
towns inhabitants are kept away from
home.
FINE SHEEP SEASON.
more favorable spring for sheep has
not fallen to the territory's lot for years
past. The lambing season is we'll ad
vanced and it is estimated that 95 per
sent of the increase will be saved; feed
and water are abundant, wh1le the price
of wool has reached point where expec-
iatioEs have been exceeded, and pros
perity is fairly beaming on Valencia
,ounty. A gentleman who keeps in close
touch with industrial and financial con
litions said this afternoons: "The year
Of 1897 will be the most prosperous for
,he people of New Mexico that we have
lad since 1882. The assured supply of
water, great fruit crop, the advance in
;he price of wool and cattle, the increase
q the hocks and herds, and the wonder
nl development OF the mining interests
III over the territory are restoring old |
lime conditions and it is generally con-
,luded that the dark days of adversely
nd hard times are past.
SUGAR BEET EXPERIMENTS.
The farmers in the vicinity Of Los
lunhs are turning their attention to
ugar beet culture this year, and expert
nents on a large scale will be made
With the saccharine tubers, with the view
If erecting factory should the tests
prove satisfactory. So soon as the case
q the courts bearing on the question of
he title of the Bosque Los Pinos grant is
'ettled, should the grant be confirmed,
,olony Of so Quaker families is expected
rom the east to settle on the land in the
grant. The people will engage 10 beet
raising on large scale. Great expecta-
ions are built on the success of the ex-
periments OF the coming summer, and
here is no known reason why these OK.
pectations should not be realized.