Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-07-29
FROM ROCKY FORD.
A Season Of Prosperity In the Fruit
Region Of the Arkansas
Valley.

Especial cor. Colorado Springs Gazette.l
Rocky Ford is enjoying season OF
prosperity seldom reached by points
more favorably situsted. Depending
largely upon her agricultural and horti-
cultural surroundings, she takes great
pride in fostering both these branches OF
industry, which contribute largely to her
prosperity. As early as May I'D, far
mers began shipping early garden pens
to the various towns aud cities north and
west. Green beans were being shipped
June 18th, asparagus and rhubarb much
earlier.
It is a we'll known fact that all kinds
OF farming depend upon irrigation in this
valley. Rocky Ford is farmed with the
greatest number Of ditches carrying the
greatest amount Of water for irrigating
purposes, Of any other point between
Canon City and the Kansas line. :.
The staple crop in this part OF the WI
crop, of which there were shipped 252
carloads, besides there were at least 80
carloads shipped by express in broken
lots last yedr. Who has not hearl oi
Watermelon. Day at Rocky Ford? The
acreage planted to melons is much larger
this year and the crop is expected to far
exceed that Of last year.
Horticulture is comparatively in its in.
fancy here. but there are number oi
orchards beginning to bear. Apples,
pears, prunes, plums. cherries and all
kinds oi small fruits do well here, and in
a few more years will prove n great soui &C
Of income to Rocky Ford.
The town OF Rocky Ford is situated in
the midst OF one Of the most beautiful
valleys IN the west: the streets nre level
and Of good width, and on either side
grows the thrifty cottonwood (the mag
nolia OF Oolorado). The town for its age
is very well built up. One nice block
was completed last month and another is
bnildiug which when completed will
compare iavorably with the best business
blocks Of other md much larger cities.
business Of all kinds is we'll represented
here, besides wc have n large Touring
mill, canning factory and splendid
creamery, capable OF producing 600
pounds of butter per day.
Four good brick church buildings.
Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and
Catholic good high school build
ing,with large and beautiful grounds;
come rmaller school buildings, with more
in prospect. Society IN Rocky Ford is
ms good, il not better than that OF cities
OF much more pretensions. One chnrac-
teristic of tho people Of this city is indus
try. The street lOafer- is almost au uu-
known thing here. The absence Of the
street corner statesman is a relief indeed.
Most every business and professional
man owns and culiivates (or has culti-
vated) field Of melods, tomatoes. corn,
beans, sweet potatoes or alfalfa. Sena-
tor Swink il one OF the most industrious.
thorough going and wide-awake men 1
ever met From O'Clock II. m. to 9p. m.
he is on the go, looking after his many
interests. Then Representative Crowley
has the gem OF the Arkansas valley by
way OF the finest orchard, n beauty to be.
hold. Bee culture forms no little part OF
the industry OF this section Of the coun-
try. One man here put no less than
$1,000 pounds Of honey on the market
last year. He has $50 colonies in his
apiary.
Rocky Ford has system Of water
works, the source Of which is three arte-
sian wells. The water from these wells
is said to be Of great medicinal value.-
B, A, P. EATON.