Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-04-20

to level six feet higher than it would in
travelling mile il it had kept it's natural
channel. The second mile it gains six
feet more, and 80 on until at a point ten
miles down the ditch, the water in the
ditch will have reached level sixty feet
higher than the water at an opposite
point in the river. The method and
amount Of labor necessary to irrigate are
questions often little understood by
farmers in eastern states. It is the sim.
plest thing in the world, and any man
with ordinary intelligence can learn in a
week. Main canals are always con-
structed on the highest land, 80 when the
water is released in small streams
through small laterals it has an easy
down grade. The laterals, which arc
simply furrow made by plow, are Of
such distance apart (aocordinR TO the
lay Of the land) that by putting in .
small dam the water will overflow in
each direction until il meets the water
coming from the next lateral, which is
being treated in the same way. The dam
consists Of few shovels full Of dirt,
which is removed when the land in that
vicinity is thoroughly wet, and the
water let down 70 another point, and the
same thing repeated. A man can irri-
gate from 10 to 80 acres day, according
to the lay OF the land and the amount Of
water he has. Tho average cost per an.
mum for this labor is so cents per scre,
while the cost Of the water II 80 cent?
Per aero (for maintenance Of main canaD,
il you own your own water right; Il moi,
tho water cost $50 per scre
Do you not have TO do good deal Of
carrying and wetting with . Watering
pot in the remote cornes?
There arc NO remote corners which
cannot be reached by the lsterals. The
water from the canal Il taken 70 the
highest point Of your land, from which
II flows by an easy grade 70 every portion
Of tho farm.
You say in your paper that there arc
minerals in the water that adds fertility
and makes crops grow. Don't these
same minerals make the water bad for
some people 70 drink2 Doesn't Il affect
their digestion or do you have some rem
edy for il?
Mr.. Gregory doubtless refers to the
rich sediment carried BY the canals and
spread upon the land. The soil OF the
Arkansas valley had its origin in the
granite OF the mountains, which, when
disintegrated, makes the most fertile soil
known. This water, when filtered into
cisterns, is pure, an excellent drinking
water. But artesiau wells are % plenti.
fol in the vicinity Of Rocky Ford that
artesian water il used by great major
ity OF the people. And there is no bet
ter water anywhere than the artesian
water OF tho Arkansas valley.l
You have SO much sunshine I think It
must bc nice for poultry. Cannot they
range out Of doors a great part Of the
season, and what prices do you get for
eggs on an average and how much for
poultry?
[Those OF our farmers who give intel.
ligcnt attention to poultry have decided
success. There arc very few days dur
the winter when poultry cannot be out
Of doors. There Is little snow or rain to
make mud, which. with the unusual
amount Of sunshine, makes this au ideal
place for tho poultry raiser. The price
Of eggs varies from 10 to 40 cents per
dozen. Just now live hens are in do.
mand at $3.50 and Is per dozen. Our
dressed poultry comes in competition
with refrigerator goods from Kansas, and
should not be counted on, but the pro.
iuction Of eggs is q very profitable busi-
ness.
How much will II cost to locate or buy
and get started on ten acres on moder-
nte plan the first year?
Prices Of land vnry from $50 To sl25
per acre. which includes perpetual water
right. The $50 land is from 2 to 3 miles
from town. The cost OF buildings will
vary according to the taste and abilitr Of
the individual purchaser.
Please answer this and give me what
you think would like to
know and oblige.
ISAAC o. GRKaoRY.
fAmong the things which Mr.. Gregory
has not asked about. but ought to know,
are these: The climate Of the Arkansas