The Holly chieftain., 1899-05-19
Arkansas Valley Fat Lambs.
Soon to Rival the Whole
World in This Industry.

For many years the Fort Collins |
lamb feeding district has been the |
most noted in the United States, |
both from the number handled and
the quality produced. A Fort Col |
lins lamb at market stood for the
ideal lamb as a meat animal.
But Fort Collins now has rival, |
the Arkansas valley will produce a
greater number Of lambs, while to-
day they are just as fine and sell for
Just as much on the market.
The Arkansas valley industry began |
as an experiment with the feeding Of
100 head. The result was good
profit. ". A. Colt, president of the
Bent-Otero improvement company,
was the man who bought the fifteen
hundred head, and to whom belongs
the credit OF the industry
which grew from 1900 head to
about l3O, 900 head in about four years.
AS to the point of advantage the
Arkansas valley has over all other |
sections Of Colorado, principally mean
ing the Fort Collins district as there
is no argument OF Colorado as against
the states east in the rain belt, we
clear them without an effort. But
as to northern Colorado and Fort |
Collins: in the first place we are 200
miles farther south. giving us warmer
climate: we are 100 miles farther east i,
OF the great Rocky mountain range
giving us dryer climate. The record
Of the weather bureau shows /. feet
average rainfall in the Fort Collins
district during the year while our rec
ord shows one foot. One third less
moisture means a good deal to a
feeding lamb. We have great advan-
tage on freight in all cases. Our
freight on the through rates from
New Mexico is $50 per car less, and
in some cases still less. In fact, one
third Of our lambs are driven into the
feed lots direct from southern Color
ado and northern New Mexico ranges,
allowing the shipment out on local
rates, which is only $50 per car The
great Santa Fe road reaches all the
principal lamb ranges and is a direct
line for all in and out shipments,
and is doing all in its power to make
this the greatest lamb feeding coun-
try in Colorado.
The altitude of the Arkansas valley
is 1000 feet Alfalfa, which thrives
best in low attitudes and warm eli
mate, is at its best here, our valley
being the lowest irrigated valley in
the state. The drainage Of the Ar
kansas river has the greatest area
OF any river in the state, making our
water supply unequaled. Our growing
season is four weeks longer than any
other section. which with all these
advantages makes it possible to cut
four crops Of hay from the same
ground, each season making an aver
age of about five tons to the acre.
These conditions secure cheaper hay
than any other section.
The length Of the farming district
is leo by miles wide, lying on both
sides Of the river: adjoining all this
farm land are the free public ranges
of arid land, and which will continue
to be arid lands for years to come as
the entire water supply is already eX-
haustcd by the present irrigating
system. This arid land feature makes
1t possible for each lamb feeder to
raise his own lambs, which plan is
already being practiced by great
many farmers.
Our distance to market is shorter
than in any other section of Colorado |
Kansas City has proven itself the only |
market for Arkansas valley lambs, |
being on the average 450 miles east |
This run is made on the Santa Fe
stock train in twenty hours. During
my four years experience in feeding,
/ have never yet found it would pay
to ship beyond Kansas City, | have
never had to unload while in transit
from the free-lots to the market
Leaving home one morning | am on
the market the next day, selling witt.
the least possible loss of flesh. Some
argue that it pays to stop on the
road and fill our lamps but / find
that those who think they can fool
Armour's ard Swift's buyers by get
ting good fill, only fool themselves,
as lambs are bought in Kansas CITY