The Holly chieftain., 1901-08-30
San Luis Valley Improvements

Colorado is widely known as pre-
cinlncntly the mining state yet statis-
tics show each year that the agricul-
tural products exceed in value the out
pur of the mines. This is mostly due
10 irrigation and in no part of Colorado
is farming by this method better Illus
Iratod than in the sunny San Luis val
ley. in the southern part of the state.
The large canals in the vicinity of
Monte Vista long ago demonstrated the
fertility of that part of the valley and
the immense yields of wheat, oats, bar
ley. peas. etc, have made many
farmer independent. There are well
authenticated instances where men
have paid for their farms from the pro-
ceeds of single crop.
For various reasons the southern end
of the valley has not received the at
tention 1t deserved The land is equal
ly good and it needed orIy the applica
tion of water to make 1t available.
This fact was well known 10 the farm
crs of the vicinity, but they lacked the
means to do more than make few
small bitches Some three years ago
the attention of Zeph. Charles Felt Of
Denver. who had already done so much
for the Grand Junction country, was
called to that part Of the valley and he
was asked to investigate Its resources
and opportunities. The result was the
purchase by him of about 10000 acres
of the cream of the land. the organiza-
tion of the Romero Irrigation Company
and the planning of Il system of canals
and laterals to make use of the very
old water rights which had been ac-
Quired meantime
Before foot of earth was turned nm
extensive survey was made at an ex-
pense of several thousand dollars. The
principal part of this work is now com
pleted The Romero canal Is model
of its kind and is supplying the needed
water to the land. A new town mt the
point formerly known MS Manassa Sid
ing has been laid out to furnish the
necessary shipping facilities.
Already the surrounding country Is a
scene of activity. where the company
is fencing. plowing and preparing n
large tract Of Its land for crops. Incl
dentally the old town of Nanassa.
three miles east with It's population Of
about 100 will he benefited. At first
there was some resentment that a
stranger should come in and pick up
the choicest lands that the neighbors
had intended to buy when they got
ready. There was also lurking sus-
picion perhaps that the projected plans
were but another scheme to work the
country and sell out. SO fairly and so
literally has the management of the
Romero Irrigation Company dealt with
the people in carrying out its plans and
spending Its money that instead OF op-
position there Is now the most cordial
support and cooperation on the part of
the old settlers.
They realize the advantages thar
have already come TO them and are
prepared to welcome the still greater
developments expected within the next
few years when the plans Of the com.
pany are fully completed. The Denver
& Rio Grande has lately made Its road
broad gauge to the southern end OF the
valley and is making the needed i'm
provements at Romeo to accommodate
the business there. In the opinion OF
careful observers. there IN no part of
the state that offers better opp0rtuni-
ties for the many who are turning
their eyes from the drOuth-strIcken re
CtnOR tts r,rOxylprot1s CO1nr0tlO 74a' ,