Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-03-27
the FERTILE
MES|LLA VALLEY
Recent Good Rains Have Encour-
aged Farmers--S Sowing Increased
Areas in Wheat and Other
Cereals Survey Of Rail-
road Going On
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO
INCORPORATE Las CRUCES

Las Cruces, N. NJ, March 26.-This
section has been visited during the past
two days with copious rains, to the
surprise of ALL 1t began raining on
Tuesday last and there was a constant
downpour during the following night
and day. Consequently, the ground is
we'll soaked. Everyone in this section
is counting upon most prosperous
year; fat cattle and a good crop of
calves. The farmers of the Mesilla
valley are alive to these prospects and
are sowing an unusual amount of
wheat and other crops. The past year
was a good one for the farmers gener-
ally; the building of the Bisbee road
and the construction of the Southern
Pacific cutoff (so-calleD in the south
end of this county, made strong de-
mand for alfalfa, and the highest prlc-
es for hay for years prevailed. These
prices may not prevail this year, but
good prices are confidently anticipated.
1t is a fact that the area planted in al
falfa in the valley has doubled during
the past three years. The Agricultural
College is doing splendid work among
the farmers of the valley; farmers in
stitutes are regularly held in the val
lev and attract a good attendance;
these Institutes disseminate much use
full information among the farmers,
and generally stimulate zeal,
Work in the mines in the Organ
mountains is being earnestly pushed
The Modoc mill is running and making
regular shipments of concentrates. Ihe
mine is showing up we'll. The Torpedo
is now being worked by Colonel Fitz-
gerald, backed by a strong company
under a bond with a right OF purchase.
Mr.. GILL; representing Kansas parties,
is developing the Stephenson-Bennett
mine under like contract. These gen
tlemen are buying UP all the stock OF
the company they can get hold OF.
The work Of making the definite To-
cation of the line of the California
Shortcut from Alamogordo via Las
Cruces to Deming is rapidly progress
sing. The company has large survey
ing corps in the field and is now driv-
ing the stakes over the plains east OF
the Organs. I am told that the build
ing of the road Is assured; the grade is
very easy over the whole line, and the
road can be built at a comparatively
small cost; it is said to have the good
wishes of all the railroads which IT
proposes to connect with. 1t Is gener-
ally assumed that the road will cross
the valley at a point about midway be-
tween Las Cruces and Mesilla Park.
!. The district court opens Its spring
Term here on the first Monday in April.
The docket is said to be light. Judge
Parker came down from Silver City
this week and is now here. On yester-
day he heard in chambers the case 70
enjoin the opening Of a saloon at Ala
mogordo. In this case Messrs. HAWKINS
and Franklin appeared and argued the
side of the town company; the defen-
dant was represented by Messrs. Bon
ham and Sherry. The decision was re-
served. The people of this section feel
we'll pleased with the treatment accor-
ded to the Agricultural College by the
late legislature.
The people of Las Cruces are again
apitating the question of Incorporating
the town; this question was up pe1ore
the county commissioners last summer
and was lost by tie vote. There is
said to have occurred radical change
of feeling on this subject among tne
"antis" since then, and it is anticipated
now that the project will go through
with little or no opposition. The val
lev has had an unusual number OF
healthseekers this winter, and 1t is fei'
by all rejecting people that only a cor
porate body can properly enforce SAM
tary rules to prevent the spread OF tub
erculosis; the disease IS said to nave
taken a firm hold among the native
people, and they are Justly alarmed
The argument against the measure mas
heretofore been confined to the ques'
tion Of increased taxation.
The people are well satisfied. with tht
appointments of Hon. Martin Lohmaf
and Hon. E. C. Miller to be members
of Governor Otero's official family
ttey are both good appointments.