Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-07-29
PROSPEROUS
PECOS VALLEY
Good Land and Abundance
ofWater Cause Phenom-
email Growth Of Ros-
we'll and Carlsbad.
The Stock Raisers, Feeders, Agri.
oulturists and Hortioul-
turists Are All Pros
pedng.

largest land owners, horticulturists
and cattlemen in the Pecos valley, Is
spending few days in this city. Mr.
Hagerman is member of the New
Mexico Board of Managers Of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and is
here to attend the postponed meeting
OF the board. Mr. Hagerman's appoint
meht on the board is peculiarly fitting
and appropriate one as he has attended
all the worlds fairs held during the
past twenty years and naturally has
gained much experience and knowl-
edge In that direction. In response to
query by New Mexican representa-
tive as to the probable action of the
board at this meeting he said he pre-
ferred not to be quoted as he had met
only couple of the members and had
no idea what the outcome of the meet
ing would be. In answer to question
as to the condition and outlook in the
counties of Chaves and Eddy In which
he is 50 heavily interested, Mr.. Hager-
man said:
"The Pecos valley is in a prosperous
condition. The two main irrigation en-
terprises-the Northern canal, owned
by the Felix Irrigation Company. irri-
eating the lands near the town OF
Hagerman, and the canals owned by
the Pecos Irrigation Company. water
ing the lands in the vicinity of Carls-
bad-have passed the experimental
stage. Many flourishing farms and
contented families testify to the bene-
ficent use of water which, only few
years ago, was running to waste in the
Pecos, the Felix, the Hondo and other
rivers This water is now employed in
raising splendid crops Of apples,
peaches, pears and alfalfa, corn and
other forage crops. The canals are
tight; little water is wasted by seep-
age and, above all, the farmers have
learned how to use the water mostaad-
vantageously and how to drain their
lands properly. A great obstacle to the
permanency OF the Carlsbad system OF
Irrigation has been removed by the
building of a splendid new concrete
fiume across the Pecos river to replace
the old wooden fume. The new one Is
q good piece of work and will last for
many years.
"In the vicinity of Roswell. where
great natural springs and artesian
wells are used to water the land, very
little land that Is capable Of irrigation
is left for the prospective settler, and
what sales are now made are at prices
ranging from $50 to $3.50 per acre.
Twenty miles further south some good
land is left. This Is irrigated by the
Northern canal. which derives its wa
ter from an unfailing supply and, in
fact, is increasing in value every year
at from $S5 to SIS per acre. At Carls-
bad there are excellent opportunities
for the farmer.
"This general agricultural and horti-
cultural prosperity affects the towns,
which are growing rapidly. Roswell,
the largest place in the valley, has
grown SO rapidly Of late that one who
visited 1t two years ago would scarcely
recognize It now. The main street has
been practically rebuilt. There are a
dozen excellent new buildings, and
more in course of construction--a new
hotel, new asphalt sidewalks, and
great many dwelling houses constantly
going up. The town has three banks.
all doing good business. Prices OF
town lots have quadrupled In value
during the past year both In Rosweii
and Carlsbad. This Is true also Of the
town Of Hagerman, in which town iots
are changing hands rapidly, and new
stores and dwelling houses springing
into existence. Between Hagernnan and
Carlsbad a good flow Of artesiat wa
ter 1sas.been' struck. and the new town
Of Artesia has been founded. The pros
perity of this section rests on Solo
as is testified by the great
" increased business done by the rail-
road. For instance, we shipped last
year from our South Spring ranch.
near Roswell, more than no carloads
OF apples and nearly as many cars Of
alfalfa from our Felix ranch near Hag-
erman. and we shipped In 15o carloads
Of hieh-bred cows and bulls to stock
new 226,0oo acre cattle ranch In the
Long arroyo, east Of Roswell. The out
r6snr shipments OF sheep and cattle
are very large. There are q GOOD
many orchards smaller than ours that
are already shipping fruit. and fully
600 acres of new orchards have been
set out this year which. In short
time. will mean I-eatly increased busi-
ness and pro- .rity for this section.
..The stes !. feeding business has
made = at strides. Last year. George
Web .er Of Carlsbad, fed 5000 lambs on
our Felix ranch. using alfalfa and
Egyptian corn. The lambs were raised
by Charles de Bremond in the White
mountains. who uses the best animals
obtainable. The results Of good breed
ing and good feeding were most satis-
factory. and the sheep brought top
prices on the Kansas City market. No
less satisfactory was the resl Of Mr..