Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-04-01
Arkansas Valley Press Association
Meets at FIOreucc.

Meets at FlOreucc.
The recent session OF the Arkansas
Valley Press Association at Florence was
pleasant, instructive and profitable. The
meetings were held in the rooms OF the
Chamber Of Commerce. which is a live
working organization. Various subjects
Of interest to the fraternity were present.
ed in papers by a number OF the members
and considerable free-for-all discussions
| indulged in.
The election Of officers resulted as fol-
lows: President. Guy Hardy. editor Of.
the Canon City Record; secretary. w. G
Hunt. of Wslsenburg; treasurer. G. Frost
Liggett, OF Lamar. The executive COM
mittee for the ensuing year is composed
Of X. M. Mingay Of Canon City: E. o.
Blair OF Trinidad and J. D. Lawlsss Of
Lamar.
Tho next meeting will be held at Canon
City in March. 1905.
The closing hours OF the afternoon were
spent in drive to the oil fields. tho oil
refinery and the Union mill for handling
gold and silver ore.
The drive through the extensive and
rich oil field was both enjoyable and
source OF much information. The mem
bers OF the association came back with
better appreciation OF the great oil re-
sources Of Florence. Derrieks were seen
over a wide and constantly enlarging
area. indicating the location Of wells from
which 1000 barrels Of ell are being
pumped daily. The return trip took the
party through Coal Creek. ordinarily .
busy and prosperous place but now al
most deserted on account OF the strike.
The mines from which we get the best
Canon coal arc located near Florencel.
Returning from tho drive a portion OF
the party took in the orc reduction works.
while others inspected the oil refinery.
Tho former Col. Mcdonald claims to bo
the bss. ore reduction mill on earth. A.
the oil refinery the various processes OF
making refined oil. gasoline. lubrieating
oil. ETC.. were explained. making the visit
. most Interesting one. The Increase In
the sxtsnt Of the oil field will doubtless
soon cause much enlargement Of the re-
hnery.
In the evening banquet was given the
association by tho Chamber as Commsres
at tho Fremont. . large and fine ho,al.
A luxurious bill Of fare was thoroughly
discussed by tho ei,y's guests and Flor
aneo's Representative business mon. after
which POSTMASTER Mcclure called for
short talks from everybody. all o! whom
responded. Tho visitors expressed hav-
ing received now Light on tho great ma
,sfial resources Of Florence and predicted
for Il an enyiahls position snong tho In
das;siai cities Of the west
Whsn tho editor Of tho Enterprise was
called on he responded as follows:
The landscape surrounding Florence
and ,ha, which sasirons Rocky Ford offer
gfea, contrasts. A. Florence tho mos:
striking ob!ee. Is the derrick In tho fnids;
o. a rugged and broken surface. There
Is no,hing beautiful aboa; derrick az
COP. as Il represents dollars. and dollars
bring much iha; Is beautiful TO him who
has tho sxill and shfii, 10 bunch them IN
goodly quantity. Drive In any direction
from Rocky Ford and yoa are among Of
ehafds and groves. intensely titled hs'ds
ard splsndsd farm houses. Our s~o COM
mani,ies exchange psodse;s 70 the happs-
ness ard bsnsa; Of both. Foe yoaf oil
and gasoline ~s ssnd 700 ~assfmsloas.
ean;aioapss. beet sugar. honsy and al.
saisa. You have tho advantage Of ~ IN
ore ~ay-~hieh disadvantage our farm
sfs are trying 10 overcome. There 10 .
stability and certainty isesdsn, 10 The
price Of coal oil and gasolins that ws
have as yet vaiaiy tired 10 establish !ef
our eaniaioupsA-
we have . few dsuseis bot ihsy rep
resent as;ssiaa water. which b bsvsf-
age highly appreciated In . dry town.
However. ws should b p,sassd to ss-
charge oas Of our sfsssian wslls with Is
sparkling ard bright product Tor ore Of
your holes n the ground from ~hieh yea
pump daily 400 barrels Of less beautiful
bs, nofe valuable liquid from the dollars
and cents standpoint
we have the pleasant aroma Of The
orchards and alfalfa fields 10 eaa'rass
with the not popular perfume Of your oil
wells. You make the most H,oaey hg.
". i've nearer The beauties o. nature and
ought 10 Be more hsnss;-sss may not Be.
Orchards should %, b mentioned with
os, reference 10 the fses that TIE pioassr
sfehsrdiss es The valley. !! not es lie ssa's,
lived In your msdst for many year..
Southern Colorado owes . debt Of graft
,sds TO The memory q unels jesss Fra
J sisf for proving that apples could b
J grown 10 perfection IN The Aftsasss val
Isy;
Of your editorial waters have had fer .
close Inspection Of The great Industrial
resources Of Ference. Ahsf . drive
through The oil helis Ard . partial inisis-
sion into TIE mysteries Of OF refining. ~s
J eannos eu; congratulate you on The satsn;
Of your resources, beng most certainly
shs basis for steadily enlarsins and en-
during prosperity. And your proximity
TO The grea: Cripple Crset r,iniss regions
and the immense Portland cement works.
gives you ether industries which promise
% be Of equal petmausasy with yogf oil
/. feds.