Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-04-23
Driest Winter New Mexico Has
Known For Years, The In
itial Utterance Of First
Letter
STOCK CONDITIONS
stock Mintered Well and IL stili
Iii Good shape III the North
SANTA hi. II. NJ, April p. 1904.

SANTA fi, "a. Ms ApiH -, lpVi.
The past winter has been the df1est
New Mexico has experienced fof
many years. Since last June the preci-
pitation has been far below the nor
NAL, and during the winter months
and up 70 the present Time exception
ally 30. Al general storm on the 3Ist
or March and list Of April brought
comparatively heavy SHOWS 10 south
ern Colorado and the extreme north
ern part Of this territory, IN fact
more precipitation for these parts
than had occurred during the whole
winter, but its beneficial influence
was confined almost entirely to tae
upper headwaters OF the Rio Grande
and the Canadian, and c~ontributary
streams. while the remainder OF the
territory has had hardly any apDre-
ciable moisture since last September,
excepting In the vicinity OF Fort Win
gate ON the Continental Divide, and
one fairly good NOW storm owe the
Estancia plains. Grass was short In
the fall but was unusually well cured
On the ranges, and this fact combined
with the unusually mild, and open win
ter permitted range stock to enter the
spring months In unusually good con-
dition, but now that the old grass Is
about gone and, in account OF the
drought. grass has not yet start
cd, the condition on most OF the
southern and eastern ranges. particul-
arly, Is becoming quite critical. Al
ready stock Is beginning TO die in mum
bers on some southern ranges for lack
Of feed. and as the Landing season Is
starting unless rain comes TO bring
new grass for the ewes the loss to
s~heepmen Is bound 70 be very great.
Melting SHOWS at the headwaters Of
the. Rio Grande il causing the river
to rise at present but as yet the lower
part Of the river is practically dry
Elsewhere there Is an alarming scar-
city OF water, and consequently spring
farm work Is backward notwithstand-
ing the season is early as far as TEN.
perature Is concerned. In particular
sections. as the San Juan valley. Taos
valley, and along the upper Rio Gran
do where water can be had, farming
operations are well advanced. Spring
wheat Is well started and gardens
made. Elsewhere some blowing has
been done but very little planting as
yet. Late frosts have badly damaged
aprieots, early blooming peaches and
tome pears and plums in all southern
valley orchards. but later fruits are
promising II rains come Don
The following remarks are extract
ed from the reports Of correspondents
bloomfield tsan Juan county,: w
A. Dallinger; Rain and snow OF las
week will help the range slightly
Range stock doing very well. When
being sown; gardening begun. Spring
planting was begun early TO proyid,
against q possible shortage Of waite
later. A much larger acreage thar
usual.
El Rito: r. Lopez: No rains elthe
on the plains or In the mountains
Very little water In acequias; alfalfl
has had but one irrigation.
Espanola: ]. p. Leese: Water 70
irrigation scarce but river is risin
some. AS yet there Is no grass 10
the stock
Folsom: Jackson Tabor: Wher
there Is moisture grass Is coming fin,
~, but the dry winter and the dryin
winds Of March have left little moi
ture In the ground. Irrigation an
stock water very scarce but stock d,
Ing well 30 far. With rain the los
win be slight this spring. Alfali
starting but needs water.
Fort wingate; ]. woodgate: Vel
dry and rain badly needed. Grass
starting nicely. Very windy latt,
part. N,
Golden: X. NJ. carley: Continue
dry. On the plains feed Is scarce b,
there Is some In the mountains; ca
tie in fair condition. Too dry 10 plaI
crops, No snow in the mountains.
Hobart: w. II. Hough: Wheat W,
up where water can be had: much y
10 be sown. Fruits injured consld,
ably BY frosts. River Is rising b
water and grass short on ranges.
Hood: II. A. Hood: Plenty OF wat
in the river tAnlmas). Good prospec
for fruit.
La Luz: =. s. Swift; Extreme