Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-05
CUL TIVATION OF
THE SUGAR BEET
Writer Familiar With Rapid
Development There Makes
Application TO Las
Vegas.
Las Animas, Colo, Sept. /, 1901.

Las Animas, Colo, Sept. !, 1904.
TO The Optic:
Twenty years ago the writer was
engaged in business pursuits in South
ern Colorado and along the Arkansas
river In this state and in the vicinity
of what was then a small and unpre-
tentious hamlet, but now the thrifty
neat, pretty little city of Las Animas
in Bent county, from whence ! am
writing this letter. AT the time Of
which speak, twenty years. ago,
there was not within twenty-five miles
of Las Animas fifty acres of land
in cultivation under irrigation includ-
ing alfalfa, orchards, gardens. etc
The uninclosed lands of the Arkansas
Valley and the broad prairies stretch
ing away both north and south, with
the exception of scattering cotton
wood trees auong the stream. were
entirely destitute or timber or trees
Of any character. During the past
twenty years the writer has visited
the town of Las Animas upon but one
occasion until this present trip. Re.
markable, yea astounding, is and has
been the change. No one acquainted
years ago with the Arkansas Valley
in Colorado and In the vicinity about
Las Animas and who has not seen the
altered conditions hereabouts as they
exist today. could be led to believe
that such vast and favorable changes.
could have been wrought, but II has
been done. The days of the old over
land frontier trading post, where
thousands of freighters, emigrants.
travellers, gold seekers. etc, stopped
for rest and to recuperate animals
and replenish supplies. passed away
to be succeeded by the owners Of
large ranches and great herds Of cat.
tie, and It came to pass that Bent
county was considered wealthy. So
called battle barons luxurated in
wealth, supply stores coined money.
cowboys wore extravagant store"
clothes and high-heeled boots and It
was regarded that Bent county and
the town OF Las Animas had reached
their zenith in worldly goods, or
wealth.wise. but not so.
This was short twenty years ago.
at that time the future possibilities
OF the Arkansas Valley had received
but little thought. Today within a
radius Of six miles square, surround
ing the town Of Las Animas. only n
township In area, can be seen the
most wonderful progress ana doyclnp.
ment that can be imagined, it il sirip,
" amazing From observation and
reliable information the writer CLEAN.
ca the following facts as To the pro-
ducts and revenues therefron,, rpon
these six miles s1uare 2a,e00 acres
land this acreage Including The river
bed, waste md untitled iard9 by the
use of water far irrigation The pro,
ducts Of this year are conservatiyely
estimated HI i50 ear loads Of The fam.
ous Rocky Ford cantalonpes, 325
crates 70 the car load. total of 46,7sO
crates, averaging IS MELONS to the
crate. or 100000 MELONS. the value
or revenue from which % the growers.
will Il is reliably stated. net the snug
sum Of 100000. and this estimate does
not include thousands OF crates Of
MELONS that find their way TO nearby
markets through the express com.
panies, hence are not enumerated
among the refrigerator car loads.
Some single acres Of this fruit have
brought as much as 1926. In addition
70 cantaloupes the water mellon crop
will be an item OF some $1,000, but
most important of all Il the sugar beet
crop. Il being more promising ihnn
the big crop Of last year. Is estimated
at $4,000 to si5o.oO0. Alfalfa hay,
alfalfa seed and the field upon which
20 craze stock on the aftermath. an
item OF $4,000 Then there are qualI-
titles of wheat. oats. harley. rye ana
the straw thcrefrom. an additional