La Junta tribune., 1904-06-18
"Future OF tho
Arkansas vdll6u"

tOI Uoottu AoooSso0oo 1
W ''.'''' '..' ''-.
afssen jean aso when the later canals vsrs
bsiit. vas app.rsotly sill in tie river fos ths
nsu canals, il nou dsaAAdsd b. thoss early
eAAals asA IL lasss eanah eaassqusatly, at
srdiaasy ssasss a IL dsss. have little 81 m
water sapply. This is the rsassa that much
lasd b sse1lsivassd aaAss oar eanals-oass
than oeehaH lyins Idle. and that, too, among
the most isrsile-
Ths Askansas Valley needs reservoirs and It's
fassrs dspsods larssly apoa ths dsselopnens
u syssso OF sysasas a reservoirs The older
cost Of .aay nillksns a dollars, ard thus con-
serve thsir water. The Arkansas Valley has
but about . half dos.a reservoir and but t~o
or thres of thess available. The Colorado canal
has the Twin Lakes reservoir u about iOne
scre feet Last year ihey water - days
and in 1871, liz days. The Great Plains Storage
Company has natural reservoirs north OF Lamar
covering several thousand acres and twenty
i've miles around them. The Fort Lyon canal
owns the King reservoir in the same vicinity.
Thss- reservoirs are Allsd through the Fort
Lyon canal from the river, having 10 run the
water some % miles To reach the reservoirs.
The Yost Lyon canal has also . reservoir on
Horse Creck which has not yet been nlled. The
Hoabr0ot has small reservoir which is most
valuable and has been used several years.
There is . great future for the Arkansas
Valley. The watsr is here, the rich soil is here,
the finest climate is here, the spring being ten
days two weeks earlier than in the northern
part of the Ssats and fall is fully many days
Later. There is no other place in the stats
where the future promises much or where
ths opportunities arc 80 great.
The bsilding of reservoir requires too much
capital for private enterprise, and especially
too much for the resources Of those who should
use them. The canals ars huilt " cover the
land which is as fertile any In the state, Of
which there arc more than .sO,0D acres without
any water aud over loo,o0O acres about half sup
piled. IL would be wise and fsrsseinx states
msnship and Of the highest public policy, for
the United States Government to construct the
reservoir 70 store this surplus water for the
surplus laod now under canals without water.
This would be = wise policy and bring greater
results for each dollar appropriated than to
build reservoirs aud canals to open mp new
territory, and the return Of the money would
be more certain; for the canals are built, the
country Improved and the land Is ready for the
water. As condition. large holdings OF land
should be divided mp and sold 70 actual home
makers in small tracts Of forty acres To eighty
acres and provisions made for lien upon the
land benefited for the return Of the cost 10 the
sovernment, in small annual payments, after
the first three or four years, without interest.
There IL . sugar factory Of 1000 tO0s daily
capacity at Rocky Ford and one Of 200 tons at
Sugar City. both in OtsrO county. There is
10000 acres in alfalfa which sslls At froo
500 70 500 per ton in the stack and on which
vess fed last year 30O0D bead Of sheep and
5000 head Of cattle. The yield is froa four 70
Avs tons per acre, besides the pasture, . sesd
crop often yields from sDto % per aers. Thew
are growing about 900 acres Of sugar beets.
yielding from ten to thirty tons Per acre, a
II per cent sugar. Que man sold bcets for SO
per sese, one for s1al. one for sisl smother fss
Nia elsvsn for more than 20, sevsoty-two for
nore than 90 per aere. There are growing In
this valley i1.Uo acrss Of cantaloupss. This l.
. reliable and paying crop. Ons man sold last
pear slopo froa ave Acres. sseo psr aese: another
Sa1nO fren four acres, s3oo per acre; another
sasso fron seven acres, se3s per acrs. Il II sasy
70 grow Si0o per acre. Corn yields 80 70 -
bushels pes acre; wheat - 70 80 hasAels AID
even higher. over % bssAsls being prodaoed;
oats froa % 70 % bushels, yields havs reaehsd
from % 70 100 bushels per acre; cane and beas
are staple and profitable. Tomatoes are largely
grown and yissd as high rs S75 and e100 per acrs.
There are two canning factories, one At La
Junta and ono At Manzanola. Bees and hoasg
yield enormous profits. One colony has pre-
duced over 80 pounds Of honey in one season.
One ooaooy b. actual weight, the hive being on
. pair Of scales, stored six pounds per day.
Tho sales Of hoeey last year reached probably
Qzs0n. Tho most psoAtah,e crop per acre ID
fruit of which many Kinds and varieties are
produesd. Moro than Sa0oo per sere has beea
realised. Cherries, plums. apples, grapes,
Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and
currents arc great producers. Pears, peaches
and blackberries are not certain. Peach trees
arc buried for the winter and then never fan.
Onions, cabbage, sweet potatoes, celery, aspara-
gus, turnips, radishes, cucumbers, melons and
all kinds Of beans and many other crops are
certain and productive. Il
The aerisultural part Of tine Arkansas Valley
IL noted for the intellisence, industry, enter
prise and peace Of its eitisens. They bear the
burdens Of tho State asd newer cost II one dol
lar for protsetioa. This Valley is celebrated
far and wide for its good schools and advanced
system Of education. It pays moro taxes for
It's schools, from Kindergarten TO high school,
all free, than arc the total taxes paid By the
people Of the older states, and as . Consequence
this state ranks the highest In It's Intelligence
ssd least in initeracy. Here arc edueation,
rsAnement, religion, prosperity and happiness.
Here arc cheap hooes for the honesssksf.
safe and profitable investmsnts for the man
Nth much or little capital and health AID
prosperity for all.
osptsss Church.