Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-02-17

.NENNSNS AFsHSs
afternoon at |. o. o. f. hall with large
attendance. ki:er music by the excel
lent Opera House orchestra Presiden,
Eb6er made the opening address as
follows:
Fellow Citizens;
II has been ths plan Of the commit
te. In charge OF the Institute. To have
'som-thins doing" at every session.
An excellent program has been mapped
out. but in making programs. ns In
making many other things la life. very
much depends for their success on ''ih-
other fellow" II Is the man behind the
part who makes his part n feature
II II iH feature. Program makers
are like generals. the rank nnI ME Of
IN army hght bat,lcs aEi wln them.
Generals never do. Generals max.
programs. and look ON during the clash
OF arms with glasses. Field Marshal
oyama. Syho IL acknowledged to be "a
master OF arts In warfare. would soon
wear a ius,r-ousi-rs nam. " I, were
not that IN. Individual japanese SOL
di-r measures up To standard Of
superb courage and unrnssins per-
siS;encc-if II were not that his army
II trained to fsht on nnd on and never
beat retreat. II II the several speak
crs on our program who nr- to stir
and enthusiasm are aroused. And
think that if We. who nr- appointed to
take part. shall perform our tasks well.
We may safely count on tho public To
do the rest.
n Good viii be Appreciated.
The Rocky Ford public has It's ear
To the ground. and will learn the fuct
with surprising promptncns II We are
saying something here worth listen
Ing TO. For Il tnkcr good audience
To make good Institute. Something
Of an audience makes something of nm
Institute. A greater audience makes
greater one. II shows wider inter-
est. II puts the speakers at their
best. The more there are present the
farther n good suggestion will travel.
The more there are. the more rusHcr-
tions we Will have. A good sized audi
cncc shows. moreover. broader COM
rndcship. a fuller sympathy with our
work and with each other. and u shows
moreover that progressive ana widc-
awake character for which the farmers
OF otcro conuty receive credit every
where.
Great Value Of Farmers Institutes.
The Institute In one OF tn. latest. ns
II ir the best. Of devices for the spread
of agricultural information. This is
the forum Of the farmer and he has
no other. Politicians have their con-
ventions. ministers their alliances. bus
iness men their clubs. and Chambers
OF Commerce. NIL of them established
to consider ''thc good OF the ORDER
The Farn,crs' Institute answers to n
demand OF the times. plug farming"
, as Bill Syc might have called II. has
gone the route. These are the days
OF comparisons. experiments. statis-
ties and new mechanical appliances In
agricultural affairs. The National gov
crnment IL taking n hand. The world
is searched for something better.
Economy of production is the slogan.
Our annual meetings furnish the open
door OF welcome to every message look
Ing to our advancement and well be-
Ing.
] am Informed and believe that the
Institutes which have been held here
whether considered from the stand
point of attendance or the subjects
discussed. or the substance OF the
views and suggestions interchanged.
are not surpassed. if indeed they are
equalled. by those held in any other
locality In the state. Without them.
am sure. we would not have been 30
fully abreast of the times. nor would
our acquaintance with each other have
been so extensive; nor would our mu-
tual relations have been SO cemented
by good will.
Initial cantaIou,- Growers orqaniza.
1t VIII not be uninteresting Mt this
time to recall that the first steps ta-
ken toward general organization of
our cantaloupe growers were taken
less than eight years ago. Before the
year or during the year 1896 there were
no car-lot east-bound shipments of
Rocky Ford cantnloupes destined to
points beyond the Missouri river. In
1897 trial was made among the east
ern cities. even to New York and Bos-
ton. and something like 125 cars of the
fruit were sold and sold profltab1y.
The fruit was received by eastern deal
ers and epicures with loud acclaim for
Its rare flavor and sweetness: the
name OF Rocky Ford was blazoned
high among the names of the produc-
Ing centers; and competition was fierce
among distributors to lay hold of a
product which promised so much in
the way of fame and fortune.
Association Methods Brine Success,
The pronounced success OF that year
stimulated cantaloupe growing as It
never had been before A new vista
appeared giving hope to the founders
OF the industry. and without the record
OF crop failure. 1t has been assidu-
ously prosecuted to this day.
Since 1897 associated effort among
our producers has been the rule. The
most approved methods have from
time to time been adopted for the car
rying of cantaloupes to distant mar
kets. The distribution has been or
derly, and. with the exception Of one
year. increasing prices prevailed till
1903 when our output OF more than
700 cars (Which sold at an average of
over $500 each) totaled the gross sum
Of more than half a million dollars. and
returned to the growers the net sum
Of over three hundred thousand dol
lars. II the home OF the columbine or
the mountain daisy. Is to be found in
that spot where the soil. the sunshine
and the shadow combine to do the
most for Its luxuriance and brilliancy