Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-02-17
A MOST SUCCESSFUL )
FARMERS IfyTITUTE.
The Opening Day Favored with Most sfyns Attendance
Lively Interest Shown and Much S6abIe Discussion
Enjoyed.

then Rocky Ford is the home OF the
cantaloup-. For IL is here that at ey-
cry u-Tioi of it's growth Il Is nourish-
ed by the most conseniai conditions:
IL IL here that Il survives all attacks
OF its enemies: and Il Is her. that IL at
tains perfection of form and quality.
Although It's superiority has been chai-
ienged by ambitious products. grown
anywhere between Florida and Puget
Sound. II easily holds Its place un-
questioned among esactins connois-
ssurs mud remains the single standard
OF the esactins tradesmen.
The unhappy Incident OF ovsrioadins
IN. markets with resulting unproduc-
tive pFicrs last year. when 1900 ears
wrf. shipped. viii. In my opinion.
soon be- forgotten In tn. successful de-
vciopm-nt Of this important industry.
What the American Beet Sugar Co.
Has Done.
II any one OF us hnH seen In the
coming Of the American beet Sugar
Company nothing more than the -r-c-
tion of factory and the s-ttin. up
OF powerful machinery. ronc curling
smoke. and much money for 30
many b--ts. he has overlooked mn I'm
portant contribution Of that company
to the advancement OF our community.
Il In not too much To say that the ini-
tiai and the succeeding contracts OF the
Company. requiring thorou.hn-ss In
NIL that pertains to the making OF the
beet crop. have been invaluable to our
farmers as "a discipline. II has I'M
proved all our farming. II has set a
vastly hish-r standard than ever OBJ
tnin-d before. TIL now We have un-
broken miles of farms thnt arc n v.r-
i,nbi. gardens. \ visitor last sum-
mcr from the northern part OF the
L.. f.,, ali ttt
section. and Justly proud OF his home
county on the Platte. told me that for
their exhibitions of hish farming. good
methods. and skiiifui workmanship.
there were stretches of our country
here which surpassed anything he had
ever before witnessed In Colorado.
Great Aggregate Of the compsny's
Disbursements.
But tn" Sugar Company besides In
ESTERPRiSE-s tdiun
PRODUCING better things In farming has
indeed come to the MD Of our money
resources with sum Imposing In Its
magnitude. From 1900 tn 1904. both
years Inclusive. Il tns paid to our beet
growers. ON the several nay days. n
total Of $4,000. 500. What II hnr paid
to It's factory operatives. and attaches
and laborcrs In something else. To
these employees. many Of them our per-
idcnts during n large portion Of the
year. the Sugar Company has paid In
this nvc year period. iikcwis. through
tn. 1ocpi banks. the additional sum of
S9e2.96l. Thus thrse and a quarter mil
lion dollars have been disbursed directly to
our people. ! shall pass over tho many
activities which II has either built up.
or encouraged to sry only of the by
nroduc's Of the factory TINT they have
furnished n reason for the establish
ment here OF extensive feeding plants.
which II is to be presumed. have
profitcd by their proximity to their
base OF supplies. and which. m turn.
making this n feeding center. have
been. and are. n valuable asset of the
county and the people.
General Farming FIourishing.
While cantaloupes and sugar beets
have claimed the greater part OF our
attention ns farmers for some years.
the field OF operations covered by our
hay growers. fruit and grain grow
ers. and apiarists. has been extensive
and flourishing. The work of some OF
these men. pioneers. is n monument to
their wisdom and persistence. and this
monument will herald their names
long after they have crossed the Great
Divide.
Increase of Taxable Property.
The taxable property of Otero coun-
ty was listed in 1898 at n total valu-
alton OF s2.475.676. The taxable prop
erty of Otero county was listed In 1904
at total valuation OF S6.016.7s2. II
there are sermons In stones. there is
food for reflection In these figures. It
will not escape attention that in the
enormous gain of values. Rocky Ford.
and surrounding country have had an
immense shave.
Hard to Equal in General Principles.
I often think that our environment
and conditions here are such AZ ought
to assure the best development and
highest contentment Of rational be-
ings. There Ia not community any
where. as II seems to me. whose situ-
alton is to be envied above ours. We
have n salubrious climate, mild and
invigorating. 1t IL full OF health. This
is not said carelessly. but Is said out
of n conviction formed from an obser-
walton in the valley extending over a
period of nearly n quarter OF CEN
tury. The boys and girls of Colorado.
II well born. will live, and live long.
They may be tawny skinned. they will
lack the rich complexlons whose tints
are painted by the humid air. but in
their freer life. unvexed by the con-
ventionalities which In the older socie-
ties are often breeding a race OF weak
lings-in. this freer life, where the
form Is subordinated to the soul and
spirit of things, they will be harmon
iously proportioned. and will be bet
ter equipped than others for the null
tiplied and dignifled duties of life.
CommendabIe Industry Universal.
We have an industrious people. The
man who is not Industrious lives un-
der n curse. The spur OF necessity Is
divine ordinance. and the habit Of
Industry posSession beyond price
without industry. our faculties would
rust. and all progress would be sus-
pended. The stasons round our people
are Industrious, and, their industry
never fails to receive its reward.
Our country does not present the