Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-12-28
A SUGGESTION.

Since the sanltarium In lost and the
construction OF the government res
eryoir win DO postponed for an In
definite time. owing 90 the fact that
the appropriation for New Mexico has
been already applied 20 other pro-
iects. and the new PheipsaDodge rail-.
road has no desire for any assistance
from our citizens. II oceurs 10 ask n
n wouldn't b. well nd this time for all
good citizens who have I'm mind the
welfare Of the city TO put forth .
strong endeavor and help 10 get the
mesa lands under cultivation. II Is
certainly the only project under con
eideration that can be worked out at
present and II surely the most I'm.
portant one that has appeared. II we
a produce enough wheat 10 keep ut
home the money spent annually for
-four. potatoes, corn. butter, eggs and
poultry II win unquestionably be- Of
greater benefit 10 our community than
any proposition that has heretofore
been offered,
Besides wheat and forage crops the
sugar beet culture deserves consider
alton, There are o number OF localities
In New Mexico. as was stated In a re-.
cent number OF the Optic. which are
far superior for the growth Of sugar
boets than San Miguel county, but II
was not stated that San Miguel coun
~ also had u very good record for beet
culture. I'm 1907, when the govern
ment experimental station a IN
operation I'm Las Vegas. the statistics
gave as percentages Of saccharine ex
tracted from beets grown at Santa
Fe IS. Las Vegas 176 and La Cuevs
1876. II Is evident from these figures
that San Miguel county Is up 10 the
standard, with q possibility that the
best soil has not yet been tested
That irrigation Ia not considered an
absolute essential to the successful
production OF the sugar beet In demon
strated by the result ri four tests
made by the agricultural department
In. Colorado. Utah and Oregon. the
most successful having been that one
conducted under the dry" or non
irrigated method. An analysis OF oul
soil by the department brings out the
statement that IL Is very well adapted
to the sugar beet culture,
Colorado IL steadily increasing its
wealth by the production OF sugar
beets and their manufacture into
high grade sugar. An article In thu
Optic recently quoted one factor,
that disbursed monthly among farmer,
and employees some $4,000. viii
everything that Colorado has In al
undeveloped state. why is Is not pos
sible that the same thing can be done
In New Mexico. and particularly II
San Miguel county? We have thu
other essentials for the manufactur,
Of sugar besides the heets. plenty 81
limestone and excellent water II
abundance.
One Of u most successful farmers
W. Fl. Comstock. has ordered a com
plete steam outfit for breaking up sol
preparatory to working crops. and ht
should be encouraged by wner oI
mesa land as well as those who con
template purchasing. In a substantial
manner. Should he break up 5,tWt
or more acres Of land. II will he the
best evidence We could offer to capital
lists % install a sugar factory. anC
one will undoubtedly be Forthcoming
II the right steps are taken at once
II has been repeatedly claimed that
potatoes cannot be grown here, vel
some of our grocers are selling hom"
grown potatoes. and they are greatly
superior to Colorado and California
potatoes. Why not offer some o
arement to our farmers to undertake
potato growing?
The only way to develop our natural
resources Is for every one TO work
early and late. and boost individually
and collectively along these lines
Whether viewed as an investment or
from a standpoint Of public spirited
ness, we are bound to win in the end
Don't look to any of the localities that