Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-04-10
SETTLERS LIKE
ESTANCIA VALLEY
Wichita, Kansas Men inspect New
Farming District and of Course
Locate There.

Scarcely a day passes that party
of intending settlers does not pass
through Santa Fe en- route to the Es-
tancia Valley to look at prospects
there. Among the latest visitors to
the valley were Thomas Elliott and R.
A. Thompson, of Wichita, Kansas, who
came In from an extensive trip through
the new farming district yesterday
and later left for their homes. They
expect to return to this Territory with
in the next two weeks and will then
make actual settlement on their home
stead claims. They were accompanied
by j. C. Maxwell, of Maxwell and
Company, Artesia, who at their request
agreed to act as spokesman in the fol
lowing interview:
"Our honest opinion of the Estancia
Valley" said Mr.. Maxwell, sis that
it is bound to become one Of the fore
most farming districts in the south
west. We went over the land from
one end to the other and examined it
thoroughly. The most important thing
is the water supply and there is no
question that it is there. I think all
conditions are favorable for the strik-
ing of artesian water. There Is no
stream to drain the valley, 1t slopes
to the center from all sides and GER
tainly the water must collect under
ground That Is why we feel conf
dent that the water supply is unlim-
tied. We think it is only question
of sinking wells deep enough. Most
of the wells we saw were not over Is
or 20 feet deep and there was plenty
of water at that depth. A few were
so feet deep.
The soil in this valley is the best
I ever saw anywhere for the purpose
of irrigation. There is good deep
subsoil of loamy clay which is well
suited to retaining the water. Oh,
there is no question about the land.
"There are a number of other things
to be considered and the Estancia Val
ley certainly shows up to advantage in
all these lines. There is variety of
crops easily raised in that locality.
Now / think one of the best crops will
be potatoes although, I understand,
they have not yet been tried to any
extent. The Estancia Valley has the
soil, water and altitude to grow the
finest potatoes in the United States
/ intend to make some trials along
those lines. The valley is also we'll
suited to the growing of sugar beets
and the making Of sugar promises to
become an industry. There Is unlim-
tied water, fuel and building material,
which are the principal requirements
of a sugar factory. Besides sugar
beets, alfalfa, grains, fruit of all kinds
and garden truck can be grown with
little difficulty.
"We visited the entire valley but
must say we were more impressed
with the country in the vicinity of Nc.
Intosh than anywhere else. The
ground is very fertile and conditions
generally are more to our liking than
in the other portions Of the valley.
We expect to run an excursion to the
Capital City once a month, beginning
within few weeks and will bring in
a large number Of settlers to begin
farming. There is no question that
the Estancia Valley has future ahead
of 1t and will be settled up completely
In the next year or so. We want to
get in as early as possible and will in
duce our friends to do the same"