Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-03-01


Otcro ca. opened at Odd Fellows
hall on Tuesday afternoon last. The
audience was of good size for the
opening session, numbering some
thing over 4 hundred OF our most
intelligent and progressive farmers
and their ladies.
Rev. $, c. Green opened the session
with prayer.
4. Latson ihen gave his presidents
address. which summarized somewhat
was rs follows:
Mr.. Latson's Address.
In behalf OF the committee that
was last year appointed. ! welcome
you to this another Farmers lns;i-
tuie.
There have been many such gath
crings in this little city in Otero
county. and rs rule. they have been
= success: n success because CIR
farmers no, only know how to &C:
results, but have the ability ot cS-
plain to others how these results
have been obtained. The success Of
any agricultural dis,rie, and the cities
therein. depends largely upon the
farmer. and the more thrifty and en-
;crprising the farmer. the more rapid
the development. While the farms
OF Otero county have started the
wheels of factories. increased the de-
mand for railroads. built cities and
towns. with beautiful churches and
hns school buildings. We must not
forget that II iakcs capital and bus
incsx sagaeity to make this develop
mcnt possible. You remember when
about 10 Of us were husiling through
the county. cndesvoring to secure
beet acreage that sugar factory
mishi be located At Rocky Ford. and
when VIC were about to fall how the
business men came TO the feseue and
signed up = large acreage. though
many OF them did not know where
these beeis were TO be grown. Nor
must we fail to recognize the great
part the capitalist has had In the de.
veiopment Of our county. All honor
IL dire TO the men who had the nerve
TO come into this valley and say to
the people We will plant . million or
a million and a half Of dollars. and
take chances on your rrowin. a crop
that you know absolutely nothing
about. but VIC made !, go. arc still
making |; go. and will continue TO
make IL so. until with the cooperation
81 capital and business enterprise.
c;cro county and tho Arkansas VAL
Icy shall become the most progress
i've. the mos; beautiful. and tho rich
cs; in tho state OF Colorado. Do,
you realize how tho assessed vaius.
ton OF our county has increased iu
the las; few years? In 1905 in round
numbers !; was Ss.ooo.ooo: IN 1906 u
was S-yooo!nco. and this docs not in'
eidic the new sugar factory at
Swint. So yoa sec that In the last
eight years the valuation has ,fcblcd
land what VIC have said Of otcTnI
county can ;ru;h:ully be said Of cv'
cry other county In the Valley
ago were made TIP Of tnoils and dc.
and many &; only for the prairie dog
and jack rabbit. today arc made TO-
bud and blossom ss tho rose. As NC.
pass the well kept. well titled farms.
VIC sec the fences in good order. tho
iatcrais free from wccds-ior our
farmers do not wait for the stock to
break down and the winds 10 blow
away the weeds from tho fences anil
bitches during the win;cr.-but with
hoe and seythc a war is waEci
agains; them all summer. Our farm.
cFs Use the latest and hest improved
machinery. have finc horses. cattle anl
sheep. Show me any farming COM
uuni,y with better drauTht horses
than VIC have. many Of our four horse
matched teams arc hard 10 beat.
And while VIC arc talking about the
farm. let tie pay tribute to the
farmers wife. who is marching shoul-
der to shoulder with him in his
stride for better farms and homes.
and in mos; cases she is the inspira-
ton and real homo builder. In her
horne. cleanliness and thrift arc cv-
crywhcrc apparent. on the walls are
pictures and works of art. in the win
iows and gardens flowers arc bloom
ing. giving evidence Of taste and re-
finemcn;. \, the cellar arc found jars
nf fruit and yellow rolls of butter.
reminding US tha, peace and plenty
reign there. On tho table IN the liN.
ing room arc found the daily parcr.
along with the latest magazines anil
periodicals. and out from these
homes como tho boys and girls who
1rc to hclr shape the future nj Oic-o
county. and to take their par; in the
worlds work
In this little talk I have cnicavorch
to rictJrc Otcio county the Nrkau.
sas Valley and the farmer as they arc
today. and having put our hands to
tho rlow. let us not look back until
adding TO our thrift, and cncrry. cap
i,al and business saeaeity. VIC have
secured new trunk lines Of railroad.
md the whistle Of tho sugar mill is
heard in every city and town, and the
agricultural districts arc covered
with net work Of electric lines. Then
we shall deserve the words: Well
ponci- ...l.
w. X. Wintcrha1tcr was not able
to be on hand when his name was