The daily tribune., 1908-05-29
A TRIP THROUGH
The ARKANAS VALLEY.

The Tribune represen tative has just
returned from most delightful trip
through the Arkansas valley with the
| Denver Press club and other news
paper men of the state, all as guests
OF the Santa Fe railroad and OF sew
eral of the enterprising towns.
The trip was intended by the Santa
Fe to exhibit the wonderful resources
Of that section. and the splendid
development attained in few years
by irrigation.
Col. J. B. Lynch and Messrs. Hall,
Moorehouse, Ward and Skinner Of the
Santa Fe we're in charge of the party
and royal time was had from start
to finish. We spent Wednesday night
at Rocky Ford, as guests of the bust
ness men of that enterprising city.
The town is very dry. but the indioa-
tions are good for big melon crop.
On Thursday morning after an sppe-
tlZing breakfast at the "El Captain
we boarded our special and started
over the newly completed Arkansas
Valley railroad now the Arkansas
valley branch of the Santa Fe) on
our tour of inspection. We stopped
few moments at Swink to get look
at the outside of the sugar beet fac
tory. Thence through the fertile
valley, vertible garden spot where
only few years ago all was one ex-
panse of desert. Thousands and
thousands of acres of arid land have
bsen reclaimed by the building Of
immense canals and reservoirs and
water is now available for a great en-
pire yet to be cultivated.
We went through the big sugar
beet factory at Las Animas and from
there to Rixey, new station on the
Santa Fe where the sugar company
is plating town. There we we're
met by the Las Animas band, furnish
ed with automobiles and buggies and
the 100 visitors given trip through
the Naval sanitarium at New Fort
Lyons. some two miles from the rail-
road. Here the government is car
ing for and curing the sailors who are
stricken with the white plague.
The work is in charge of DR.. Hibbett,
chief medical inspector, and is mar
vel Of cleanliness and order. Just
now much construction work Is going
on. A long article could be devoted
to this great work. Every courtesy
was extended the visitors by DR..
Hibbett and his corps OF assistants.
At Lamar, ban1 met us at the
depot and escorted US to the new
Methodist church where perfectly
appointed banquet WAS served by the
ladies and auto rides taken ovor the
city. Bide Dudley. the sad looking
humorist OF the Denver Post, assumed
the role Of drum major, aud in twirl.
ing the baton he WAS there with the
goods.
At Wylie. the charming young
ladies served lemonade and cigars.
At Ho.ley we marched through
the city behind Drum Major Bide
Dudley. were entertained at the club.
and later served with delightful
supper at the opera house. We re-
turned to La Junta via the main line
and spent the night there as guests of
the city. and this morning. after
viewing the city from autos we left
for home. At La Junta we met our
old friend Aman Moore and his wife
enrouto to Spokane. both looking the
picture Of health and inquiripg
eagerly of their Florence friends.
We found all the valley towns ar
dent supporters Of the proposed power
and irrigation company and very en-
thusiastic over future prospects.
We're We not already fully convinced
of the vast possibilities from extern
sive irrigation this trip would have
C converted US.
EXPERT RIFLEMAN-J. w. Ak