The La Jara chronicle., 1909-06-11


investigate conditions here rela-
1tive to land values and the methods
of the land companies operating in
San Luis valley lands, have com
pleted their tour of inspection and
returned to their respective homes.
And it is most gratifying to the
people of the valley that the report
of each and every one of these
men, with the one exception of the
Rocky Mountain News and Den-
yer Times representative, may be
numbered among the best boosts
the valley has ever received. Not
one of them found anything here
to criticise, to defame, to condemn
save the Denver News man-but
on the contrary, they returned
home with the firm conviction that
all the good things the various
land companies have said and
caused to be printed about our
fair land, fell far short of doing
justice to the valley and the
splendid opportunities it offers for
farmers-both large and small
We deeply regret that lack of
space forbids our publishing their
reports in full at this time, as they
make mighty good reading for
anyone interested in our country,
} and we intend to reproduce por-
tions of them each week-just to
show the doubling Thomases what
kind of a country we really have
and how it is looked upon by those
living in less favored land.
One of the best and most COM
prehensive reports was that of the
Denver Republican written by
Lutte H. johnson. in which, among
many other good things he says:
Nobody who has seen the
wonders worked with the lands of
the San Luis valley would dare
place limit to their possibilities.
Nobody who has seen the areas
which are awaiting the oncoming
settlers would after considering
what results have come from just
such lands have the heart to
place the least obstacle in the way
either of the landless man getting
piece of it or of the valley, and
through it the state, receiving the
benefit of their coming.
"a few years have made won
derful change in the farming lands
of the valley The problems which
confronted the early day settlers
have been solved. A little of what
can be done with the lands has
been learned; from that little are
ITO be guessed greater possibilities /,
yet to come. Where only a little
while ago was struggle, now is n
degree of prosperity known in no
farming section outside the bounds
of Colorado. Where once was
doubt and uncertainty now is
assurance and knowledge of how
to meet every agricultural problem
which may arise.
Farmers have emerged from
the struggle against adverse con-
ditions; the lands they have re-
claimed from the sage brush have
made them rich, and they are pros
pering. They know now how to
subdue the brush and make the
lands produce crops that make
them worth fortune. The valley
is alive with activity; towns are
growing at a splendid rate, new
and better business houses and
dwellings are being erected in
every one of them. There are all
those signs of thrift and well-doing
which mark the advancing COM
munity. Lands are increasing in
value and high as are the prices
they command in comparison with
IL few years ago, owners are fearing
to even name price for fear it
will be accepted and they will be
in honor bound to sell lands for
money which they would not know
how to better invest.
1T is IA liberal education to pay
a trip of inspection to the valley [