Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-11-04
BEN HALE ENTHUSES.
Moves to the PecoS Valley Coun-
try--InviteS His Friends to
Visit and Dine With
Him.
Editor Messenger

Editor Messenger
As you have so kindly requested
an article from me in regard to the
muched talked of Pecos Valley of
New Mexico | will try to tell your
readers what l know about the
country. Many people are won
dering since my first enthusiasm
worn off if / am not somewhat sick
of my bargain and wishing | had
not sold out in good old Audrain
and bought in new country. But
second trip out there has con.
WINGED me that | made no mistake.
1t looks better than ever. While
we were suffering here, and our
crops burning mp with the long
summer drouth, the Pecos Valley
was green with the alfalfa waist
high, making ton and half to
the acre the third cutting and the
apples were growing fat and juicy
on tho trees. And this is the hay
that is now selling at 81 per ton
right there in the Valley, and the
apples that the city people all over
this country are now paying ) cts.
each for at the fruit stands.
That is the beauty of an irrigat-
ed country, no worrying about the
droulhs or too much wet weather.
No mud, no dark, gloomy, aloppy
winter days.
Now l expect TO leave ont 70.
nance and real estate yains and
get down to bold facts. First, as
to irrigation, let me say that Gov
eminent experts claim for this re-
giOn the most abundant supply of
water of any arid region in the
West. There are immense natural
springs and there are artesian wells
which are nothing more nor less
than artificial springs, The strong.
est and best artesian wells in the
world are found here. The visitors
from this county who went down in
September were struck dumb with
establishment on beholdiug these
wonderful wells, especially the one
near Lake Arthur, that flows over
1000 gallons per minute and
throws a four inch stream so feet
high.
The country lays beautifully, as
level as a floor, without rock or
any other obstruction anywhere in
sight. All you have to do is to get
the water on the land aud then
pillow. No sod to speak Of. The
soil is, l believe, the richest on
earth. and practically inexhaust-
ible, from 10 to 30 feet deep, very
loose and easily worked. with just
enough sand in it to make it work
we'll. You don't have to be a
"clod-hopper" out there, there are
no ciods. After you get the water
on this soil it grows the most lux
uriant vegetation l have ever seen.
| don't believe that such alfalfa
grows anywhere else ON earth, and
that of course is their staple crop.
Now, am going to make state
ment that may raise protest; al
falfa is the most wonderful and
profitable of all the staple farm
crops. The Pecos Valley seems
particularly adapted to its growth.
You SOW it once in a life time and
Instead of Que crop per year you
get four or five and sometimes six
crops. No blowing aud narrowing
and planting aud cultivating every
year. After you once get stand
all you do is to harvest aud keep
on harvesting, ana, say, unless you
are fond of harvesting and hauling
off the product and selling it and
putting the money in the bank
don't go to the fecos Valley, for
you will snre find plenty to 90 to
take care of six to eight tons of hay
per acre every year, aud you will
have plenty of money TO put in
the bauk when you haul ID of in