Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-17
PECOS VALLEY DEVELOPMENT
Water Supply from Artesian Wells is
Least of Troubles.
SOIL IS OF RICH, SANDY LOAN
Roswell Country, Being in Close Prox-
Unity TO Texas, IL Assured of
an Unlimited Market
for Apples.

ROSWELL. N. M, June 16.-(special) y
In the Pecos valley Of New Mexico the
great possibilities are just beginning TO be
appreciated. The wonderful artesian wells
which made irrigation so simple in the
earlier years Of the valleys history kept
the people from seeing the greater posi-
bilitiea Now that the higher lands are
being developed by pumping the country
around Roswell is taking on activity which
1t never before has known.
The Pecos valley varies in width from
six 20 ten miles and 10 about fifty miles
long. The water supply is all from an
artesian flow, which is fed by underground
streams which come from the mountains
to the west The supply Is replenished
each year by the melting SHOWS and rains
in the mountains, and the water supply
is are least Of the valleys troubles.
The climate Is ideal The altitude of
Roswell Is $500 feet The annual rain
fall Is about fifteen inches, coming in the
summer when most needed for the grow
Ing crops. The winters are dry, and the
temperature seldom goes below 20 degrees
above zero. The summers, while hot, are
not unpleasant. Although the thermometer
sometimes registers as high as 100 the
lack OF humidity makes the shade very
pleasant on the hottest day. The nights
are always cool enough for blankets, even
following the hottest days
The Roswell country is about the south
ern limit, where good apples can be grown.
Texas has never been able to grow good
apples to any extent, but the Pecos valley
IN the vicinity of Roswell is wonderfully
adapted to fruit culture. The fact that 1t
Hes close to Texas places a wonderful
market right at the door of the Roswell
apple country and makes fruit culture
very profitable. the orchardists realizing
net profit Of from $500 to 500 an acre a
year off OF their crops.
The soil is a rich sandy loan, which,
while admirably suited to growing good
healthy fruit trees, is also well adapted to
almost every crop. Alfalfa makes big
yields here, going as high as seven tons on
the five and six cuttings which are OBJ
tanned each year. Celery, Strawberries and
other small fruits and vegetables produce
wonderful crops, and delicious favors
Cantaloupes are said to equal II not sur
pass the famous product which comes from
the Rocky Ford country OF Colorado.
The development now is principally on
the higher lands where the land is above
the flow line of the artesian water. This
aiVesiah water IL pelnB luteu now and
thousands Of acres Of what has heretofore
been barren land, because OF lack of water
is now being reclaimed and turned into q
garden spot. This higher land Is best for
orchards and the future for these sec
tons is brighter than would be indicated
by the already brilliant records of the lower
land. Big projects are being financed ex-
perienced agriculturists are being brought
In from other states and irrigated sections,
and the country is taking on new life
As an example OF this development the
1S.oOo-acre tract which lies at the northern
limit of the city of Roswell might be cited
Here the pumping rs being done by cleo
trfcity, a new plant being erected for that
purpose. Something like forty miles OF