The La Jara chronicle., 1911-05-05

Luis Valley, but when we stop to
consider how rapidly one season
after another slips away, and no
move is made along the line of act
ual development in wide sections
of country in this immensely rich
valley, we cannot resist from ad-
vancing all the arguments at our
command. We can not refrain
from urging immediate action.
We have as fine a climate as can
be found within the borders of
the state. Add to this the fact that
Colorado is known worldwide
for it's healthful and salubrious
climate, and we have won nine of
ten points in our favor The ad-
vantages, alone, of our pure, cool
artesian water, for domestic pur-
poses is sufficient to place US in
the front rank of countries de-
sirable to live in.
Now, with these eminently pat
ent and admitted facts, why is
it there is so much unoccupied
territory right here in the central
portion Of the San Luis Valley.
Evidently something is wrong ;
ol1 settlers know what it is; we
know what is it is; the new
comers are learning what it is.
Let us be honest with our
selves and make the necessary i'm
provement. We see the San
Luis Valley winning world prizes
on small grain and vegetables al
ways and everywhere exhibited,
beating the world, as it were, in
our line But mind you not all
the Valley is doing this. Just
those certain localities where SOII
CONDITIONS are right are these
world-beating crops produced.
Again, large areas of the very
land which we recognize needs
fixing, once produced these prize
winners and can be made to do
it again if the water table is
lowered by drainage. The cost
OF drainage in different districts
of the valley has been variously
estimated by engineers at from
three TO ten dollars per acre. To
say the least, the cost is nomi-
nal, when you consider that one
half the ordinary profits of one
years crop would pay the ex-
pense. With drainage bitches
once in the land would be in
better shape than it was before.
There would never again be any
danger of its becoming alkaline,
it would never be water-soaked
and sour. 1t would be more fer
tile and productive than ever be-
fore. The settling down of the
water into the subsoil would be
accomplished more quickly, thus
allowing the crop to resume its
growth more rapidly after each
irrigation. Where the soil is
thoroughly saturated with water,
excluding the air from the plant
rootlets no growth can take place.
Both air and moisture in con-
tact with the plant roots is neces-
sary for plant growth. Thorough
saturation is temporarily detri-
mental to such crops as wheat,
oats, barley and most root crops
grown in the valley. Certain vari-
eties of wild grass grown for hay
are not thus injured. Hence,
in the growing of our grain crops
the sooner the water receeds
and only "soil moisture is left
the better for the growing grain.
The ideal amount of soil moisture
is a thin film of water completely
enveloping each and every par
ticle OF earth in juxtaposition to
the plant roots, thus allowing air
and moisture equal access to the
plant roots.
The drainage of our wet lands
will establish this condition. The
flooding of the lands will replen-
ish this soil moisture, while cap
illary attraction will constantly
supply it's share from the water
table below. Cultivation will re-
tain this moisture when it is need
ed near the plant roots. Drain
age and the quicker disposition