Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-03-24

held in the Las Animas Commerce CLUB
hall Wednesday, Three sessions. morn
ing, afternoon and evening. with every
one crowded to the brim with sugges-
tions for the benefit Of the valley and
its people, were held, and from the
opening in the morning until adjourn
ment was taken at IL o'clock at night
the hall was crowded with interested
listeners and interesting speakers. The
visit to Las Animas also included
trip in autos TO Fort Lyon, the naval
hospital for consumptive sailors. and
from every standpoint the session was
the busiest, biggest and most instruct
i've that has yet been held.
The hospitality of the Las Animas
Commercial club and the citizens OF
that city was one OF the commendable
features OF the session. Not only did
the commercial club provide an ideal
a huge bowl of delicious punch on hand
at all times. good cigars were provided
by the hundreds and colored attendants
were on hand to care for the comfort
of the ladies and gentlemen who were
The Pueblo delegation. which was
the largest in attendance, numbered 81
people. They made the trip from Pu-
eblo to Las Animas in a private Pull
man car. arriving at the meeting place
in time for the first session. The spec
ial car party was Joined along the route
by President c. w. Benedict and Sec
retary S. F. Hines of Fowler and by
prominent boosters of Manzanola, La
Junta, Rocky Ford and the other pros
porous towns along the route.
WELCOMED BY MAYOR.
The morning train was. met at the
station by Mayor Kreybill of Las AMI
mas. and a reception committee from
the Commercial club. The Pueblo
boosters. with their white hats and big
badges were formed in line of march
behind an amateur band. which was
organized on the train and marched
down the main street to the elegantly
equipped rooms OF the club.
business was undertaken Immediately
and after calling the morning session
to order President Benedict named a
number Of committees which he re-
auested to meet during the noon re-
cess and prepare reports and sugges-
tions of various sorts TO be submitted
at the later sessions OF the associa-
tiOn. 4 resolution then was adopted
accepting the invitation OF the Las
Lyon. the start to be made at 4 o'clock
In the afternoon after which the meet
ing adjourned until 1:3o o'clock.
At the opening Of the afternoon ses-
sion Mayor Kreybiil extended formal
greeting to the visiting delegates and
newspaper men. Response was made
by Il. r. Scribner OF Pueblo after which
number Of short talks were made by
delegates from every section of the
valley. Each was devoted to the pro-
motion Of closer cooperation among
the valley interests. The entire after
noon session was taken up with speech.
81 after which the session adjourned
for the auto ride to Fort Lyon. Cars
were In waiting and the partySwas TAX
en- to the naval sanitarium where
about an hour was spent inspecting the
building and grounds.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
In opening the meeting Chairman
Benedict introduced Mayor Kreybill Of
Las Animas. In his address OF well
come the mayor said:
'.It II with the greatest pleasure that
We welcome you here today: and Il Is
also great pleasure to sec such a
large body of Intelligent men assem-
bled here together on this occasion.
1.-THE progress of the Arkansas VAL
ley has been great during the time that
I have been here. ! came here >: years
ago the first OF this month. II was
known to me before I came as the
Great American Desert. and Its appear
ance Justified the name. THE country
was considered as cow pasture. and
the land now under irrigation. II didn't
and a garden was unheard of and un-
thought of. II you talked farm. the
stockmen thought you were little out
OF place.
lie pTOkTess mas DfeH sTedt, anu
am pleased to note the spirit Of the
people who came in to settle the Ar
kansas valley. Tho latch strings are
out: and while We have accomplished
much. We hope to do o little better In
the future. Sugar factories were a
dream until 10 or II years ago. 1t
didn't seem possible. but We have got
them and they are n success. and there
are great many other pursuits that
are profitable: and from what 1 have
Hl.<.R Hz.rs. .f@.- To-
clined to favor the Arkansas valley
more than any other valley between
this valley and the Pacific coast. Was
not very well impressed with the coast
on recent trip I made there. The
Arkansas valley looks very good to me.
scRIsNER RESPONDS.
b. F. Scribner. of Pueblo. responded
to the address of welcome as follows:
''Kreybill must be right: 1t must be
mighty fine place at Las Animas:
but about five weeks ago. a citizen
looking like n live one. was getting
down. but said there was SO much bet
ter opportunities in Las Animas. he
lasson introduced me to him. and said
that was the only thing he had against
me. but thought that was for me.
At another session. the first meeting
OF the Arkansas Valley Commercial
association that attended. didn't
get my bearings. We did have a real
warm time and the thermometer was
High. The association was born on
that day; and rather strenuous oc-
casion 1t was, and the association has
shown correspondingIy strenuous ten
dency and growth ever since.
The thing that appeals to me Is the
willingness on the part of the members
TO do the work they are called upon to
do. OF course. everybody is not will
ing. but the majority are. 1f we are to
do the work: IL We want to be n mower
and rise to the highest possibilities of
our organization and the greatest good.
each person must be ready to do his
part. Just because he feels he may
lose something on the days trade. or
has some important business and feels
he cannot get away. he must not stay
away from these meetings: he must re-
spond to the call of the officers of this