Las Vegas optic., 1913-03-20


2 land, save an occasional herd OF cattle
: or flock of sheep. today in every di-
5 rection may be seen prosperous look.
! ing farm homes and TILED fields. with
: here and there school house and
, church to meet the needs Of the rap
, idly growing community. What these
farmers are doing, and how they feel
about the country, the following let
ter written to a nonresident land
owner by farmer living in an ad-
joining section speaks for itself and
gives a very good summary Of condi-
tions:
Las Vegas, N. NJ, Jan. 81, 1913.
Dear Sir. In reply to your letter
OF the 21st inst, will say that crops
We're fair. although we had an *
eeedingly dry summer. Mr.. Black
had 1.7OO bushels of grain, Mr.. Park
er 2,10O bushels; others did as well
have quite few cattle and raised
more feed We have a good creamery
in Vegas and since they started farm
ers have put in quite few COWS.
Cream brings 95 cents, eggs 35 cents,
oats S1.25, wheat $3.50, millet s1.75.
buckwheat s1.75. barley S1.25 per
hundred; everything sold by the hun
dred here.
All the crops mentioned do well
here and the Mexican bean is a sure
money crop. Dairy cows from $50 to
$75; range cattle from s25 to S35; two
flour mills, woolen mill, car shops.
machine shop, and many other small
er shops, planning mills, lumber yards,
four good banks, three wholesale
houses; in fact all kinds of business
represented here.
4 think ! have told you all of in
terest to you except perhaps that we
have a good school. Sunday school
and church.
Certainly people are coming and
going, but the more enterprising fam
lilies are staying and are contented.
/ will give you a few names for ref
erence who will be glad to give you
any information With best wishes,
e. S. CROOKS"
Mr.. Crooks came from Ohio. and
is well satisfied with his change. His
letter is typical of many sent out
every month to inquiring friends
back east"
When it is considered that the class
OF land referred to in Mr.. Crooks let
ter can be bought for $12 to SIS per
acre, and that there is no brush, mes
quite or timber to clear away. and
that it is covered with a fine growth
of gramma grass, one Of the most nu-
! tritious native stock grasses in the
world, it may be seen that pioneer
ing in this portion of the southwest
is not to be compared with the early
days of the eastern states.
To lrrigate the Grant
Included within the Las Vegas
grant is some $4,000 acres, which will
be brought under irrigation by a stor
age reservoir system, on WHICH con
siderable work already has been
done. This area is exclusive Of the
irrigated valley lands. which have
been in cultivation for years, and also
does not include about 5000 acres
under private project which already
has been developed The Las Vegas
irrigation project has been referred
to in these columns several times and |
it only remains to be added that this
system viii undoubtedly be complet-
ed in time to furnish water for the
1914 crop. The 5000 acres coming
under the private project above re
ferred to nearly ali have been sold at
prices ranging from $50 to S100 per
acre, with liberal terms of payment
The same company is engaged in
developing a further 5000 acres com
ing under the same system, ali Of
which land lies Immediately adjacent
TO the main line of the Santa Fe and
the small but rapidly
growing town Of 0nava.
Typical Of most Of the towns in the
southwest. Las Vegas presents a great
surprise to the stranger visiting it for
the first time, unless he has been pre-
pared in advance by literature or by
friends as to the growth and develop
ment of the city Here he will find
street railway system, electric light
ing plant city waterworks and sewer
age system, miles of cement side
walks and street crossings, and many
beautiful and expensive homes;
handsome three-story Masonic temple
on the second floor If which a. ho,,,