Semi-weekly herald., 1914-08-20
and the farmer is not the only one


late at night during the haying and
harvest seasons. In fact, from the
time of seeding in the spring until
the grain is threshed there is work
on the farm--work that makes the
sweat trinkle down your back, 80, you
city people who seldom get into the
country, especially the sweet girl
graduate from Vassar, don't think for
moment that all the farmer does
is to watch the stuff grow.
Striking the Florida bottom we
found grain slightly farther advanc-
ed, especially down about the Tyner
and Campion ranches and the inter
yening farms as far as the Hood
place. Leaving the Florida en- route
% Bayfield, several miles are travers-
ed winding around the hillsides and
pinon trees before the eastern slope
is reached and cultivation again ap-
pears. We have travelled this road
more or less the past twenty years
and every year we notice the farmer
IS encroaching farther up the hill
sides, wheat and oat fields dotting the
iurface in most every direction, but
one does not encounter continuous
cultivated acreage until in the neigh
5orhood of Oxford, where we met Mr.
0'Donnell, manager of the Oxford
Land and Townsite company, with
hovel in hand looking after irriga-
ton of the company holdings of which
Mr. Denning is at the head This
,ompany owns and cultivates several
hundred acres of land divided into
.rain and alfalfa with orchard tracts
overing the sidehills. 1t will be re-
membered this company several years
,go planted in the neighborhood of
EN- thousand fruit trees and few
lears hence there will be a large
,creage of producing orchards. Mr..
)'Donnell reports the year unusually
avorable, plenty Of water mingled
With frequent rains, causing excellent
growth of grain and hay, and we can
lttest the latter fact after viewing
he fields. In this section as well as
on the Florida mesa and along the
tream, but more especially in the
gnacio-Tiffany-Allison districts, a
rood deal of fall wheat is planted
which was largely in shock while
some were threshing. The fields south
If Oxford looked especially produc-
i've. At the city of Oxford, Andy
Buchanan holds forth with his stock
4 general merchandise.
Were it not for the Indian lands the
splendid mesa encountered on the
Dad to Ignacio would be entirely un-
Ter cultivation as the land lies ad-
ageously for irrigating, and the
farms centered around the B. w. Rit-
Ter holdings are proof of what they
will produce, many of the farmers OBJ
tanning from rs to 100 bushels of
oats to the acre. Maybe some day
he government will either have the
indian owners place their land under
cultivation or sell to white men who
viii. At one tima proposition was
discussed of giving long time lease
TO white men of these Indian lands
--15 to 25 years-which would per-
nit the leasers to improve the land,
ouild barns, fences, etc. As matters
row stand the land is more of an
,yesore because Of its barrenness
lust lies there and the visitor won
ders why--if it's no good. Improved
it would add to the taxable property
Of the county as well as increase the
producing area.
Ignacio continues to grow and il
we are to judge by the tone of the
business men and clerks. is doing q
thriving business. What we like about
Ignacio is that every inhabitant is a
booster. OF course most Of the bust
ness men admitted times are a little
quiet, but nothing to complain Of
that farmers were busy in the hay
and harvest fields and couldn't expect
Ike streets swarming with teams.
There is no question but that the vol
ume of business for the size Of the
place is considerably above the aver
age. Hans Aspaas and the Burns
Hall stores carry immense stocks Of
goods, while the remaining stores
show thrift. Several new buildings
have haen erocfad tho p~ut fau,
months and plans for others are be-
ing made. Ignacio boasts Of a. good
schools as can be found in the coun-
ty. Banker Shultx says money mat
ters are easy, indicating that the
general public Il prospsring, sspe-
cially the farmers.
Our time was limited, preventing =
social call on al the business men and