The Monte Vista journal., 1914-11-21

district.
Information for Homeseekers.

The valley is entirely surrounded b,
hlgh mountain ranges, and the high
altitude; the delightful and health.
full climate, and wonderful produc-
| tiveness, makes it the most favored
agricultural section in the entire
United States. The Rio Grande
river flows through the valley from
the northwest to south and this
stream and its tributaries furnish
the abundance of water for the irri-
| CATION of all crops There are a,
| the present time more than two
thousand flowing artesian wells and
these supply pure soft water for do
mestic purposes.
Crops Successfully Raised.
The crops which are successfully
grown in the Monte Vista agricul-
tural district of the San Luis val
ley are alfalfa, wild hay, field peas,
wheat, oats. barley, potatoes, and
nearly all vegetables and root crops.
The raising and fattening of lambs
and hogs, are two of the big indus
tries of this locality. The raising
of poultry has grown to be profitable
tor all the farmers and the chickens
and turkeys do splendidly in this
dry healthful climate.
The Storage Reservoirs.
A number of large reservoirs have
been constructed in this irrigation
district, and these storage lakes or
basins are filled with the flood
waters taken from the mountain
streams. The storing of water rs
very essential in large irrigation dis
tric,s, as the flow of the streams -
much smaller during the months of
July and August, at the time when
large quantities of water is required
:or late irrigation. The reservoirs
then add to the water supply, assur-
ing sufficient water for the raising
of all crops.
The principal reservoirs storing
water for the Monte Vista district
are The Santa Maria Reservoir, with
a capacity of 45,000-acre feet; the
Rio Grande reservoir with capaci-
ty of 5O,O00-acre feet; the Terrace
and La lara reservoirs with total
capacities of 32,50O-acre feet. and
the Beaver Park reservoir with n
storing capacity of 4,5OO-acre feet
These reservoirs, together with
the large ever-howing rivers that
drain the water sheds of these high
mountain ranges. furnish an abun-
dance of water for irrigation, and
makes the production of choicest
crops possible.
Advantages of Irrigation.
The agricultural resources of the
West are only beginning to be de-
veloped The surface has hardly
been scratched, but such beginning
has already been made that the
wonder and astonishment of the
world has been attracted by the agri-
CulluTul ulSpldSS lndut AT lle SItdt
international expositions.
Irrigation has transformed the
barren wastes of the West; makes
prosperous growing country, In
sures full crops of highest quality
every season; improves the land
with every irrigation: makes the
farmer Independent of the rainfall;
increases several fold the produc-
tiveness OF grains and vegetables
over land having rainfall; Is a more
scientific industry results In more
intensive farming methods; means
the occupation OF small holdings;
increased rural populations, and
such general prosperity as can hard
ly be realized by those not familiar
with the results OF crop irrigation.
The Alfalfa Crop.
Any one who has had experience
in the growing of alfalfa and studied
its relation to western soils, realizes
Its unparalleled values. Alfalfa
has been aAd Is the making OF the
West. and no other plant can take
It's place In arid agriculture. Al
falfa should be grown on every irri-