Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-03-19

OF our grand OLD empire builder, VIII
be interested in the following SPLEEN
did article by Ruth Fredric which ap-
peared in the Pueblo Chieftain of last
Sunday:
Irrigation. What word to con-
jure with! 1t is a lamentablc fact
that some portions of our state have
known the detriment of fake irriga-
ton schemes, fostered by men, un
skilled and inexperienced in the fac
tors of its success, other than pictur-
ing to the unsuspecting farmer gold
en- dreams of prosperity; and, after
filching all his convertible cash, plac-
ing him upon his newly acquired
holdings, on the burning prairie,
miles from any settled community, a
is with satisfaction that we note
there is again under way construction
work on what is known as the lower
system of the Swink Ditch and Res
ervoir company, located southeast of
Manzanola and southwest of Rocky
Ford, within not greater distance
than twelve miles of either of these
thriving valley towns.
Enlivening the recollections of the
older inhabitants. it brings before the
younger generation a review of irri-
CATION romance and reality in our
valley of Content" and presages
the fulfillment of endeavors and am
bitions of our late cherished valley
and irrigation pioneer, George Wash
ington Swink.
Monoliths of granite, towering
heavenward, and tablets of alabaster
have brought down to posterity the
fame and achievements of the rulers
of old: but the glories of the west are
her pioneers. No ~reat obelisks are
of our Empire Builders, their
monument-the state OF Colorado;
and a name beloved by all in the
Arkansas valley is that of Senator
Swink. The vast area of verdant
fields stretching to the four points of
the compass. primarily, are the at
testation of his loyalty, his years of
earnest endcavor, the giving OF his
life for the 'upbuilding of his state, his
county, and especially the lower Ar
kansas valley.
What our debt of gratitude to him,
we cannot reckon in figures; but look
ing through the pists of yesterday,
season by season, year by year, and
effort by effort. we can trace the
transportation of this once vast
stretch of arid burning prairie waste
to the bountiful agricultural section
of today. the then range OF the buffalo
herd to the now producer of varied
crops aggregating an income of ten
million dollars annually. To the ef-
forts of Senator Swink more than any
other man are due the results that at
tain in western and southern Colo
RADIO today
Born of Kentucky blood, reared on
a farm in Illinois with the pioneer
spirit inherently his, in the year OF
1871, while yet young man, west
ward he turned. in search OF wider
freedom and greater possibilities.
Coming to Kit Carson, the then ter
minus OF the Kansas Pacific railroad.
he started out across the desert waste.
afoot, paying a "freighter" the sum
OF two dollars to carry his .gripsack
from Kit Carson to Old Rocky Ford.
Here. three miles northwest OF the
present townsite OF Rocky Ford,
George w. Swink established him
self in the mercantile business with
one Asa Russell, as partner They
supplied the cattle and sheep men, the
Indian and Mexican traders with the
necessities OF life, all OF which were
transported by ox-team from the
state OF Kansas.
After three years OF separation
from his family, the necessity OF es-
tablishing home was upon the pio-
necr. He had become somewhat ia
miliar with other portions of Colo
rado. and found that, in some OF the
park and low valley districts of the
northern and western parts of the
state, agricultural pursuits were be-
ing followed in a more or less crude
fashion. While the senator was the
possessor of only a most indifferent
schooling, he possessed the greater
gift, genius, that mental and physi-
cal acumen that makes the director
of large enterprises. His will was
indomitable, faith unbounded, fore
sight unlimited; and from his rude
adobe on the plains, he preconceived
the greater future. ;,
Convinced that sunshine, soil and
labor together with the great essen
tial. water, must yield abundantly, he
endeavored to enlist the interest and
energy of his fellow pioneers in agri-
culture. The senator proposed the
construction of an irrigation canal;
but such proposition was strongly
derided, his associates telling him II
was not only impracticable, but aiso
impossible, to expect to raise crops
under the burning prairie sun; and II
would be false judgment to attempt
it, to the destruction OF the one enter
prise OF that portion OF the state, the
stock industry.
However, undaunted by the lack OF
other faith in his judgment and be-
lief, in the year of 1874, the senator
brought his wife and eight children
to their new home. at Old Rocky
Ford. Mrs. Swink survives her good
husband today, active in her domestic
pursuits as in years gone by, the