Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-08
STREAM
WATERS FERTILE
FARM COUNTRY
Cottonwood Valley, With Pro-
greSsIve Population, Is One
Of New Mexico'S Most.
Prosperous Sections,

fspscisl coasespoHnrsos 10 moHEino Jonsnhti
Artesia. y. NJ, May 7.---One Of the
highest developed irrigated sections
Of New Mexico lies In the Cottonwood
valley. from nve TO fifteen miles
northwest OF Artesia. The Cotton
wood IL a small tributary to the Pc
eos and f. kept alive during the dry
weather by springs IN ordinary times
II carries but a small amount Of wa
ter, hut IN flood times II Is often
half n mile In width. AZ one place a
strong concrete dam holds storage
water for Irrigation. hut this is only
a small territory compared with the
thousand Of fertile acres which are
watered by arteslan wells. Ii Is in
Cottonwood valley that the famous
artesian belt of southeastern New
Mexico reaches It's maximum width,
and as rule strong wells are found
az shallower depth in this section
than In any other part OF the Artesia
belt.
There are at least two distinct ar
tesian flows in the Cottonwood valley,
the first, found al depth Of from
300 to 500 feet, being weak flow Of
good water At the depth of from
500 20 ! 100 feet Is found the big flow
81 sulphur water. which Is 50 power
full that 1t throws the water over the
casing to height Of two TO four feet
In the lower parts OF the valley. This
sulphur water Is of strong medicinal
properties and many sufferers from
stomach trouble who have come to
this country ana drunk the waters
have been completely cured. The sui
phur In the water, while not particu-
larry pleasant to the taste, does not
render IL altogether unpalatable, and
In no way affects its use for irriga-
ton. II does not injure the growing
crops. as is amply testified by the
many fine alfalfa fields and healthy
orchards to be found in this favored
section.
Weli-kept Farm Houses.
The homes of the farmers out on
Cottonwood show more care and at
tention than the average throughout
the state. Especially is this true in
the matter of ornamental trees and
The giant spanish daggers
are easily obtained In the foothills a
short distance TO the west, and
many OF the homemakers who have
invaded this little paradise have
used these distinctive plants for the
decorations Of their farm lines and
lawns. producing an effect not unlike
a tropical garden.
Vines and flowers Of all descrip-
tons have been used layishly and
the long growing season has in many
instances given an appearance 1t
would have taken years to produce in
u a. "a lal Fsl
around the artesian wells are also
scenes of great beauty, being bor-
dered by willows and other water
loving trees and often full of fine
fish. one pond Is fairly alive with
gold fish, some Of which have crossed
with a native fish and grown To more
than a foot in length, yet retaining
All the beauty of their tame parent. 4
4 Modern Community.
The valley of the Cottonwood Is a
modern community In every sense of
the word, with daily mail service
from two rural lines, telephones, and
two school houses, one OF them built
Of concrete The roads are the finest
in New Mexico aud require but little
work. The natural slope of the
country to the cast not only gives a
perfect plane for irrigation, but
causes the roads to dry quickly after
an occasional rain, and a little drag
cling at long intervals keeps them in
splendid condition. The Cottonwood
roads are much frequentcd by auto
lists from all parts of the Pecos val
ley, on account OF the good roads and
the magnificent views to be had of
the irrigated section from each rise
For background, the picture has
the Captain, the Sacramento and the
White mountains, the later tipped
with snow even during the warmest
summer.
From the western rise the view is
TO be admired. A orchard
sweep OF country, dropping rapidly
towards the east. dotted here and
there with farm houses, the clean
rows of the orchards alternating with
the vivid green of the alfalfa fields,
and In the distance. the winding Pc
COS, and farther still, the red sand
hills while here and there through
out the view flashes the crystal of arr
tesian weIls--that is Il typical picture
OF the peaceful Cottonwood, one of
the Garden spots of the southwest.