The Monte Vista journal., 1915-12-18

tural land in the entire Rocky Noun
tain region.
Lowest Land Prices.
This being true, it is almost Ger
TAIN that the San Luis Valley will
be the first farming district in the
west to profit by the improved con-
d1tions which are coming to the
farmer, and as all indications are
that the day is not far distant when
the demand for land will greatly in
crease, it behooves the land owners
OF this district to Immediately es-
tablish sound land policy, and
when the new investors do come, to
do our utmost to interest them in the
wonderful resources and future pos
sibilities of this valley, and every
resident of this vast farming dis
trict should appoint himself IA COM
mittee of one to personally see that
every new settler gets Il square deal.
Advancement OF Conditions.
For the reason that the San Luis
Valley is at the present time only
partially developed and because so
much awaits the coming of an in
! creased rural population, the build
ing up and improvements of our
farming lands offer most unusual
attractions for all who are in search
of farm homes. The improvement of
the undeveloped lands; the dividing
of the present large land holdings;
the creating of better markets for
farm products and the better sys-
TEN of financing, all combine to en-
courage and improve farm con-
ditions, and assure very prosper
GUS and successful business venture
for every person who comes to this
locality and makes his home in our
fertile agricultural districts.
Opportunities Offered.
The raising of crops by irrigation
has many advantages over farming
in the rain districts, and the abund-
alice of water; the vast area of
smooth fertile land, and the ideal
climate with which this valley is
favored, all combine to make this
a most desirable place in which to
establish farm home
One of the most serious problems
that is presented to the many farm
ing districts of the west, is in the
production of some crop that will
fatten and finish live stock for the
markets. The range, the pastures
and the alfalfa will develop and
grow the cattle, sheep and hogs up
to the time when they become good
feeders, and then some crop must
be supplied that will fatten and
finish the stock in order that the
highest market prices will be re
ceived In most of the irrigation
districts of the Rocky Mountain re-
gion corn is supplied for this pur-
pose from the states of Kansas or
Nebraska. Other localities ship their
feeders to points in those states and
finish the stock at some feeding sta
ton where corn is produced.
However, the San Luis Valley is
especially favored in this regard by
producing a crop containing the
same fattening values as the corn
crop, and this product grows so pro-
lific that it's cost of production is
far below the expense of raising
corn. The crop referred to is the
Field Pea and the thousands of
acres of this product that are
grown in the San Luis Valley every
year places this agricultural section
in class by itself and assures sue
cess and profit for the farmer in the
| growing and marketing of cattle,
! sheep and hogs. 1t is estimated that
more than $4,000 sheep and 10000
hogs are being fed in this district
| at the present time.
Other Crops Raised.
In addition to the live stock in
| terests of the San Luis Valley, the
| principal crops now being raised are
/ alfalfa, wheat, oats, barley, potatoes
and vegetables, and these products
all yield enormous crops and the
qualities are unexcelled. This year
about 1900 cars Of potatoes were