The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-09-21

DEVELOPMENT OF THE
"STAk ED" PLAINS COUNTRY

DEN ELOIMENI Of The
"STAkED" PLAINS COUNTRY
Ten years ago one could go from
Tucumcari south to the cap-rock, dis
tant twenty-five miles along crooked
trail. Perhaps there we're at that
time three small houses TO be seen
in the distance. After making the
ascent of about seven hundred feet
in elevation from the valley to the
upper edge Of the cap-rock along II
tortuous and steep trail, there opens
before you, far and wide, the Plains
country.
II was known 90 all students Of
Mitchel's geography as the Staked
Plains. One could drive fifty miles
in almost any direction and not be
able to discern anything on the hori-
zon. How truly gratifying it is today
to return to that same locality and
observe vast changes inl materia
wealth and personal comfort.
Highways are opened on section
lines, fenced and travelled. Perhaps
there is not section of land in fifty
miles drive that is now without a
tenant or improvements.
There is never AN hour that you do
not meet number Of farm wagons
on the road to the market, and auto
mobiles touring to and fro to call on
II neighbor for business or pleasure,
or some one speeding from Boston or
New York to San Francisco.
No one may despair for want of
good water to drink, or for his auto
supplies. There is wealth of hos
pitality among this people and toward
strangers, which is not disscmbled.
In some instances tarry TO note
the equipment on the farm, the num-
ber of horses and cattle, and the quail
ity; also the farm machinery, plows,
drills. cultivators, headers, barges,
wheat binders, cOrn-binders, etc, and
found in some instances they cqualled
the average kept on North Dakota
farm.
However, they have sllos, dipping
watts, reservoirs, and more cattle than
is usually kept on Dakota farm. Let
me call attention to the eight years
in which the plains country has ac-
complshed 80 much. At times they
were threatened with drouth.
In some instances | observe stacks
of feed that have weathcred until one
might believe them spoiled. They have
been kept two and three years in re-
serve. Should they he required, in
passing through a drouth, they would
only require a small amount Of the
exterior to be trimmed off as waste.
was again reminded of the social
functions given by the northern peo-
pie. With their numerous and i'm
mense groves on every section of land
that are now 20 or 30 years old; with
towns and cities within an hours drive;
with High School students throughout
the country and towns, the June fes-
tivals are well attended and IA good
program rendered each week until
harvest begins. Already the June
festival on the plains attracts crowds
Of people. The plains country is grow
ing. The rural delivery Of mail is in
creasing and one observes II group
of mail boxes on the road crossings
Wherever there is necessity for pub
lie school they are building a new
house or enlarging the old one to meet
the increasing needs,
There are three central telephone
centers established with which every
house on the plains may soon establish
connection with every other house
and thus contribute to personal com.
fort.
Here is point of agreement In
constructing new house on the plains
| there is no evidence cf either rivalry
or supre macy IN plan OF cNUer' C.
Every house was built on basis Of
economy and necessity. Very soon
there will be building boom of mod
crn cottages and bungalos. The mater.
| ial will be stone and cement, The
present owner of the land will bc tn,
owner when the house is finished i-i-ii
he don't run for-for office
have alluded to roads on the see
| tion lines, every where on the plains
| will be pardoned for alluding 30 Da'
kota again. 4 coulcc in that country
| signifies grassy ravine, similar tC
the grassy ravine on the plains country
in Quay county, \. NJ, On every see
tion line the road is graded, culvert.
built at all depressions, and small
bridge across the main coulees. The
law requires each owner of land t
NOV in the autumn and burn the weeds
on the roadside joining his land, Ever!
mile of road must be inspected anC
where necessary worried smooth will
IA grader.
II n proper accounting of the publ,
money could be made and published
and the unpaid road bills be paid anC
audited, it would inspire confidence 4
continue road building in Quay count!
wherever roads are necessary.
ID 1 ARER