El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-10-13
BETTER CROPS
IN THE VALLEY
Farmers Fertilizing Land:
Solving Water Problem;
Short of Labor.

As a result Of the campaign for in
/ creased crop production made by the
| FL Paso chamber OF commerce last
| spring, crops harvested in the lower
valley have shown a substantial in
/ crease over the production Of 1915
/ This was learned following an inspec-
I ton trip Of the lower valley made by
/ county farm demonstration A. G. era
ham, and reported by him Saturday.
The crop production OF the lower
valley has made a stride toward the
point of becoming sufficient for the
needs Of the district, which is the
goal Of the war crop campaign. ne
said With many OF the dlIllculJles
WhOch have faced them during the
past season eliminated by next year,
farmers Of the FL PasO valley are eN-
1ecting a crop production for next
year which will break all records Tor
"A number OF years past
Glad TO Get Fertilizer.
Farmers are using manure from
military camps at FL PasO in carload
lots for the first time Under the
direction Of aIr. Graham, ten carloads
Of manure for fertiliZing purposes
have been shipped from FL Paso IN as
many days and the farmers have eX-
pressed their willingness TO use many
more carloads Through permission
Of the government farmers now are
enabled to procure the manure at
army camps, and TO ship IL TO the
lower valley at q cost Of alprONima-
tely 81 cents a ton. A heavy applica-
ton is being used to advantage 10
counterfeit alkaH in many places.
Overcoming Drainage Problem.
The drainage problem in the valley
is being gradually overcome, through
the use Of dredges. Sand from the
canals is being dredged rapidly and
soon should reach the capacity or the
dredges, which is one mile a month
Almost immediate. relief from seepage
Is being experienced where the
dredge in the lower valley has been
at work, as the removal Of sand from
the canals induces the lowering OF
the water table.
After the drainage problem, the
question of labor has proven the
greatest setback TO the valley farm
ers- En- llOyers Of farm labor claim
that the importation Of farm laborers
from Mexico. while PERM ssible. is SO
restricted by red tape" that IL
amounts almost TO an embargo.
LabOrers Scared By Draft
stories OF Mexicaus being drafted
into the United States army has
caused many Mexican farm laborers
TO return TO Mexico" said one farmer
below Clint to Mr.. Graham. Re
Gently spent two days going through
the process required by the govern
ment. so that I might bring one Chi
huahua family TO my place 7 made
myself responsible TO the government
for this family. pledgiuE that its
members would be returned TO MeXl-
CO after ceasing TO work for me.
Farmer Held By Government
a few nights ago the head Cf the
family came to me. saying that he and
other MeXicans were frightened over
the story they had read in a Mexican
newspaper that 125 Nexicans in New
York had been impressed into the
military service of the United states.
He asserted positively that he and
others were going back TO Mexico
that very night. It's only a mile 10
the river. and were going now. be-
fore they make US 20 into the army
he said. 7 had great difficulty in
Dersuading him not to carry out his
purpose. II he had. 7 would have
been responsible 10 the government Z
for the safe return Of the man and
his family. and would have had TO
nave stood some penalty, I suppose"