Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-12-15
WHEAT ACREAGE
SHOWS INCREASE
OVER LAST YEAR
Farmers of the Southwest
Are Optimistic Despite
Price Slump; New Land
Is Being Broken in N. NJ.
Especial Correspondence to The journal.

Especial Correspondence to The Journnl.)
Santa Fc, Dec. 14.-'"The winter
wheat acreage in eastern New Mex
leo, the Panhandle of Texas, AMI
southwestern Kansas has been in
creased. This in spite of the slump
in price" said A. NJ. Hove, assist
ant editor of The Earth. the Santa
Fe railway agricultural monthly.
published in Topeka.
The well Informed hold that
wheat is sure to continue in good
demand" haid Mr.. Hove. Rus
STA as a wheat grower is out OF
business aud will bc for some little
time, and Russia has been one Of
the big wheat producers in the
northern hemisphere. The slump
IN price hit the wheat growers
hard But the farmers on the
southwestern plains are optimistic
over the outlook for next years
wheat crop Moisture conditions
are oNc"'lcnt ana the farmers are
continuing To- SOW wheat.
'CtWrv county will have double
the dcrcagc of wheat in 1921 that
II harvested in 1920. Substantial
increase in other crops is also be-
ing planned. 1t is estimated that
the cultivated area in Curry coun-
ty Will be twenty per cent in 1921
as against ten per cent in 1920"
Mr.. Hove finds that much new
land Us being broken in other parts
of New Mexico. 1t is noticeable
that in Colfax Mora and San
Mignel counties the, farmers are
increasing their operations.
Regarding the movement of set
tiers westward, Mr.. Hove said that
there Is much activity in northwest
feNaS and southwest Kansas. Now
districts are being opened as largo
pastures are opened ana the lands
placed ON the market Union,
Quay ana Curry counties are also
nenetiting. People are coming
west in search of cheaper lands us
the rents on the high priced lands
in the middle west are prohibitive
now that the prices of farm
products have slumped.
Cotton produced well wherever
given proper attention in the dis
triCts whore cotton was grown for
the first time this year Mr.. Hove
said, But the spectacular decline
in cotton hurt the growers severe
ly, The crop was grown al a peak
production cost SO much bad
tven. told about the world shortage
Of cotton the cotton Ilprtcr OK
tended his operation beyond the
usual. In some sections it Is likely
tlHt cotton viii he added to the
fst Of standard farm crops in New
Mexico, Ir ChaveS county the
small grower is satisfied with the
crop and many WI grow cotton
next year.
New NoXico should take steps to
c1c urage Development Mr. lTrve
said. The water resources must
l." Geve,C ped soon, otherwise - gh-
boring states may take much of
the water in Interstate streams
away from New Mexico. The Rio
Grande flood and drainage condi-
lions will not improve by DELAY.
The losses sustained in May and
juno this year emphasize the need
of flood control of tho big river.
The sooner the great resources r.
New Mexico are developed, the
sooner will the prot en- of high
taxes be out of the wav
The Santa Fe railway, Mr.. Hove
states, will cooperate wherever
possible to promote development of
the resources of the state. The
various country building agencies
of the Santa Fc. discontinued dur
ing federal control, are being re-
organized. Before tho war the
Santa Zee had men familiar with
conditions and the resources Of
every section. Now 1t is necessary
to begin anew. vt is expected that
will be made before
long that the agricultural depart
ment will be ready for work
The Earth, the monthly devoted
to building up Santa Fc territory,
has met remarkable reception
since 1t was revived last March
with ]. +. farrell as editor. 1t cir
culates heavily in the east and mid
die west among people who are
looking for new homes and cheaper
lands.