El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-03-27
Kngy Crop OF The Now Producing Time
And Belt Of The Comy-b Replacing Other Crops In FL Paso
Valley And Arizona Regions Modem Towns Built In
Arizona Because Of The Growth Of Cotton

growing elsewhere doesn't seem 20
help very much out here in the west
Rank amateurs. men who had wit
enough 10 seek the best counsel avail
able, and industry enough to put It
into practice generally are doing best
around Phoenix. There has been de-
velOped something OF g science Of
irrigation, that strives to keep the
cotton plant from growing to tree
like proportions, and yet keeps the
boil bearing branches leafy above the
blooms.
There are interesting economic fea-
lures in the growing OF cotton IN Ari-
IONA and the west, considered out
In the first place, cotton has served
70 redeem many tracts that had lost
value, for the staple does well on
land classed as spoiled land with
Johnson or Bermuda grass, or a touch
Of alkaA. The cultivation required
generally eradicates weed pests with
in a few years. Then, The profits
have served TO upset all previous
standards OF land valuation. Land
around Mesa, Chandler OF Glendale.
near Phoenix. has been sold lately
for even $500 an acre, bought for cot
ton growing. The same lands have
been leased readily at from $50 to SIS
q year rental. Only & few years ago
considered 8 fair valuation on the
land.
Cattle Have Gone
But there IS another side to the
picture. The gross farming area
under the Roosevelt project in Ari-
iona is about 100000 acres. Yet the
valley now has more than SOC, 600
acres under crop. the outside lands
Iyatered BY Independent canals and
from wells In the season Of 1929
there may be as much as 10000 acres
in cotton, or half the total The val
Haar7H
its dairy stock and beef cattle. and
for its rich fields and pastures OF
Alfalfa, with yearly increasing rich
ness OF soil Now the well bred cows
are being bought up for shipment
back east and the commOner stock
long ago has been consumed BY the
butcher.
Little pasturage Is left for the 1oo.-
600 head OF range cattle once fat
tened Farmers even buy the hay
needed for their work horses. which
are being displaced by tractors. The
situation Is not considered a logical
one and farm advisors and long
headed business men are urging 70
tation, especially back 10 alfalfa. 70
preserve the lands fertility.
Flowing and cultivating may be
done by machinery, but the rest OF
Jne process OF growing cotton is BY
hand This season for the growing
period IN Arizona alone viii be needed I
picking period there must be a mini E
mum OF at least 25.GO0. A picker for I
each four acres would not be too /
large a labor supply. During the past I
season about 1900 pickers were en- [
ployed- Most OF them came from Z
Mexico. brought in under suspension ]
81 the laws forbidding importation OF 4
contract labor or the entrance OF poof I
Or illiterste aliens. Practically no /
negroes are available The 1Iexicans I
nave profitsd largely by their adj Z
mission and. IN return. have done I
good service
Good Wages TO PiekerH
They have received not less than I
cents a pound for the seed cotton .
picked, and whole families at Wo-z 4
ave been known 70 earn even 500 4
! week Their importation has been 4
landed BY the Arizona Cotton Crow 4
rs association a local organization Z
hat has been most successful, and .
hat has spent above 100000 the pa { I
season in securing a labor supply 20 I
Is membership. The situation would .
1e bettered II the laborers could re- I
main. 10 gain experience and special 4
knowledge.
Men VINO mix brains with their
vo-k often get a full bale Of lint 10
The acre IN the salt River valley At