The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-02-24
LETTER FROM THE VALLEY
OF THE RIO GRANDE
Mr.. E. w. Kelso, Visiting in New
Mexico, Writes of the Country

Park, who went to the southwest dur
ing the month of January, gives in the
following letter his impressions of the
country he has been visiting, the let
ter having been written at Las Cruces,
New Mexico, February 10th:
To the Editor of The Republican.
If had the ability to fully describe
this section of country, it would be
very interesting reading matter for
your readers, and while do not claim
to have the ability to picture things
to others in satisfactory manner,
hope to be able to tell enough to inter
est some of your readers at least.
Las Cruces is the county-seat of
Donna Anna county, New Mexico, and
is situated in the Rio Grande valley
with population of $500 people and
at an altitude of $500 feet above sea
level and about the same latitude as
Savannah, Georgia. Las. Cruces has
churches of different denominations,
five school buildings, one being espec-
tally for girls, having an attendance
of three hundred pupils.
The State Agricultural College is
located three miles distant, at Me-
silla Park, with an attendance of $40
students.
Las Cruces has three banks, Gov
eminent building and the United
States Land Office. The Masonic Tenn
pie, large two-story brick building,
is located directly across the street
from the postoffice, which is in the
Government building The town has
magnificent park, ice plant, two flour
mills, electric lighting system and bus
mess houses representing various
trades and industries; water works,
fine residences and hotels, and the
Santa Fe Railroad.
The climate is dry and invigorating.
Nearly every day there is bright sun
shine with but two slight frosts since
came here. The nights are a little
cool on account of the altitude, but
warns up early in the morning. The
summer temperature rarely goes
above 100 in the shade. On account
Of the dryness of the air, however, it
has no more effect than 80 degrees in
humid climate. l am told the sum-
ner nights are cool and pleasant. The
winter of 1919-1920 was very mild.
with no snow while at the same time
the eastern states experienced severe
winter weather.
l have not observed higher winds
here than back home, but on account
of the dryness and fneness of the soil
the wind sometimes on the least prov
ocation sends the dust on a rampage
much to the discomfort of the house
wife and the pedestrians on the
streets.
There has been no rain here since
October, but the farmers are not wor
rying on that account, as all land is
irrigated in this section of the coun-
try.
1t costs more to farm by irriga-
ton than by natural rainfall, but the
agriculturalists are sure of a crop, as
they can apply the water when needed.
Crops of various kinds are produced
here in the valley, such as alfalfa,
corn, wheat, oats, cotton, contaloupes,
watermelons, white and sweet pota-
toes, apples, peaches, apricots, cher
ries, grapes and variety of other
fruits and vegetables. Honey is pro
duced here in the valley in large guam.
titles, one man having ten thousand
pounds of extracted honey on hand
which he is selling at II cents per
pound.
Farmers in the valley felt the great
slump in the price of farm products.
but on some crops realized good re-
turns. Cabbage is selling at from
$40 to $50 per ton. Over $4,000 worth
of apples were shipped from Las Cru
ces last fall at a very remunerative
price. / have been told of farmer
near town who Melted five thousand
dollars from twenty acres of sweet
potatoes, but lost ten cents per crate
on forty-two thousand crates of can
taloupes.
The Rio Grande Valley is level and
very productive under the irrigation
system. The valley has a great fu-
ture, as the farmers are just begin.
ming to realize the benefit of the
storage of water in the great dam,
which is being used for agricultural
purposes.
Spring crops are not planted early,
as the mild winter climate would in
dictate, on account of the high alti
tude. Crops are planted in April and
later.
In company with my son, his wife
and neighbor, we motored to the Ele-
plant Butte dam, IS miles north of
Las Cruces. Travelling quite a dis
lance, we left the Valley road and 90.
ing up gentle slope we came on to