Pueblo chieftain., 1921-01-31
PLENTY OF FARM RESOURCES.
IN BIG BROAD RICH COUNTY
AN ARKANSAS VALLEY GEM
Sketch Of Bent County Is Given Publicity and Makes
Good Reading g-Almost Equals an Eastern
State in Productive Power

methods of farming arc introduced.
Large numbers of cattle and sheep
are shipped into this county annually
and fed along the Arkansas valley
during the fall and winter months.
Tho principal manufacturing indus
try is the making of beet sugar. at
Las Animas, where 1,0OO-ton factory
of the American Beet Sugar company
is located.
The principal crops are alfalfa and
, other cultivated hay. native hay.
wheat oats. barley. corn, beans, sugar
beets, broomcorn, garden vegetables
and a variety of seed crops.
AT the beginning of 1920 there was
3l2, ,263 acres of privately owned land
in the county or agout 80 per cent of
the total area Tho records of the
county assessor show that 47.414 acres
of this was being farmed under irri
cation in 1919. $500 acres was classed
as dry farming land. and 254.s93 acres
as grazing land. much of which will
ultimately be placed in cultivation.
The remaining privately-owned area is
principally town and city lots.
Irrigated land sells at from SIS to
$3.50 an acre and non-irrigated land
brings from sl2 10 s45 an acre. on
January /. 1920. there were 1l,4ss acres
OF unappropriated state land in the
county.
Tho main line OF the Santa Fe rail-
way runs east and west thru the coun-
ty along the south side OF the Arkan
sas river. The Arkansas valley branch
OF this road traverses the irrigated sec
tons north of the river.
Tho principal state highway is the
Santa Fe trail. Numerous county roads
are comparatively well developed and
in a general way ample for transpor-
tation OF crops.
There are 81 public district schools
in the county. employing 90 teachers.
The Bent county high school at Las
Animas gives a full high school course
and the Wiley Union high school at
Wiley. in Prowers county, which in
oludes two districts OF Bent county.
gives three years OF high school work.
The climate is mild and unusually
healthfuI. The United States govern
ment, after a careful survey ~of cli-
| matic conditions in all parts of the
United States. selected Fort Lyon. in
this county, as a location for the Uni
! tod States Naval santtarium. The sell
oction was made principally because of
the favorable climatic conditions here.
Tho rainfall in the northern part of
the county, including the Arkansas
valley. varies from IL to Is inches an
nually. and in the southern part from
10 TO IS inches.
principal city. is located on the south
bank OF the Arkansas river. on the
main limo OF the Santa Fe railroad. 1t
is tho principal shipping point for a
large agricultural district. Other towns
are Caddoa and Prowers. on the main
line of the Santa Fc. and McClave and
Hasty. on the Arkansas valley branch.
The principal opportunities offered
here are in tho limo of agricultural de-
vclopment There is water available
for perhaps so per cent more land than
is being irrigated. Tho more elevated
lands beyond the reach of irrigation
water are fertile and their agricultural
development has been rapid in the last
three or four years. The county is
perhaps capable of supporting an agri-
cultural population twice as large as
it has at present. The Clays. sands
and building stones are of considerable
economic value and their development
offers good opportunities for invest
ment.