Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-03-27


Dexter, N. NJ. March 26.-JusI
now this town is experiencing inc
first gentle pains of bootn--a
boom which Is not founded on
some insecure bubble, but one
which is the fruition of merll
and diligent effort, well appled'
Years ago the Dexter country was
first opened as an. agriculture
community. The northern canai,
which waters several thousands OF
ocres was constructed and the va i
lev bloomcd as q rose. Like an
western valleys which have an
abundance Of water, the matter OF
irrigation was oyer-worked ana
cultivation was practically 1orsot-
ten. 1t was easier to run water
than cultivators, so why cultivate
The land was water-logged with
in "A few years and production rel
off Numerous farms were prac-
tically abandoned and the valley
had a BLACK eye" Then artes!an
wells were found to the west o.
the Northern canal and Thousands
of acres of the fertile prabies were
developed to a high state, the llte'
giving fluid being supplied to th'
Individual farms by these private
enterprises which furnish froH
500 to 1000 gallons of water pei
minute. The land slopes east Z
the Pecos and as wells were drilled
farther and farther to the west thu
artesian level fell below the sur
face and over these new wells
pumps were installed and thus new
sources Of wealth were opened, Blu
the additional water applied above
! but added 10 the SwampineSs o.
the lower valley.
Then CaUle Drainage.
In the midst OF this condition OF
prosperity and loss. some enter
prising citizens began to agitates
| drainage And after a While ana
much wrangling they drained
There was some kick of the way
the proposition was handled. but
miles and miles of mains and lat
erals were installed. They criss-
crossed the lower portions in every
direction and they carried lots Of
| water, The water-table began tt
| go down. Cellars which were fillet
with water dried out; vegetatlor
which had shown sickly yellow be,
came en1erald; where there ha6
been swampy flats and salt grass
| appeared broad fields OF cotton
wheat and corn. New stands o.
alfalfa were planted and, surpriS
ingly, 1t grew. Asked if the drain
age were a success. the wors
Kicker" Of the lot replied; "It'
proving the thing, and it's bring
| ing my land back" And 1t Is.
Expensive? Not So.
1t was expensive, yes: but listen
1t cost. perhaps, s375,000 to install
the entire system, but this is APP
portioned out over a number o
years, 80 the cost in any one yea
| is not heavy; and last year Dexte
| shipped some 700 cars of hay Will
Greenfield, also in the drained dis
trict. shipped 500. Three hundred
and fifty-one cars of alfalfa, mea
were shipped from the creates
| alfalfa meal mill in the world, on
of DeXter'S recent acquisitions
| Thousands Of bushels of whea
were grown; oats, barley, corn. ry
and garden stuffs were raised il
abundance. And the fleecy-whit
of the cotton fields were sight TO
sore eyes, and an antidote for
flat pocketbook,
During the last five years tn
value of Invest lock within the dis
trict has approximately doubled
while their grade has greatly bet
tered. Registered animals are be
coming more the rule than the OK
ception among this new class Q
farmers which are making tn
Dexter country one of the best /
the state.
Building Boom, Too.
This renewing activity has ha
Its proper effect upon the tow
/, New buildings are going up, ne