Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1922-08-25
VALLEY HAS PROSPECTS
PEA CANNING FACTORY

The Antonito Ledger announces
the good word OF another industry
that has IA bright prospect OF being
established in the valley. the exact
location not yet being decided, and
the ultimate location of the factory
depending much upon the matter OF
freight rates.
at seems safe to announce at this
time that the San Luis Valley Will
have an opportunity to develop
table pea industry. one of the fea-
lures of agriculture to which the
valley is more especially adapted,
saws the Ledger w. j. Brinkley.
of Pueblo. and formerly head Of
the Brinkley- Douglas Fruit Co..
made a short talk before the Anton
ito Lions and business mems weekly
luncheon at the Palace hotel yestts
day in which he stated that he and
number of associates of Denver
and Colorado Springs had decided
to locate pea cannery at some
point in the valley. The only con-
tingcncy upon which hinges any
doubt is the question OF freight
rates, which question. however. has
not yet been presented to the Den
Yer & Rio Grande.
MIR. Brinkley sent peas into the
valley last spring to be tested by
the farmers and the results have
been quite satisfactory. On Wednes-
day afternoon he visited some of the
test fields in the vicinity of Anton
ito, Manassa and perhaps other sec
tions OF the county and he pro-
nounced the results quite satisfac.
tory.
"The probable location of the
plant was not announced, nor is IL
known that the location has been
fully decided in the minds of the
locators. II is not practical to haul
on the vines more than three and a
half miles, but hullers can be locat-
ed from fifteen to twenty miles. In
the face OF these facts II is reason
able to anticipate that development
TO ultimately accommodate the en-
tire valley will be matter for
serious consideration. The valley
has been growing peas for more
than half century. the farmers are
all experienced pea growers and will
at once plant crops for cannery.
without the customary preliminaries
necessary in Introducing new en-
terprise. The whole valley will at
once wish to engage In growing can
merry peas and nothing short of two
canneries will meet the oc aston to
accommodate the whole valley. This
situation viii no doubt he the decid
Ing factor In the selection OF a site.
or sites. Mr.. Brinkley and George
Ton, one uf his associates. will be
in the valley in about ten days to
make a final review of the situation
from vantage points gained by Mr..
Hrinkley. who has spent about six
weeks in the valley taking obserya-
Briukley sees a great advantage In
the valley over other pea-growing
sections in tn. fact that by a series
OF paintings at proper interval the
producing season can be made TO
cover period OF two months.
whereas the canning season in other
sections OF the state lasts but about
thirty days" {.
In addition to the value OF the
pea canning industry to the agri-
suitural development OF the com
munity. the location OF n factory In
town furnishes summer employ
ment for high school boys and girls
who wish to earn money for their
school needs. Also II furnishes work
that can be done by women who
need extra money. and all of the
work is done during the summer
months.