Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 5, Number 312, Decatur, Adams County, 28 December 1907 — Page 3

New Mexico.... >ft Colfax County, a Section that Is jW| Attracting Much Attention from Farmers and Investors—it’s Resources, Climate, Advantages..... FRENCH LAND AND IRRIGATION COMPANY’S BIG SCHEME (The following article is from the Earlville, Illinois, Leader of Nov. 21, 1907 )

Fifty years ago tne lana question was very little thought of by the people. There was land for everybody who wanted it and apparently there never would come a time when there would be any shortage of real estate for all who cared to own a part of the public domain. In those days the phenomenal ircrease in population, wealth and resources was not so apparent as now. Thousands of acres of land remained ' to be cultivated and only awaited the coming of the settler to give forth its riches. But the coming of the years has 1 brought great changes. The vast public domain is nearly all taken up and the scrambles for land whenever a little piece of an Indian reservation is opened, shows how eager the people are to become possessors of a farm and a home. In the great southwest for years the cattle ranchets have monopolized hundreds of thousands of acres of good lands. Their flocks and herds have roamed at will over hill and dale. The farmers could not get a foothold in these sections, although the soil is fertile and the only thing needed in some sections was to get the water to the land, when the cattle interests were dispossessed. In New Mexico, for instance, are thousands of acres of the most fertile lands, but the rainfall in that section is such that water must be stored up for use at the proper times when most needed. This has been done in a small way for years and the results have been such as to surprise those not familiar with irrigation. In recent years irrigation has become a science. The government has made many and valuable experiments and individuals have invested fortunes in plants that conserve the water supply for use at the proper time. It is of such a section that this article has to deal, and the particular tract of land to be described is owned by the French Land and Irrigation Company, of Rock Falls, 111., and is located in Colfax county, New Mexico. The facts here given have been , gleaned from many sources and have : been verified by personal inspection by j persons from this locality, who will vouch for the accuracy of the statements herein contained. 1 A number of Earlville people have 1 bought tracts of this irrigated land and I

. WHEAT FIELD ONJLARSEN FARM, ADJOINING FRENCH LANDS %

are] preparing to improve it. Others are now down there with the view of purchasing and still others will go later. WHERE THE LAND LIES. The French Land and Irrigation Company has secured control of a part of the French lands in what is known as the ’ Maxwell Land Grant in Colfax county, j northeastern New Mexico. The lands controlled by this company, consisting of 50,000 acres, lie along the main line of the Santa Fe railroad and are only twenty-four hours’ ride from Kansas City. These lands are watered by the Cim- > arron river, Carrusoso and Pinol creeks which receive their supply from the Cimarron and Taos mountains in the western part of Colfax county, thus assuring a never failing supply of purest water from the melting of snows of these perpetually snow clad mountains. The land is generally level, sloping gently to the south and east just sufficient for easy irrigation. The soil varies in depth from three to ten feet, and in color from a dark chocolate to black. A slightly sandy loam, underlaid with a’clay subsoil, it is at once warm and responsive to cultivation, at the same timeZbeing easily susceptible tn irrigation and holding its moisture well. Its productiveness is not surpassed by the high priced irrigated lands of southern Colorado or the high priced lands of Illinois or lowa. The average annual rainfall of district as shown by the United States Weather Bureau for the last thirteen

SUPPLEMENT TO DECATUR, IND., DAILY DEMOCRAT, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1907.

s years is about lourieen inches, practically equal to the rainfall of western i Kansas and the Pannanaie oi Texas. • The heaviest rainfall; comes in the I months of July, August and September. The French Land and Irrigation Company does not depend, the natural rainfall moisture necessary to produce crops, but'with the extensive irrigation ditches and res- ' ervoirs now on the land and in course of construction offer to the purchaser an abundant water supply for all land sold for cultivation. The reservoirs, of which there are seven, have a capacity ; enough to irrigate more than 50,000 acres." So much has been saiu aoouc irrigation in recent years tnat it hardly seems necessary to speak of the benefits of irrigated farming. The United States government is annually spending millions of dollars in reclaiming the arid portions of uie west oy this method. Yet few people in this country are familiar with or have stopped to consider tne extent to which artificial irrigation has been carried, or the larger proportion of the agricultural products of the world which have been and are being grown under this system. In India 10,000,uu0 acres of land are under irrigation, over 4,000,000 acres in Italy and a large part of the lands of Europe must be irrigated to produce good crops. The state of Colorado alone, according to the report of the state engineer, has about 1,500,000 acres under irrigation. The advantages of irrigation are many. On an irrigated farm the making of the crop is not a matter of chance. The results are sure—in the great corn states of Illinois and lowa, and the wheat states of Minnesota and the Dakotas, the crops would on the average almost be doubled if the rainfall could only be controlled and a sufficient amount assured at just the right time. A week’s drought at a critical time in the life of the plant destroys its vitality and reduces the yield. A severe storm at another period in its growth destroys the crop. Even in the safest rain-belt section farming is a precarious occupation. An irrigated farm does not wear out. The land is fertilized at the same time it is watered. The silt and material brought in by the water enriches the soil and keeps it fertile.

The irrigated farms of Egypt have been under cultivation for forty centuries and are as good as ever. In the old sections of New Mexico farms have been known to be under cultivation for 300 years and are still productive. The climate of northern New Mexico is as fine as it is anywhere in the United States. The air is clear and it is almost a land of perpetual sunshine. The high altitude means the nights are always cool. The winters are mild and open. Snow rarely stay's on the ground for longer than a day or two even in the coldest winter. WHAT YOU CAN GROW. In speaking of the products of this country we first mention alfalfa. We do this because a farmer going into a new country naturally wants to know what he can cultivate with the least expense that will find a ready market and yield him good'returns for his money and labor invested. There is a large demand for all the alfalfa that can be raised, and as the country develops the demand will grow larger. A very small proportion of the population of New Mexico is engaged is farming. Mining and stock raising on a large scale are the principal industries. These furnish a very large demand for alfalfa, and as the population increases and new mining industries are developed the demand will grow larger. The land in New Mexico that can be irrigated is comparatively small and no one need fear that the supply will ever exceed the demand. Much of the agricultural products con-

sumed must always be brought from states farther east at great expense for freight. From farms nqw under cultivation on the French lands the average annual yield per acre of alfalfa is five]tons and the average price for a series of years has been $lO per ton. Alfalfa is cut three times a year, and after the first seeaing, wnich is no more expensive or difficult than to secure a good stand of timothy or clover in the older states, the expense of raising is very sma ll . Southern Colorado has long been famous for its excellent fruit, and northern New Mexico, especially Colfax county, which adjoins the southern line of Colorado, is equally, if not better adapted to this industry. Apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries and all kinds of small iruits grow abundantly and are positively the finest quality in

•' * - r. - . | IRRIGATION DAM ON OLD DITCH

the United States. Apples are by far the most important fruit crop, and like alfalfa it is something the farmer can rely upon. On this land and in Colfax county will be found some of the finest apple orchards in the United States. Trees are absolutely free from disease and insects. Apples are perfect in growing and flavor and free from worms. Spraying trees has not been necessary in this country. At the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo the apples of New Mexico received first premium, thus successfully invading the hitherto supposed “finest apple country in the world” at her chief city in open competition and demonstrating her superiority. The market for apples and fruits of all kinds is good. These products can be and are packed in cases and shipped east in large quantities. They are superior to the California product and 1,000 miles nearer the eastern market, and this land lies along a great transcontinental railroad where every advantage in freight and easy shipments can be secured. This is the natural home of the sugar beet, probably the best paying crop grown in any country. The sugar beet industry is being fast developed in the United States in the few localities where the sugar beet can be profitably raised. Experiments in this vicinity have shown that the percentage of sugar is better than in an other section in the United States. Ten carloads of sugar beets which were raised on the French lands in the vicinity of Springer and sent to the sugar beet factory at Lamar, Colo., showed a percentage of sugar from 19 to 20J per cent., and 90 per cent. in. purity. That you may fully realize what this means we submit the following official table percentage sugar and percentage of purity of the sugar beets of other states. . Sugar in Purity of State beet, juice, per cent. per cent. Michigan 14. 81.1 Colorado 13.6 76.6 Utah 14.3 81.1 Nebraska 12.9 <6.9 New York 15. 82.4 Washington 13.7 80.7 Wisconsin 15.8 83.3 Minnesota 11. <9.2 Sugar beets yield from fifteen to thirty tons per acre, and bring $5 per ton. Beets can be shipped to the sugar factories in southern Colorado, but there is a movement on foot for a large sugar factory to be erected at Springer, and undoubtedly one will soon be erected there or at some other town in that locality. Oats, barley and wheat do excellently, yielding large crops and of superior quality. Like everything else that grows these grains require water and sunshine. Plenty of water and sunshine at the right time is absolutely necessary if the highest grade of development is to be secured. Oats yield from forty to ninety bushels per acre and weigh from forty to forty-eight pounds to the bushel. Barley never fails and is a large plump and bright berry bringing the highest price for malting. » Wheat frequently goes fifty bushels to the acre. All sorts of garden truck grow in profusion, and find a ready market in the cities and mining camps. One of the most profitable of the garden vegetables is the Mexican bean. It is easily raised, and pays the farmer from S4O to $75 per acre. There is a good market for this product at home, among the ranchers and miners] and

from the United States government for feeding the troops. Cabbage is a good crop, frequently growing heads weighing from 20 to 25 pounds. Celery equalling any in the United States. Cantaloupes, melons, tomatoes and in fact any kind of vegetables that a northern or western farmer is familiar with grows in abundance. Everyone knows of the immense herds of cattle and sheep that for forty years have ranged over the plains of New Mexico. It is a natural country for stock raising, the climate being such that little shelter is needed in winter. On an irrigated farm they .can be fattened from alfalfa, grain, beets and cow peas in a remarkably short time. Disease among them is practically unknown.

Dairy products are very high and the

conditions for dairying cannot be excelled. One of the most protfiable adjuncts of a well conducted farm in any country is the raising of poultry. In. this country it is particularly profitable owing to climatic conditions, absence of disease and the high prices for eggs and poultry. Eggs bring from 30 to 40 cents a dozen and the demand is increasing much faster than the supply. The best pure soft water is obtained everywhere. The depth of wells on irrigated farms around Springer is from 17 to 35 feet. IRRIGATION IS JUST THE REVERSE OF DRAINING. A continual flow of water (melted snow) is led from the mountain streams in canals, winding their way along the highest lands and filling the large reservoirs along their journey. From canals and reservoirs the ditches are fed, that carry the water to adjoining lands, and from the ditches each individual farmer carries water in his laterals to his own land, spreading it on the land as needed, and shutting it off when not needed. Eastern farmers will readily understand the value of controlling water supply, as our farmers owning irrigated lands do. Rain does no damage to hay nor to crops, rain does not delay cultivation, nor harvesting. It is because of our ability to control and regulate moisture, and because of the perpetual sunshine giving light and heat to all vegetation that New Mexico lands produce everything in abundance.

DESCRIPTION IN DETAIL. Colfax county lies in the northeastern part of New Mexico. It joins Colorado on the north. In Colfax county are the immense coal deposits that are being opened up and which are making it one of the wealthiest and most populous sections of the west. The farming land has been held in large bodies by cattle companies and it is only recently that any of it could be secured to cut up into farms of smaller size. The French Land and Irrigation Company has been able to secure a tract of 50,000 acres of the W. S. Land & Cattle Company’s holdings lying between the towns of Springer and Maxwell City on the east, and Cimarron and Dawson on the west and northwest. The soil is a rich sandy loam and lies “almost as smooth as a floor,” with just slope enough to give good drainage so as not to clog and sour when irrigated. The land is free from brush, but is covered with a strong, healthy sod of native grasses. All the owners will need to do, to farm, is to break the land and sow the seed. It will produce a heavy crop the first year. The climate is delightful. The thermometer seldom goes above 90 in the summer, and while there is winter enough to make it congenial for a northern man, blizzards and storms are unknown. The mercury seldom drops to zero though it occasionally, for brief periods, goes below. Stock needs bttle or no feed during the entire winter. Northern New Mexico has been known for a century as one of the most healthful localties in the United States. A large number of its most enterprising citizens are men who went there afflicted with pulmonary troubles and were entirely cured. Malaria and typhoid are practically unknown. The present citizens are healthful, prosperous [and happy. One of the principal crops, as in all irrigated sections, is alfalfa. You can count on an average crop of five tons to the acre. The avearge price per ton has been for fifteen years $lO. It has occasional}’ sold lower than that, but has more frequently sold higher._„This

spring alfalfa wholesaled at Las Vegas for sl3 per ton. Raising alfalfa alone will average the farmer a net income of at least 20 per cent on a valuation of SIOO per acre. Oats crops average from 55 to 70 bushels per acre, with frequently a weight of from 40 to 46 pounds to the bushel. Wheat runs from 35 to 40 bushels per acre. Speltz produces fully as heavy crop as oats. Oats sell at about $1.50 per hundred weight. All kinds of vegetables grow almost abnormally large. Apples, pears, plums and cherries are among the most profitable crops that can be grown. There is no moth and no disease, and winter apples will be one of the great money makers of the section. One orchard in northern New Mexico, last year, only nine years old, paid the handsome dividend of 30 per cent on a valuation of SSOO per acre. Cherries come later than in some sections, and as a result always command a premium price. Fruit from this section took the first prize at the World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago. The Pueblo Indians have been raising good crops of wheat on similar land without rotation of crops for 300 years in the Taos Valley. This without any fertilizer other than water, and the same wheat was pronounced the best in quality of any exhibited at the World’s Fair at St. Louis. The tests made of sugar beets grown in that section show a percentage of 19 to | 22J in saccharine, or sugar. It is the aim of the French Company to secure a sugar beet factory for the settlers, and it can easily be done, as all citizens will join in the effort. Get our settlers and guarantee the beets and the factory will come. These lands, being a sandy loam with clay subsoil, are especially adapted to irrigation. The]company will Iput in a complete irrigation plant, ditches and reservoirs, with an abundance of water for irrigating the land/sold, and have it ready before the [time for ’planting in the coming spring of 1908. Several thousand acres are now ready. Full water right goes with each acre of land sold. The title to both water and land is unquestioned.. Abstract will be furnished with each tract sold. The water is from the mountains and of the best soft quality for irrigating purposes. The area of land subject to irrigation in this section is comparatively limited, the cattle and stock ranges are large, and for this reason the price of good irrigated land will always be high and the land of ready sale. For this reason hay and produce will always command a handsome price. Butter and eggs are higherjn price than any other[section, and as the population of the towns and mining camps is increasing at an almost phenomenal rate, dairy farming will always be exceedingly profitable. Dry farming is practiced to some extent, but its uncertain nature as yet makes it the wise thing to place your money in irrigated land, where crops and

MANAGER RICHARD IN AN OATS FIELD

large returns are always sure; where failure is unknown. Land will be sold in 40, 80 and 160 acre blocks and up, to suit purchaser. Excursion will be run to Springer on the first and third Tuesdays in each month. Land will be shown free to all investigators. See the country, investigate the conditions, look over the land. You will find conditions much more favorable than in other sections much more glaringly advertiseed. Land now in cultivation in the neighborhood will show you what water and cultivation will do. Improved land sells at prices that will convince you that there is handsome profit in buying this land. Fuel is cheap, lumber is reasonable, cheaper than in the east, where all you produce has a ready sale at premium prices, and you get land that will never depreciate in value. The main line of the Santa he between Kansas City and California runs through the French Land and Irriagtion Company’s land. So does the Dawson road from the Dawson coal fields to the main line of the Rock Island, and to El Paso, Tex. The dairy farmer will find the location the one that will appeal to his judgment as the place where his best interests lie. Men who begin farming on irrigates land when placed under cultivation runs to SIOO per acre and up, and does it quickly. When in fruit it runs to S3OO, SSOO and SI,OOO per acre. The reason is its products pay dividends of 20 to 30 per cent on that valuation. Land like that is a good thing to have lying around in your name. You can sell everything you can raise on these lands at the top market price. Eighty acres is worth more and will raise more and with less work, than a section of “dry farming” anywhere.

Sophus Richard, the company manager, one of the best posted land men of the west, selected this land as the best that could be found. If you see it and want land you will buy.. It will, bear the closest investigation. Farms there will show you what the land will do when “the water is turned on.” You will never get land with as goodjwater right or as favorably located as is here offered. WHAT A WELL-KNOWN CIVIL ENGINEER SAYS. Springer, N. M., July 21, 1907.—Mr. Sophus Richard, Manager The French Land and Irrigation Company, Rock Falls, Ill.—Dear Sir: I have made a careful examination of the south 25,000 acres of what is known as the French purchase, having made a preliminary survey of ditch lines, reservoir sites, etc., and find that the projected irrigation of the tract entirely feasible in every way. The storage capacity of the reservoirs together with the natural overflow of water in the Cimarron river, Ponil creek, Carasoso creek and Vanßrimmer creek, will afford an abundant supply of water to irrigate the land, 20,000 acres of which can be placed under irrigation. The project is simple and the cost will be comparatively small for the benefits returned. A siphon 5,900 feet long, which will place water at a sufficient elevation to irrigate a large section of rich land, will be the greatest single item of expense in the system ; it is fully warranted in the benefits returned. The soil of the land is a rich alluvial soil, and will produce anything suitable to this climate; wheat, oats, barley, alfalfa, sugar beets; fruit grows here in great abundance where ordinary care is taken in cultivation. I believe you have one of the very best irrigation projects in the great southwest today, and know that with the exercise of ordinary business principles the enterprise will much more than meet your most sanguine expectations. Few such opportunities are offered a man during a life time and lucky is the man who foresees the future and avails himself of them. You may think that I am over sanguine, but I know what the future has in store for land so rich in nature’s stores and which can be placed under irrigation at such a compartively small expense. Very respectfully, F. A. Haimbaugh, Civil Engineer.

OUR WATER RIGHT PROPOSITION. Below you will find a statement from a few citizens who all live at Springer, N. M., and have been living there from ten ot thirty years, to which we refer you in regard to our water supply for irrigation: Springer, N. M„ August 12, 1907.— To Whom it May Concern: We, the undersigned citizens of Springer, being

fully acquainted with conditions in this section, say, without hesitation, that there is an abundance of water within their limits for the full and satisfactory irrigation of the lands of the French Land and Irrigation Coumpany. With the reservoir system being inaugurated for the storing of the waters of the Cimarron river and other streams, there will be no question of the abundance of water for irrigating purposes of much more than the 50,000 acres of land the company is now placing on the market. W. H. Kremis, Christopher Hansen, C. E. Hartley, R. E. Alldredge, D. A. Clouthier, H. C. Abbott. ALREADY AT WORK. To show that the French Company means business and is at work, the following item clipped from the Springer, N. M. Stockman, of November 9, is of interest: •‘The French Land and Irrigation Company yesterday commenced work on their immense reservoir and ditch system. The first dirt was thrown at reservoir No. 2 which will mean the handling of 146,000 cubic yards of earthj Reservoir No. 1 will have 1,200,000 cubic yards, reservoir No. 3, 32,000 cubic yards, dam at reservoir No. 1, 1,077,000 cubic yards. Ten mile of big ditch will be built and sixty miles of laterals. The company is doing, the work themselves. Forty teams and sixty men are now on the work and more will be added. One and one-half cars of machinery arrived Thursday, besides a big steam ditcher. It is the intention of the company to have the work completed early next spring, at least enough to furnish water to the farmers located at the beginning of the season. (Continued on Opposite Page)