Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 242, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1916 — MAJOR HEALEY TELLS OF WORK ACCOMPLISHED [ARTICLE]

MAJOR HEALEY TELLS OF WORK ACCOMPLISHED

an from 2 to 3 hours by the troops who., are to occupy it, but in the soil here this is. impossible <and working, in reliefs for three hours we did not j have a standing trench half dug. The | task will be completed at a later dfty* The trench scheme provides for troonals, which prevent bullets being sent down trenches from the flanks. They also provide for connecting trenches to the supports and reserves, with kitehens, store houses, latrines, etc., alt accessible through zig-zag trenches. The soil here is albdeposit from the river this land having at one time been the channel of the river, with picks and shovels it is slow vork, being" Very much like hard pan after you get a few inches into the ground. When wet it soaks up into a very flexible soil, but to intrench A regiment for defense against infantry fire would be the work of two*or three days, while to provide for protection against shrapnel and other artillery fire would require much longer. Even the hasty lying down trenches, which are presumed to be dug in 10 to 15 minutes, require an hour or longer to complete: One day this week my battalion was reduced by having two companies on guard and with the other two battaßons and one machine gun company 1 was required to take up a defensive position and meet the attack of the other two battalions, eight companies. The exercise worked out very nicely. This country is a network of irrigation canals, which make quite excellent entrenchments. During the past few days I have made several drives into the surrounding country and have made considerable investigation about the -country ami its productive possibilities. This is an irrigation section, which was first opened up some eight or ten years ago. Like all promotion schemes, it victimized a large number of investors and the false methods employed acted as a boomerang against the success of the plan as a to cultivating the 160-aj;re unit or more bough - ; tracts of that size here, being led to believe tnal they could manage such an amount. The land was covered with chapparal brush umd mesquifc; trees -and -it cost from $lO to S2O per acre to clear it and a large amount to put in, irrigate, cultivate and harvest a crop and then there were bad -marketing conditions and Mr. Northern Farmer rarely lasted over two or three years. Had he purchased only 10 acres or at most 20 acres, he might have succeeded. I have met two very interesting northerners who have made splendid successes in the valley. One is Mr. Eltweed Pomeroy and the other is Dr. Carter, a dentist. Mr. Pomeroy raises citrus fruits and flower bulbs. He makes preserves, marmalades and other things and sells them at fancy prices. He has only 20 acres but his income is said to be SIO,OOO per year from that tract. Last evening he lectured to the Third regiment and Told of the possibilities and also the drawbacks of the irrigation farming in this locality. He says that oranges, lemons and grape fruits grown here are as fine as grow any place in America and being practically secure from frost damage afford a great possibility' for the investor. He told of instances where 6-year-old trees were bringing as high as SBSO per acre. He says that there is not a man in the -valley—who-has managerial—ability sufficient to manage 40 acres of this irrigation land. He has employed part of each yeqf as high as 50 Mexicans ffnlHhis on only 20 acres. He is seriously considering the cultivation of only 10 acres another year, putting the other 10 acres into citrus trees. His place is a beautiful one and he has generously kept our table supplied . with perfectly beautiful flowers. Wednesday he brought us a bottle of rozell, a very pleasing drink of the punch variety. He has also brought r.s bottles of preserved komquets, marmalades, etc., justifying the fancy prices he secuers from discriminating buyers. Tuesday evening Lieut. Art Tuteur and I visited at the home of Dr. Carter, iho came here from Fulton, Mo. He practices dentistry in Mercedes but lives about 4!4 miles in the counbetting 'that made me think of Gene Stratton Porter’s description of “The: Harvester’s” home. Only 100 feet from the broad screened porch around Lis house is nestled as beautiful a Utilc Like as I have ever aeem All -pifroo 'V<ere are parts of the oM ehannel of the Rio Grande river and are generally narrow and quite deep. They are stocked with fish of various kinds and Dr. Carter has a steam launch and row boats and raises ducks and geese. He also raisbd lots of chickens, has 125 head of hogs and 60 head of Jersejt cows. He has been selling

milk at 35 cents per gallon wholesale. He is now harvesting 6 acres of sweet potatoes which are making him $450 per acre and Mrs. Carter cleared $450 from an acre of lettuce last January and February. He has several small tracts rented out and i.s planning to put out 20 acres of cabbage. Early cabbage is now being put out and •late cabbage will be put out Dec. Ist. It is not uncommon for cabbage to make 10 or 12 tons per acre and to bring from S3O to SSO per ton. It is expected that the price will be high the coming year owing tu short crops in Wisconsin, and Dr. Carter iF enthusiastic over the prospect an:! was anxious'to induce me to put out 20 acres on shares, he to furnish the land, the water and the plants. He says that it is certain to bring from SB,OOO to SIO,OOO. Mexican labor is used exclusively. Prior to the occupancy of this country by the soldiers and the employment of tbe Mexicans to make roads, clear land; etc., the prevailing wage for “daylight to dark, and —they—board tViommOvt s. The government has raised the price to $1.25 per day for 8 hour labor and the Mex are carried to and from their work in the great aimy’auto trucks and it has spoiled them. The men demand higher wages and shorter hours and the women decline to perform the old functions of washerwomen and house ,women and will wash clothes only for the soldiers. So while the soldiers are generally v\, elcomed because of the protection they afford and the moneythey spend, they have-created a new labor problem that is quite serious. My impression is that any persevering person with a little capital can make a lot off money on a 10-acre tract in this vaJlley if he will stay right on the job. " Tfi davits. icarcely expect we will be home to exercise the right of suffrage. John Lyons received his discharge today, being the first soldier ~in Company “M to receive a discharge because of expiration of enlistment. He will probably reach home hy the Robinson will get home soon after Bet. 22nd, at which time his ment expires. Will write again when I find tima. Will be pleased to answer questions about this country if any are asked. MA J. GEORGE H. HEAikY .