THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



"My closer examination of the soils and location yester- 

 day only confirm my former opinion that these features of 

 the Fountain Valley district are equal to the best in Colo- 

 rado. The irrigation system seems to be all that is claimed 

 for it. I found the big supply canal from the Fountain river 



Home with Apple Trees in Fountain. Full of Fruit June, 1909. 



running with water, and the two reservoirs, dams, etc., 

 impress me quite favorably. 



"In conclusion, I would say that with proper irrigation 

 and above advice adhered to, all settlers in the Fountain Val- 

 ley district should do as well as in any part of Colorado. In 

 some respects you combine advantages here which are prob- 

 ably not equalled elsewhere. You are fortunate in being 

 supplies from the Greeley district through Denver on the 

 north or from the Arkansas valley through Pueblo on the 



Grammar and High School Building in Fountain, Colorado. 



south, or from other more remote points, compelling prices 

 for products greater than any other in the state. 



However, Fountain Valley can successfully compete in 

 the markets of Denver and Pueblo, as the latter is only 31 

 miles south by four lines of railway, and Denver is only 75 

 in close to the mountains, and in touch with the best mar- 

 kets of Colorado, besides the excellent schools, social advan- 

 tages, etc. With the splendid quality and good variety of 

 your soils, free from alkali, stones and brush to clear, all you 

 need for the highest success is proper irrigation." 



Probably in no one thing is the superiority of Fountain 

 Valley so pronounced as in its markets. Colorado Springs, 

 Manitou, Cripple Creek, Victor, Colorado City (points directly 

 connected) and other important mountain markets to which 

 Colorado Springs is the gateway, such as Leadville, serve 

 altogether a population of about 200,000 people, besides the 

 annual gathering of tourists, which is estimated at 150,000 

 people. 



Aside from Fountain Valley these places must draw their 



miles north of Colorado Springs by five lines of railway. For 

 example, alfalfa in the stack usually brings $10.00 to $11.00 

 per ton in Fountain Valley Springs. By delivering at Colorado 

 Springs, within hauling distance, a much larger price is ob- 

 tained, the figures often running as high as $16.00 to $18.00 per 

 ton. 



Comparing with prices in other noted irrigated districts 

 of Colorado, it will be found that these figures are about 

 double the average market prices in the best of them. 



There is a sugar beet dump at Fountain where beets 

 may be delivered at the same price, $5.00 per ton, as at anil 

 factory in Colorado. Fountain Valley beets have taken first 

 state prizes for both quality and yield per acre. 



Poultry and eggs are profitable products in Fountain Val- 

 ley. The market for them in Colorado Springs is one of the 

 best in the United States. 



Gateway to the Garden of the Gods at Colorado Springs and View of 

 Pike's Peak, near Fountain, Colorado. 



Cripple Creek, the greatest gold mining camp in the 

 world, is near Colorado Springs, connected by the famous 

 Short Line Railway, the finest scenic route in the world, 

 Switzerland not excepted. 



Secretary Craig, of the Colorado State Commercial Asso- 

 ciation, has prepared figures showing average yield and prices 

 of fruit and crops in Colorado. It shows that the average 

 gross yield of cherries is 1,500 per acre, plums $750 per acre, 

 apples $500 per acre and peaches $425 per acre. 



President Coburn of the State Board of Horticulture 

 strongly recommends navy beans as a profitable field crop for 



Cathedral Spires in the Garden of the Gods at Colorado Springs. 



Fountain Valley. He considers that farmers should make 

 from $75.00 to $100.00 per acre. They can be cultivated as 

 easily as corn and will yield three or four times as much. 

 They will yield as much as sugar beets and one man can cul- 

 tivate two or three times as much. 



