516 



THE IEKIGATION AGE. 



THE ARNO IRRIGATED DISTRICT. 



IN the Pecos Valley of Texas there lies a great district 

 which is remarkable, not for its size nor its magnitude, 

 but more for the completeness, stability and perfection 

 of its construction and the fact that the system itself has 

 been entirely completed without asking for the aid of the 

 public and before an acre of land has been placed upon the 

 general market. This fact is so unusual in the develop- 

 ment of irrigation enterprises that it is worthy of special 

 notice. 



The dams, main canals, principal laterals and head 

 gates of the Arno district are all constructed and water is 

 now running through them. It takes its water direct from 

 the Pecos Valley through a gravity system and by means 

 of a diversion dam. Sixteen thousand acres of extremely 

 rich land lie in almost equal portions on each side of the 

 Pecos Valley branch of the Santa Fe Railroad that leaves 

 the main line at Wellington, Kas., and extends in a south- 

 westerly direction through Kansas, Oklahoma, the Pan 

 Handle of Texas and the Pecos Valley of New Mexico 

 and Texas, having its terminus at the city of Pecos, Texas. 

 This is the first system of any importance south of the 

 Government works of irrigation of New Mexico. The 



The town '.-; growing rapidly and has daily passenger 

 trains, daily mail, telegraphic and express offices and 

 churches and school buildings of the most modern char- 

 acter are now being planned. The Eastern offices of the 

 Arno Irrigated Land Company are at 1210 Ft. Dearborn 

 Building, Chicago. The main offices are at the Ori- 

 ental Hotel Annex, Pecos, Texas, and at Arno, Texas. 



ROCKY FORD'S GREAT EXHIBIT. 



WHILE various sections of the state of Colorado are 

 vying each other for supremacy in the character of 

 their exhibits for the National Irrigation Exposition, Sep- 

 tember 19-October 1, Pueblo, in connection with the 

 Eighteenth National Irrigation Congress, September 26- 

 30, and trying to be foremost in preparing the same, 

 Rocky Ford, in the Arkansas valley, has practically got 

 its exhibit all arranged. 



W. W. Kearney is director of the local exhibit at 

 Rocky Ford, and he is now proudly exhibiting his show- 

 ing for the big event at Pueblo. He has it put away in a 

 good safe place at Rocky Ford, and shows it off to 

 strangers each day. 



There are 35 different displays of grasses, all tastily 



Headgates of the Arno Canal. At this point the canal taps the Pecos River and carries the water 15 miles to the waste-way, where the 



water is turni-d back to the river with a fall of 60 feet. 



system is constructed in the best possible manner and has 

 been approved by the best engineers obtainable. 



It is owned by the Arno Co-operative Irrigation Com- 

 pany and has no bonded indebtedness, no mortgage or 

 debts of any kind except its current bills. Every man 

 who becomes an owner of an acre of land under the 

 Arno system becomes part owner in it and gets his water 

 deed and will get his proportionate stock in 'he system 

 which will be owned by the owners of the land. 



The entire system will be operated by the stock- 

 holders and such expenses as will be incurred will be 

 voted by the stockh aiders for the maintenance of the 

 system just the same a= they would vote any tax for a 

 public enterprise in which all citizens are interested. The 

 water supply can never be exhausted and there is no 

 40-acre farm in this vast tract more than two miles from 

 a railroad or more than three miles from a railroad 

 station. All of these lands are adapted to the use of mod- 

 ern machinery, and it is a fact that more modern machin- 

 ery is used here than is to be found in the old and settled 

 communities in the main district. 



The country is especially adapted to stock riising 

 and the farmer has practically unlimited range. Just 

 across from the main canal lie hundreds of acres of range 

 land on which his cattle, horses and sheep may live, and 

 thrive the year around without feed. Hogs can be raised 

 on alfalfa in ,his country cheaper thfin in the corn belt. 



The principal town in this district i-> Arno, 20 miles 

 north of the city of Pecos. Lots are now being fold to 

 settlers at prices ranging at from .$50 to ?:.00 oer lot. 



arranged, and all showing off Otero and Rocky Ford dis- 

 trict possibilities to good advantage. There are 15 vari- 

 eties of wheat, oats, and barley, of flax and of alfalfa. 



There are also, melantus, timothy, orchard grass, wild 

 rye, clover, millet, speltz and various others. 



Besides, Rocky Ford has exhibits of its famous fruit 

 and truck, and will have still other features in its splendid 

 showing at Pueblo. 



Meanwhile, the country to the north of Rocky Ford, 

 on the Missouri Pacific main line, is not behind, and is 

 spending a good deal of money under the direction of 

 experts to arrange suitable exhibits that will prove the 

 efficiency of the soil and climate of the famous Olney- 

 Ordway-Sugar City district. 



Holly has spent a good deal of money, mostly for 

 local prizes for fine exhibits, and is rapidly collecting the 

 various items into one big, fine exhibit. Lamar and other 

 places are doing the same. 



On the western slope, there is the same activity, 

 principally as to fine fruit displays, and in the San Luis 

 valley, a meeting of the San Luis Valley commercial 

 Association this week will take definite steps toward a 

 comprehensive demonstration on the part of that section. 



Northern Colorado is also manifesting interest, and 

 will not be found wanting, letters daily received here state. 



The rivalry of Colorado sections over the exposition 

 also enhances the Irrigation congress, and insure fin* 1 

 attendance from all over the state at both the big events 

 in Pueblo the last two weeks of September. 



