Eddy County The Future of Carlsbad

It was just twenty-three years ago that Colonel C. B. Eddy, a New Yorker, was on a round-up where Carlsbad now stands. The colonel had been raising cattle on this range with Assistant Postmaster General Bissell as Cantrell insisted that the colonel was going to spoil a good cow range. Some of the big men who put their money and their faith in the colonel's judgment were J. J. Hagerman, C. W. Green, R. W. Tansill, Colonel Richard Boles, McMillan, Otis, and other rich men.

His partner, and was getting tired of eating fat bacon and sour dough bread, and drinking black coffee. He said to John Cantrell and Jake Owens, who were riding with him: "Boys, do you know that this country should be irrigated? Look at that soil; it is much richer than the soi1 of the Nile, and this swift-running river carries enough water to irrigate a hundred thousand acres of this land." It was not long before the colonel had a bunch of millionaires from Colorado Springs down here showing them the bright future of the Pecos Valley. John

A big dam was built, but it was not what it should have been, as will be shown. A canal twenty miles long and fifty feet wide was dug. Immigration agents from all over the United States, and some foreign countries were employed, lands were sold, and this arid country began to blossom like a rose.

FLUME AT CARLSBAD. CARRYING WATER OVER THE PECOS RIVER. SOLID CEMENT. COST. $65.OOO

Colonel Eddy was the pioneer in this section. He and his associates were the men who blazed the way for the people who are here, and others who are to come. The country developed rapidly into one of the finest fruit and alfalfa sections in the world. Great Elberta peaches, eighteen inches i n circumference, Flaming Tokay grapes, weighing eleven pounds, alfalfa cutting five crops of hay per year, and realizing ten tons to the acre, all this and more there was. Then came the big flood of 1904, which showed that the work of the old company was not substantial. The big dam, made of cobble stones and dirt, had n o foundation and was washed out, and the valley, as far as farming in the lower part of it was concerned, was a desolate waste. People left here in droves. Some could not get away. It was then that a Texan and Ex-Rough Rider, Charley Ballard. went to Washington and interviewed President Roosevelt, suggesting that the Government take hold of the project as the old company had no money with which to repair the dams. "Colonel," says Charley, "those people down there are in a bad way. They are the bravest of the bravo and have made a great struggle, but unless they receive some help their crops will all die and their lands will be worthless."

"Charley," says the President, "your story touches my heart; something must be done, and that at once."

To make a long story short, something was done, the red tape of the government was brushed aside, and work was commenced to repair the damage caused by the flood. A foundation was reached by driving interlocked steel piling twenty feet to a solid rock foundation. Cement core walls were built and the darn was built up around them over fifty feet high, the base being 300 and the top forty-five feet wide. Cement head gates replaced the old wooden ones, and the whole project was gone over and strengthened.

CARLSBAD RESIDENCE.

A TEXAS ROSE TRANSPLANTED TO THE PECOS VALLEY OF NEW MEXICO

The lands began to be of value and the people were encouraged. The land today, under this project, is the cheapest irrigated land in the world, and the permanent assurance of water is better than in any other irrigation project. It is a large proposition and Texans here in the valley have contributed more than any other people in making it what it is today. We have Charley Ballard, the Texas rough rider; Allen Heard ex- commissioner; Charley Beeman, Captain Bujac, and Joe Graham, the present commissioners, all big Texans. Then there is John D. Walker, ex-sheriff, collector and assessor, now holding the office of justice of the peace against his will, because his old friends and constituents won't let him loose. Will H. Merchant, a son of Captain Clave Merchant of Abilene Texas, is the county treasurer, and is a fine young Texan. Then we have Cicero Stewart, ex-sheriff; John Price, our county assessor; Charley Carlier, Jake Owens, John Cantrell, Will Purdy, D. G. Grantham, and many others from Texas that are helping build this empire. The only setback is that this valley should be a part of Texas and march on to progress and prosperity with that empire state. Nevertheless, we are being built up by people from everywhere, though the Texans are a little more numerous than others.

Carlsbad nestles in a beautiful valley, with thirty-five miles of shade trees bordering the irrigating ditches, where the sparkling clear water from the Pecos dashes through the little city, and gives life to the beautiful shrubbery and the delightful homes of its inhabitants.

We really have over 2500 people, counting the nearby suburbs, and they are all hard workers. However, we need many more people, and especially industrious farmers from Texas, and other places, to occupy the rich lands.

This coming year is a banner one for this beautiful country: the fruit, alfalfa, cotton and cattle, horses and sheep, will bring many millions of dollars into this valley. A welcome is extended to home seekers from every clime.

JUDGE JOHN A. WEAR OF CARLSBAD. KNEE. DEEP IN 20-DAY-OLD ALFALFA

source: Texas Magazine 1911

HOME