Delta chief., 1883-07-25

THE latest and most reliable news from the
Red Mountain country is that every day
brings forth its fresh strikes and the camp is
being improved by every blast that is fired.
The prediction that this camp will equal il
not surpass Leadville in its palmiest days, is
likely to be realized at early day. 1t is no
longer the question of ore, It has been
demonstrated to a certainty that the ore is
there, but rather that of transportation facil-
tiles and smelters. With railroads running
into this section as al Leadville. and with the
market for Its ores that Leadville enjoys, Red
Mountain will equal, If not exceed, any Sec
ton of Colorado or of the world in the
valuable metals produced. The camp is yet
very new, public attention being called TO it
about the middle of last winter, when the
snow covered the country many feet deep.
With the little time in which development
work could be done since then the mines have
shown up wonderfully well. The best part
Of the year for work is yet to come, and by
the time snow flies again the worth of the
mines and their extent will be so we'll dem
onstratcd that the most doubling cannot but
believe. Already the ore-buyers from the
different smelling centcrs are bidding for the
product Of the mines; roads are being pushed
to all available points as fast as money and
mnscle will push them, and railroads are
running their preliminary surveys with
view of extending their lines there. In view
of the rapid building up of this great mining
center, the agricultural interests Of this Sec
tions will receive n renewed impetus, new
towns and communities spring up, and a gen.
cral forward movement, will take place in all
departments of business. That some large
town will be built at some point in the rcscr-
walton is certain. The city to be built will
be in the vallcy--not in the mountains-a
place where manufacturing and smelling can
be carried or, where trade can be ccntered,
residences built and occupied the year round;
in fact city such as Denver or Pueblo is to
the eastern slope. Just where this point will
be Is all guess work vet. Three points are
in the field for the honor Montrosc, Delta,
Grand Junction, each claiming special ad-
vantagcs for Its situations, and each working
hard for the contamination of its hopes.
Grand Junction is the furtherest west of the
three points, and although good point for
town, Is too far out of the way, and must,
therefore, drop out of the race in time. The
contest will narrow down between Montrose
and Delta, and as between these two points
Delta certainly holds the key of the situa.
tion. Located at the junction of two streams,
with hundreds of thousands of acres of fertile
land tributary to her, and excellent building
timber within easy hauling distance, her sit.
uation is certainly good one. The two great
considerations of n smelling center are ore and
fuel; and ms these two are scarcely ever found
In near proximity, one must be hauled to the
other, or meet each other half way. In this
respect Delta is peculiarly situated; at the
head Of one Of the streams, the Uncompahgre,
some seventy miles distant, are the mex.
hausible mines OF the Red Mountains; aud
on the North Fork of the Gunnison are the
deposits Of anthracite and bituminous coal
Of unknown cxtent--but enough known to
establish the claim of the greatest coal dc.
posit in the United States. In bringing the ore
and fuel to Delta, both will be q down.hill
pull. confederation that will be looked into
and taken advantage Of In locating smeltcrs.
As TO the beauty of location for residences
between the two points, \ personal inspection
will settle the matter with any fair.mindcd
person. Delta has all the advantages Of sit
uation to mAke her the city Of the western
slopc, and although the smallest Of the three
competing towns, she can abide her time, wcll
knowing that the future will demonstrate all
she claims.