Delta chief., 1883-07-25
DELTA COUNTY.
The New County and city. and the
Future Garden spot of Colorado.
Natural Advantages, Etc.


The growth of towns on the western from
tier is a marvel to some; they shsw the ag-
gressivc commercial spirit Of. the people
quick to seize some point Of vantage for pres
ent gain and future profit. One might say that
here. where the echo Of the Indians moccasin
had hardly died out Of the valleys, that we
can we'll believe were
"fair as the garden OF the Lord
To the eyes Of the famishcd Indian horde"
that inhabited them no short time ago, and
from which they fitted away all unwiIlingly
one might think, we say, that here there
could be no vista of promise opening up to
civilized eyes soon. But the clear eyes
and the clearer brain of one small in stature,
but grca, in activity and intellect, saw and
understood, and upon the sloping mesa Mt the
junction of two fair streams there stands n
young town giving promise Of great prosper
ity ia the near future.
The town OF Delta-which bears the same
name rs the county itsclf-is located between
the Unoompahcrc and the Gunnison, jus,
above the point where the two rivers how to-
rcther The valleys of these streams. in this
NlciultN, art very
could possibly be desired in an agricultural
point Of view. Delta is located in the very
center Of the agricultural and grazing coun-
try, and has tributary TO Il about 100, 900 acres
81 ms fnc farming and fruit-growing land
can be found in the State Of Colorado. This
place is the nearest, and, in fact, the only
trading point for all the country up the Gun
nison as far as the famed Black canon, the
settlements on the North Fork, Of itself an
an extensive coun,r. rich in coal and cattle,
on the Ecubidcau, Surface and fcrked Tongue
creeks and down the valley Of the Gunnison
for several miles, and up the uncompahgre
river for ten to twelve miles. All the
streams of the county lead TO Delta Rs the
fingers to the hand; hence il is destined to be
n railroad center; The Denver 4 Rio Grande
railway, Utah division, was completed to
Delta last fall. BY April / through trains
will be runnipg from Denver and Pueblo TO
Salt Lake city. by its connections with the
Chicago, burlington h Quincy, and the Atch-
ison, Topeka 4 Santa Fe, on the east, with
the Central Pacific on the west, II will be ON
n trunk line from Chicago and ST. Louis TO
San Francisco. The Denver 4 Rio Grande
has surveyed two other lines to Delta, one
down the Grand canon of the Gunnison from
the mouth of the Cimarron, with view to
avoiding the present grade over the Cedar di-
vide: the other from Crested Butte, through
the anthracite coal field and down the North
Fork. The Denver X South Park railroad is
graded from Gunnison to Ruby, and is sur
vcyed thence to Delta, through the same an
n VI at
time that these three other roads will be
built. The situation of Delta is such that no
railroad down the Gunpison, North Fork or
uncompahgre can ignore her. A school has
been kept up during the summer and winter.
The Town company is making provision for
free reading room. Lots have been set
apart for n church and parsonage for each of
the leading denominations. Parks have been
reserved for courthouse and schools. Arrange
mcnts are being made by the Town company
10 plant the parks and streets with trees. II
Is the intention TO make the town pleasant
home for families. Good clay is at hnnd for
making brick, and beautiful white magnetism
and red sandstone can be had. The largest
wagon bridge west of the "rangc"--about 400
feet long-spans the Gunnson at this point
The elevation of Delta, as given by Prof.
Marcy, is 4,so0 feet.
Delta has a municipal government; Mr.. j..
J. Barker is Mayor.
The Town company in September, 1881, Sc
lectcd about 500 acres for town, which has
been surveyed and plated. The company Is
composed Of George A. Crawford, president
and general manager; Harvey A. Bailey, as.
sistent manager; N. G. vdndeventcr, sccrc-
tary; together with ID. Z. Dodge, general
manager Of the Denver 4 Rio Grande; w.
A. Bell, vice president Of the Denver & Rio
Grande; w. +. Wcitbrcc, manager of con-
struction of the Denver h Rio Grande, ms d.
rcctors. There are also Hon. Allison White
and II. +. Rood, of Philadelphia; +. NJ. Andcr.
son, w. o. Stephens and NJ. +. Frederisks, Of