Delta chief., 1884-02-06
FoHKEO TGSGl T..
Few PertIncr. ,,c-,ar.t IN the Bridge
0uestion.-CoaI Deposits.
To the Editor of THE CnIEr.

To:crE CREEK. Erbrupry 2.-There is
much talk concerning the location of the
county bridge. The season is now nearly
over in which To build bridges over the Gun.
nison without much Increased expense.
The question that seems 10 be Of considerable
importance to this section OF the county is.
why have the county commissioners besitated
in deciding to locate one bridge at Bakers
Ford. or at the mouth of Tongue creek
Why have tIrey seemingly ignored and al
most treated with contempt the large petition
from Surface creek and Forkel Tongue.
which was accompanied with liberal sub.
scription of five hundred doliars, and these
people desrous TO commence immediate work
by hauling tiinbefs and placing abuiments
while the Zee fsyors the ready completion Of
such work k? Why has the seeming appear
aucc a; coliusion of parties for political OF
other purposes the effect Ia delay import
ant an improvement as building a bridge at
the point mentioned?
The beautiful valley In which D,lia Is sii-
mated Is assurc,liy most desirable place for
the permanent location of the county seat.
Then why aulasaniEe the people on the sec.
tional issues betwecn North Fork end the
west eud by the location Of a bridge tie: j.
it possible ihat any one conan. ssiuner woGd
hold himself aiouf waiting for bids az iaEors.
pledges, etc, for political effect, or for the
sake OF reelection net fall. OR that any
one Of them would hesi,l to loes'e the
bridge there, awai.rg The iutu'c develop.
ncnt. 10 popular opinion regarding the re-
moval Of the county .rii from is present lo-
cation to .'ArLansas." !" or to the mouth of the
canon Of the Gunr'aoas Or ,hE, any one
Of them would hesitate 70 appropriate fuud>
for eoun,y buildings until the bridge for this
year was sc.tlci upony
North Fork has it, representative man, and
the people there would undoubtedly desire
the county buildings and seai to be ut the
center Of the county, which is near the canon.
4 bridge located at the canon would be one
step in thni direction. Delta has its natural
advantages, and uith man a. is representa-
I've Ia the legislature Of Drl,n county who
was .loeted by Sog.h Fork " ith The as siauoe
of the west end. which iaclutics Delta nnd
surroundings, has a divided constituency, and
is placed in position where the location Of a
bridge cndsngrr- the present location of The
county seat, and who is supposed to represent
the best interests of the Delta district regard
less of sectional influence aud aninosities Of
any other locality.
II the bridge Is built this season il must
necessarily be proceeded with rapidly, as
warm weather viii not preserve the natural
lee bridge that now affords an economical
laying Of piers and abutmcnts. II il is de-
lsycd IL will allow Of presumption that
combination question will be sprung next
fall in which the location OF a bridge and the
permanent scat Of justice will be settled by
the votes oi the people Of Delta county, in
stead of by the commissioners. Mr. CapFon
holds the welfare of the west end at his dis
posal
All experiments in way ofagriculturc have
proved successful. The adobe 81 argillnccous
earth will produce fine corn and small grain
with careful handling. and the products of
all ranches here the different soils are
conclusive evidence Of the future prosperity
of this sccticn. At no distant day will the
Importance of this locality be noticed by men
Of capital who look sharply after all coal in
dicutions. Mcssrs. Castle & Moore have
opened up one of the grandcst coal fields
that this section of the west Affords when
size of deposit and vein and accessibility are
considered. Doc. Pollard and Mr.. Williams
have also opened four or Eve feet veins of
excellent coal In the driving of the tunnel
In the twelve.fopt vein some twenty feet, by
Mcssrs. Castle & Moore, the weather being
very cold, they started fire with some of the
coal, and all the coal that wts cScavsted from
the tunnel was burned. Nothing hut soft
pile Of white ashes remained, and not any
sign of clinkcr or cinder To he seen.
Twenty-Five feet above this vein is a four
foot vein of more bituminous cdal Messrs
Pollard & Williams have experimental in
coking with partial success, and believe that
upon further development they can show up
a fine vein of good coking coal.
II is my impression that this large vein.
which is pronounced anthracite Of good quail
ity. undcrlics NIL of the four-foot veins that
have been discovered in this locality.
Everything considered, II ia very essential
that county road be located on Forkcd
Tongue so tha, our road tax can be worked
out to the direct interest of those who have to
pay for It. The route to the lakes will be by
this road, and look for considerable excurt-
Ing to II.
Tho lowest the thermometer has been this
winter here was nine degrees below, which