Delta chief., 1884-10-08
A SUMMERS nAMBLE.
A Jnunt Over the Country. with some
Advice to Delta.

with its location over that of Grand junction
or Montrosc. Since that time we have locat
ed claim at Delta and are now an interest
ed citizen. We are proud of the fact, and
never expect to regret it. OF late we have
had occasion to visit many of the ranches OF
the North Fork of the Gunnison, Smiths
Fork. Muddy, Surface, Plateau, and many
miles up the Grand river.
The North Fork country did not seem to
be damaged from the high water as much as
we expected All of the ranchmen seemed
to be in good spirits, and from the way the
crops looked they had reason to feel SO.
There are many rich and valuable ranches
like w. S. Coburn's in this section, (yet we
presume he does not think so.) On Mr.. Co.
burns place we saw rs fine wheat growing
one could wish to look at. One head count
ed iity-two kernels. This is away head of
any ever raised in Dakota, and would be
considered by every one Il tremendous yield.
Corn reached great hight, with large ears.
and we presume it matured before the frost
came, but could not learn. evil but SIM
ply mention about the exceedingly large
yield of squaShes and potatoes. Mrs. CO.
burn has an old lame hen with IA broken back
and leg that has Matched and raised seventy
five chickens and is likely to make it one
hundred before the season is over. We con-
slider this hard to beat. Mention has already
been made of the peaches ON Mr.. C.'s trees
These and other fruits doing we'll ha, given
an impetus, il seems, to fruit raising. hear
ly one intends putting out more or less.
On Plateau all the cattle men were feeling
happy, and believe that some of them have
not even heard of hard times, for they won't
part with cow for love or money. The
range is fine, and it is needless to say that
the stock looks plump. a few days ago ten
wagons, containing iifty-one precious souls,
arrived in the neiyhborhood of Orson post
ciice, from Arkansas. Many of them had
Just enough to get here, and as winter is com
ing on, with no vegetables on hand and not
much work to be had, the outlook for them is
anything but encouraging. Yet If they hold
on they will come out on top in the spring.
We were up the Grand river as far as Glen
wood springs one hundred miles from Grand
Junction, and were much interested in visit
ing this locality, as il is said that the world
cannot equal these springs for healing power.
The place is small, there being but dozen
houses and as many tents, and two good ho-
tells, which are crowded. Many are vsltin.
the springs now, and many go away benefit
ed. Those who are troubled with rheuma-
tism are helped most. The water contains
many minerals, and is hot, so hot that one
cannot bear his hand in it. There is cave
hewn out of solid rock where one can tat,.
steam bath there also tents where one
can cool the water to suit themselves and
take plunge bath all free of charge. THIS
place is destined to be very popular soon
as the railroad reaches it.
We were surprised to see how well ranches
were selling down the valley, some us higi,
n 81 800, with but few improvements. Many
who have but little means are sellin; out and
wanting to sell for $500 to 81 900. They will
then flk,. n a thpF ,.luim and i'll have nj,
means to invest in cattle.
What will help all of these sections we
have mentioned is their being able to raise
fruit. Most Of the fruit that was put out last
spring has done surprisingly we'll, not over
five or ten per cent having been lost, and
nearly all was packed many miles on burros.
We saw some apple root CRAFTS that had
grown from six inches to thirty-eiglIt inches.
What better growth could one ask for? Ey-
erything else grew in proportion.
And now we come To u serious matter As
we said before, We are Interested IN Delta,
and we desire to say nothing but for her good.
While travelling through regions described
we heard of so many passing our town and
going to Montrose to do their trnding. Why
was it +? Because they could save so mucn
more by so doing. This ought not SO to be.
We do not want TO hurt the feelings of few
but we are now dealing with facts. Can We
afford to allow d rich and extensive territory
go to MontrOse, which is from sixteen to
forty-four miles out of their way, leaving
Delta to one side because they cannot do Us
well here. People will trade where they can
do the best, but certainly twenty-five miles
of railroad cannot raise freight 80 that the
rancmen can afford to go forty-four miles
to do their trading. When we look at it
from geographical standpoint, Delta has the
preference over MOntrose and Grand June
ton, and all that needs to make Delta a town
of importance is capital and enterprise. Peo-
pie ninety miles up the Grand river from
from Grand Junction have told us that they
would like to come to Delta to trade if they
had u good road and could do as well. There
is the same feeling on Plateau creek and the
North Fork. 1t is plainly seen by all that
instead of the country going ahead of Delta,
Delta would go ahead (Which she is bound to
do sooner or later) were she to command this
vast trude-this trade that is within her grasp
if she but knows it. Would it not be much
better for all concerned ii two large stores
could do a 100000 business instead of one
$4,000? What better inducenent could be
be made to capitalists than u 500, 900 business
per annum? And this can be done by put
ting goods within reasonable bounds. Some
are complaining that we are making no effort
to induce capital to invest within our border.
1t is intimated that there are no houses to be
had for those who desire TO come; surely this
cannot be said of but few towns in Colorado
to-day. But does it not show a lack Of en-.
terprise IN not providing plenty of house
room. We need a Touring mill, one that
will do credit to our future city to be. Those
who live but short distance from Montrose
have told US that they had rather draw load
OF wheat down hill TO Delta than up hill to
MontrOse, If they can do rs well. We are
going to have another church, d fine school
house and number of new residences, but