Delta chief., 1885-09-23
From the plateau Country.

ing the Plateau country we will endeavor, IN
our feeble way, to give short description Il
the country and of our trip over the Grand
Mesa.
Although the Grand Mesa can be seen from
Delta by every one, but few have passed
over it. We left Delta on Il yellow horse,
some would call him buckskin but we call
him buck for short. Well, buck had done
considerable blowing and hard work and did
not seem to be in much of hurry. We ar.
rived at friend Child's ranch, where we put
up for the night. This was then n bachelors
cabin, but since then change has taken
place--u change in which we can cOngratu-
late our friend: he said nothing to us about
his getting married. The next morning we
! journeyed on our way on fresh horse, one
of those young but not gentle broncos, be-
longing to said friend childs. who wished the
animal tanned down, but then a buckIng
| bronco is SO much better exercise and when
they put in good work one gets much
more for their money. Well. we reached the
pleasantly located milk ranch of Mr.. Will
banks, situated % miles from Delta. Here
we remained over Sunday, where we enjoyed
thC hiHu Vi MI u MEs w
very much alsn the rich cream. butter etc.
Mrs. W. is An expert IN making the latter
article. Monday morning we were on our
way climbing the mesa. The ascent is quite
gradual but quite tiresone on horse. The
road runs along the bright and sparkling
mountain plateau or through meadows OF
deep grasses. Flowers abound on every side
Not n cn hin is IN be seer, ~ IA il, IN Inn nf the
mesa and generally not person crosses your
path, but the mosquitoes keep you company
while crossing the top which is about five
miles across. There being so much ruin and
snow many places in the road are muddy.
When we were crossing heavy hail storm
came up in which we had to ride over five
miles. 1t was not at all enjoyable as We
were soaked through.
The first ranch that you arrive at from
this side in the Plateau valley is that of Mr..
Fred Rockswll Mr.. r. is manager of the
Grove Creek Cattle Co. This company has
about 5000 heal of cattle and larg. number
of brood mares. A few weeks ago a very
fine Norman stallion weighing 1900 pounds
valued At SllOO. was shipped from Iowa to
this ranch. Large barns and currals have
been bnilt and no expense has been spared to
have everything complete for carrying on
the stock rnising business in an extensive
manner. Mrs. and Miss Young superintend
the household affairs with the assistance of
two others. Twelve or fourteen sit down to
satisfy the inner man at this ranch three
times day, and the way the work is done
up is cominendable to the leading ladies of
the land.
But ~ short distance from Mr.. Rockwells
is the ranch of Mr.. Needles. Mr.. n. is from
Leadvlle. He is becoming interested in
cattle and horses and has very fine resi-
dence. Mrs. Needles is one of the pleasant
est Of ladies and one who knows how to make
one iesl at home. While there we had the
pleasure of killing jack rabbit, almost as
big as deer, also two big hawks. The
streams abound with trout. We tried our
hand once or twice and were successful, but
wemust confess that we had rather sit down
and enjoy good book than to run up and
down rocky stream after something we
don't know whether we will get or not.
The Plateau valley has land along the
creeks and mesas the same as Delta county,
but it is much more rocky. There are some
very fine ranches in this valley, but one
must be engaged in stock raising to make it
pay as there is no market for their produce
except they carry it to Grand Junction 80 or
40 miles with terrible rough and billy roads.
In connection with the Grove Creek Cattle
Company we must not forget to mention the
quarters of Messrs. Bailey, Smith and Town
send. These gentlemen are now all young
men used to city life. Messrs. Bailey and
Townsend are from Philadelphia. They are
all interested in the company and they know
how TO rough It when they have to. They
have Chinese cook, Lee, who can serve up
the eatables in grand style. Everything
about the cabin is pleasant and comfortable,
and to engage in the cattle business under
such circumstances is not so bad If one is not
married.
Mr.. B. +. Brink, at the lower end OF the
valley, has the next largest herd of cattle,
consisting of many hundreds. Mr.. Brink
has built fine residence.
Mr.. Harrison is also quite st0ckman here
The principal ranchmen of the valley are
Messrs. Hawkshurst, Hollingsworth, Brown,
Long, Fitzpaterick, Higgins. Palmers, Jen.
sen, Deilman. Mason and many others. All
intend to work into cattle as soon rs they can
The majority ofthe above have not forgotten
how nice it is to raise their own fruit. Near.