Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-03-26
SOUTHEASTERN UTAH.
A Correspondent Of u Colorado Pa
per Describes a Delightful
Locality.

A Correspondent Oh u COIOFa0O Fas
per Describes a Delightful
Locality.
Mr.. s. Richardson, a correspondent OF
the Gunnison Free Press, writes to that
journal under date OF March 18th, as
follows:
NV place is on the east side of Grand
river, in Utah, about 100 miles below
Grand Junction by river, and something
more by rail and wagon road, or trail.
/ The Colorado valley, in which live, COM
mences about twelve miles below the
mouth of Dolores river, and embraces
| four distinct valleys watered by Mountain
streams. The most northern is Salt
creek, the most eastern is Fisher, the
most central, in which 1 live, is the Bijou,
and the most southern is Little Castle.
All contain fine agricultural lands, and
nearly all are open to settlement.
have deferred writing until the spring
opened, so that I might be enabled to say
something of the winter as it has APP
peared to me. l have kept record of
the coolest weather, and found that there
was in the Bijou valley only one week of
frost in December, and that the last one,
when on the coolest night the mercury
fell degrees below freezing point. In
January the coolest night, 2 degrees
above zero was indicated, with about half
the month without frost During Febru-
ary the thermometer stood about the
same as in December, and thus far in
March we have had little frost, but not !
enough to freeze running water, except
one night. During all those three months ;.
and half there has been much stormy |
weather, with snow and rain-mostly |
rain, with at no time over one inch of |
next day without mud; butall around on
the east there has been snow line all
winter, varying in altitude from 5000
feet upwards. The altitude of these val
leys being less. than 1000 feet, except
Fisher, upon which the snow line COM
and which lies north of the
La Sal mountains.
The soil in all these valleys is red
sandy loan. In fact the entire region is
red, rocks and all, hence the name Colo
rado valley, as given by the government.
These valleys are all connected by wagon
'oads which have been made since I
,ame; but yet all are isolated from the
world by road, and literally walled
n by rim rock varying from 700
o 1000 feet. However, we expect soon
o build wagon road from the Bijou to
Thompson Springs on the D. & R. &.
Western, ninety-two miles west of Grand
Junction. ...<,-N
Little Grand valley, which is twelve
niles further down the Grand, has been
ettled now about five years, although
he first settlers came seven years ago.
he valley contains several hundred in
abitants, most of whom are Mormons, Z
Tho follow general farming, and have
one much at fruit raising, enough, [
mink, to settle the matter and establish
ne fact, that there is nowhere to be found
better country for fruit raising, as nearly 7
in that line can be pro-
uced, except the most tropical fruits,
nd some of them can be- lam blowing
nd arranging to set out figs, prunes,
sisin grapes, and apricots for general Il
'op, besides other large and small fruits. j
caches grown there are very fine, and
ot excelled anywhere. The growth of
ees is wonderful. I have seen these
loots grown several feet on apple stocks
a nursery in one year, and over an 7
ch through-large enough to set in an i
chard in one year from bud or graft,
Id the topmost leaves still green. Little
astle and Bijou valleys have the same
innate and soil, but there are no g
ormons in the BUou, only Gentiles. -
few settlers have come in and taken
land, but yet there is more to be had, r.
st as good, with good water on it. Vi
Along Grand river there are placer
ines which pay, and which I ain salts Sa
ID will pay wages to practical miners,
me OF which have been worked during
e winter. Those placers below the da
outh of Little Castle creek are espe- =
lily good, and are now being worked n
a company. A few men, however, Y
We staked nearly every bar along the O
'er, some of whom are holding half
zen claims. Five dollars per day can m
silly be washed out with a rocker in
ne places, and in others much more.
e only reason why these valleys have +,
been settled sooner is their inaccessi- II
lty. have settled here permanently. -
is my last move; and although neigh ~
IS are scarce, we will soon have thriy-
population. Little Castle valley has M
settlers, Fisher two, and the Biiou III
r. Little Castle is named for it's Sun
ties. Biou for the beauty of it's und
cam and Fisher for it's first settler. We
pioneers have everything to do, and T.
b but limited means at commandment Will
only question of labor and proyi-
IS. With climate that admits of ~
en- months without frost, with thou Gal
DIS OF deer in the hills and fish in the To /
ans, the grub question is not serious pres
, if person will rustic only a little
the first of June full crop Of vege- ella
es will be produced, and two weeks ,.,,
small grain will be harvested. Then WI
commence planting for second crop
winter use. The only natural pro-
lacking is coal. The principal wood RIOS
he valleys is cedar, pine, oak and
onwood. Up around the mountains Sc.
large quantities of yellow pine and and nd
ce, all very fine. Salt springs are 9sth h.
mon, and in the lower end of Little Sect
lie valley there are some ancient cliff office
llings, and old salt wells where the -
emit Aztecs once made salt. n