Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-03-07
GRAND JUNCTION, COLO.
Remarkable Fruit Region, as Well
ss for Agricultural Purposes,
for Health. Ree

some time past / have noticed in tn,
leading papers OF this State. and NOR,
especially in the great Dailies Of Den
yer, glowing editorials and correspond
ent's descriptions of the Grand Valley
thinking there might be something in
that section which would be OF inter
est to your readers, your correspond.
ent made trip over there with view
OF inquirlng into facts and furnishing
them to the public through the col
umns of the o. j. FARMER.
Grand Valley, or that portion OF it
embraced within the confines OF Mesa
county, extending from the town oil
DeBeque, to some thirty miles West OF
the city OF Grand Junction 1.-THE county
seat OF Mesa county,, did not, at the
hrst glance, impress me favorably.
The climate is particularly dry and
bracing, being the nearest approach
to perpetual sunshine found on this
continent; and whilst climate of this
kind is especially healthful and con-
genial to the invalid and by no means
unpleasant even to the robust, with
out irrigation it is not congenial to
plant life. But as one looks over the
fruit orchards and farms that have
had irrigation and cultivation, ones
first impressions fade fast away and
he becomes rapt in admiration of the
prolific soil, with It's wonderful pro-
auctions of fruit and vegetation.
The Grand Valley is situated in
Western Colorado, on the line of the
Denver and Rio Grands r. R. 1t has
an average altitude of about $500
feet above sea level, and until u few
Years ago was occupied by the Ute
Indians. Its soil is rich and deep, and
its climate mild and dry, having
neither extremes of heat or cold, and
is free from hailstorms, billiards. or
cyclones. In short it is all that could
be desired, and l believe, without
single drawback. Until within the
past two years its possibilities as
frult-ralsing country were unknown,
and in fact not until the crops of the
past year were harvested did it dawn
upon the residents OF the valley that
in its fertile soil and magnificent eli
mate the Grand Valley possesses
greater sources of wealth and happi-
ness than the rich mineral camps i'm
medlately surrounding it. Peaches,
pears, plums, cherries, grapes, and
especially those of raisin varieties,
and berries of all kinds, yield abund-
antly. From five-year-old, budded
peach trees were gathered this last
Fall 300 TBS to the tree, and apples
even doubled that quantity. When it
ID remembered that in an area ofcoun-
try 700 to 1000 miles Immediately
surrounding Colorado, though rich in
precious minerals and settled by pros.
porous communities, yet with the ex-
ception of few localities of limited
area this whole vast territory is al
most destitute of fruit, and has to
receive its supply from California,
then the Importance and value of a
fruit-growing country which equals
that OF California, situated right in
the midst of this fruitless country,
can be appreciated. For the con-
sumptive who has not entered upon
the last stages OF the disease, and in
fact to nearly every other invalid
suffering from chronic diseases, this
valley will prove a veritable paradise.
Not only does the region offer health,
but congenial easy outdoor occupa-
ton, and a sure competence. AS an
evidence OF this fact, will cite one
instance brought to my own observa-
ton. One citizen here, over the age of
sixty years, with a paralytic wife, with
only few dollars capital to start with,
and not even a horse to aid him, has
by his own efforts put into fruit a ten
acre tract, setting out about two acres
the first year, and so on, increasing
year by year until his whole tract was
planted. During that time he has
supported himself and taken care of
his invalid wife by planting other crops
between his trees until they were old
enough to yield. Here are the results:
From his 5-year-old trees he gathered
and sold over seven hundred dollars
worth of fruit to the acre; from his
four year-old trees about three hun
dred dollars per acre, and from his
three year-olds about one hundred and
fifty dollars per acre. His land has
also increased In value from twenty
five dollars per acre to one thousand
dollars per acre, and he has now an
assured income of three to four thou
sand dollars per year.
This is not an isolated case. What
this old man has done, surely any one
with reasonable energy and q small
capital can do. The best fruit lands,
under ditch, can still be bought at
from fifty to one hundred dollars per
acre, and can be set out into fruit
orchards at about thirty-five dollars
per acre, and made to pay their way
by planting other crops between the
rows, and in three years they will be
worth four hundred to five hundred
dollars per acre, and will increase in
value at the rate of one hundred dol
lars per acre per year for several years
thereafter, whilst on account of CHM
ate, as have said, this valley must
become the paradise of the sick and
enfeebled.
do not wish to create the impress
sion that equal inducements are not
held out to the robust, and especially
to those who are situated in countries
that are subject to billiards., cyclones
or extremes of heat or cold, for beside
the advantage OF climate offered, more
money can be cleared on ten acres set
out in fruit in this Valley without the
expense of hired help, than on many
three hundred and twenty acre farms
with a large capital invested in stock
and implements. Nor is there danget
of the fruit industry being over-done,
as to-day California is shipping to a
county seven hundred miles nearer to
Grand Valley than to California, over
ten million dollars worth of fr,,it nor