Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-02-21
GRAND JUNCTION. COLO.
a Remarkable Fruit Region, as Well as for
agricultural Purposes, for Health, Etc.

A Remarkable Fruit Region, as Well as for
agricultural Purposes, for Health, Etc.
[From the Graz. = Judd Eurnler.l
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo, Jan. 81, 1890.
ED. ORANGE JUDD FARMERS: For soma
time past l have noticed in the leadin pa
perS or this State, and moe especially in
the great dailles OF Denver, glowing edi-
torlais and correspondent descriptions OF
the Granu Valley. Thinking there might
pc somethlng i'll That section Which would
be- oil interest to your readers, your corre-
spondent made IL trip over there with a
view OF inquiring into facts and urnish-
ing them to tnc public through thec columns
oil the Y. J. Farmer.
Grand Valley, or that portion of it en-
braced within the confines OF Mesa County,
extending from the town OF DeBeque to
some thu, ty miles west OF the city OF Grand
Junction Uhe county seat OF Mesa County,
dli not at the first glance impress mo lavor-
ably. Ine climate Is particularly dry and
braclns. being tho nearest approach to per-
petual sunshine found on This continent;
ana while IL climate OF this kind is es-
pecially healthlul and congenial to tue IN
Valid and by no means unpleasant even to
the robust. without irrigation IL is not con-
genial to plant lie. But as one looks over
The fruit orchards and farms that have had
irrigation and cultivation ones first inn
presslons tade fast AWAY and he becomes
rapt in admiration oil the prolific soil, with
It's wonderful productions OF 1rui. and veg
citation.
The Grand Valley is situated in Western
Colorado. ON the lino OF the Denver and
Rio Grunde Railway. 1t has an average
altitude o. about 4,5uO teet above sea level,
and until a 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 nor cold, and IS
Tree from nailstorms. bliZzards or cyclones.
IN short it is all that corld be desired, and
DelleVe, without IL single drawback. I'M
III Within tne past two years it's possibili-
Ties as u fruit-raising country We're I'M
known, and IN fact not until the crops OF
the past year We're harvested did it dawn
upon the residents OF the valley that in its
fertile soil and magnificent climate the
Grand Valley possesses greater sources of
wealth and happiness than the ricn min
eral camps Immediately surrounding it.
Peaches, pears. plums. cherries. grapes.
especially those OF raisin varieties, and ber-
ries OF all kinds. yield abundantly. From s.
year-old budded peach trees Wore gathered
this last tall 500 lbs. to the tree, and APPLES
even doubled that quantity. When it is re-
membered that in an area of country 100 to
LOO miles Immediately surrounding Colo
RADIO, though rich in precious minerals and
settled by prosperous communities, vet
with the exception OF Il few localities of
limited area this whole vast territory is
almost destitute of truit, and has to receive
its supply from California, then the impor-
lance and value OF a fruit-growing country
L Siuttlo CIIIb VI NHll.OIQlu, SlIuHIpn
right in the midst OF this Ruthless country,
can be appreciated. For the c~onsump,ive
VINO 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 4 yeiiti.ble paradise.
Not only docs the egion offer houlth. lnt
acopgcniM easy outdoor occupation. and
a sure competence. AS an evidence Of this
fact. | will cite one instance hrou lit to
my own observation. Ono citizen here.
over fnn 9Da nf Sjrfv with ., ~.,,
iytic wife, with only IL few dollars capital to
start with, and cot even IL horse to aid him.
has by his W efforts put into fruit Il ten
acre tract, setting out about two acres the
hrst year, and So on. increasing year by
year until his whole tract was planted.
During that time he has supported himself
and taken caro- OF his invalid wife by plant
ing other crops between his trees until they
were old enough to yield: Here are the re.
suits: From his 5-year-old trees he gath
cred and sold over 500 worth OF fruit to the
acre; from his 4-year-old trees about S3UU
per acre; and from his 3-year-olds about
$50 per acre. His land has also increased
In value from SD per acre to $1,000 per
acre. and he has now an assured income OF
$1,000 to = 1000 per year.
This Is not an isolated case. What this
OLD man has done. surely any ono with
reasonable energy and IL snail capital cun
10: The bost fruit lands. under ditch. can
still be bought at from fifty to one hundred
dollars per acre. and can DO set out into
fruit orchards at about ;35 per acre, and
made to pay their way by planting other
crops between the rows. and in three years
they will be worth S4uU to $500 per acre,
and will increase in value at the rate OF
500 per acre pr year for several years
thereafter, While on account of climate, as
l have said, this vallcv must become the
paradise Of the sick and enfeeblcd.
L do not wish to create the impression
that equal inducements are not held out to
the robust, and especially to those who are
situated in countries that are subject to
blIzzards, cyclones or extremes of heat or
cold. for besides the advantage of climate
offered. more none can be clea, ed on ten
acres set out i'll 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 imple-
ments. Nor Is there Danger of the fruit in
dustry being over-done. as to-day Callior-
MA Is shipping to Il country seven hundred
miles, neit;er to Grand Valley than to Cali
fornia. over ten million dollars worth Of
iruit per annum!
Their" is one advantage this valley pos
sesscs l must not overlool: it has an album
dance OF wator tor irrigation purposes.
more in fact than can ever be used. While
so far l have only spoken of fruit. in nv
next l will have something to say OF cereals
and vegetables. Your correspondent is
indebted to w. J. S. Mcfarland, the Secre-
tary of Grand Junction Board OF Trade,
for valuable Information, and any one SUI
t~ciently Interested in Grand Valley to
make inquiries viii always find him ready
to furnish such information as he may
have. w. W.. I.