Mohave County miner., 1890-02-22
GRAND JuMcrloN. coto.
a Remarkable Fruit Region, as
Wen ~ for Agricultural Pur-
r<<xnAR for AaAlfh Gkes

Wen ~ for Agricultural Pur-
rcses. for Health. Etc.
GRAND JUNCTION. Colo, Ian. 81, 1889.
Ed. ORANGE JUMP FARMgR: For
some time past have noticed In the
leading pagers Of this State. and more
especially In the great Dailics OF Dem
ver, glowing editorials and CORES
pondenfs descriptions OF the Grand
Valley. Thinking there might be
something In that section which
would be Of interest 10 your readers,
your correspondent made a trip over
there with view OF inquirins into the
facts and furnishing them TO the pub
lic through the columns Of the O. j.
FARMER.
Grand Valley. or that portion OF Il
embraced within the confines OF Mesa
County, extending from the town OF
DeBeque, TO some thirty miles West
OF the cisy OF Grand Junction (the coun-
ty 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 10 especially healthful and con-
genial TO the invalid and by no means
unpleasant even TO the robust without
irrigation it Is not congenial 10 plant
life. But as one looks over the fruit
orchards and farms that have had irs
rig~tf0u and cultivation. ones first
impressions fade fast away and he be-
comes rapt la admiration OF the proli-
fic soil, with Its wonderful productions
Of fruit and vegetation.
The Grand Valley Is situated In west
ern Colorado. on the line OF tho Dem
yer Il Rio Grande X. X. II has an aver
age altitude OF about 1900 feet above
sea level. and until 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 hail
storms, billiards or cyclones. In short.
II Is all that could be desired, and
believe. without single drawback.
Until within the past two years its pos
sibilities as Embarrassing country were
unknown, and 10 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
climate the Grand Valley possesses
greater sources OF wealth and happi-
ness than the rich mineral camps i'm
mediately surrounding it. Peaches,
peas, plums, cherries. grapes, and es-
pecially those Of raisin varieties, and
berries OF all kinds yield abundantly.
From five-year-old, budded peach trees
were gathered this last fall 800 pounds
to the tree, and apples even doubled
that quantity. When it is remembered
that in an area Of country TOO by 1.200
N lies Immediately surrounding Color
ado. though rich in precious minerals
and settled by prosperous commune
tiex yet with the exception OF q few
localities OF limited area this whole
vast territory is almost destitute OF
fruit and has 10 receive Its supply
from California, then the importance
and value Of a fruit-growing country
which equals that of California, situ-
ated right in the midst OF this fruitless
country. an be appreciated For the
consumptive who has not entered upon
the last stages Of the disease. and, In
fact, TO nearly every other invalid suf-
fering from chronic diseases, this val
ley will prove Variable paradise.
Not only does the region offer
health. but congenial easy outdoor
occupation. and sure competence.
As an evidence OF this fact, will cite
one instance brought 70 my own OBJ
servation. One citizen here, over the
age OF sixty years. with a paralytic
wife, with only few dollars capital
TO start with. and not even 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 plant
ing other crops between his trees until
they we're 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 10 the
acre; from his four-year-old trees
about three hundred 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
thousand dollars per year.
This Is not an isolated case. What
this old man has done, surely any one
with reasonable energy and o 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
climate, 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 10 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 10 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 danger
OF the fruit industry being over done.
as to-day California Is shipping 10
county seven hundred miles nearer to
Grand Valley than TO California, over
ten million dollars worth OF fruit per