The Meeker herald., 1895-05-11
A Brief Summary Of Some of
the Advantages Offered by
Rio BIanco County.
Openings for Settlers, Investors and
Business Men, with Bright
Prospects Ahead.
What the Building of the White
RUer Valley Railroad Will
Do for this Section.

With the proposed advent of rail
road to Meeker letters of inquiry con-
cerning the prospects and resources
OF town and county are increasing in
volume with every mail, and although,
IHE HERALD has frequently referred
both briefly and at length to the re-
sources of Rio Blanco county, we pro-
pose doing so again this week for the
benefit Of prospective settlers.
Beginning with the Rangely valley in
the western end of the county, we will
give a brief resume Of some of the ad-
vantages which are apparent to the
naked eye. AT Rangely the valley is
from mile and half to two miles
wide by about seven long, after which
it narrows up to width varying from
quarter to mile and continues these
dimensions to and beyond the Utah
line. The soil at RangeIy is rich and
productive, and in addition to the vari-
Gus cereals, is admirably adapted to
fruit raising. There Is still considerable
land open to settlement. Oil has been
discovered and with the coming of a
railroad will undoubtedly become one
of Rio Blanco's important industries.
Here also are located vast bodies of the
finest quality Of asphaltum, which were
opened up extensively last summer and
shipments by wagon were made to Rifle
and Grand Junction, but the long haul
consumed the profits. With the con-
struction of the White River Valley
pro6tably worked and asphaltum will
form an important item among the ship
ments. AT present stock-raising is the
leading industry of the Rangely region.
Leaving Rangely and coming this
way the valley is uniformly much
narrower for distance of thirty miles,
but presents some very fine bottoms at
different points along the river. Some
choice locations are still open to settle
ment, and, with splendid range back in
the hills on both sides of the river, Of
fers good openings to ranchers with
small punches of stock.
In the vicinity of White River City
are to be found some excellent ranches
with fine range adjacent, and some
years ago, while boring for oil, natural
gas was struck at this point. The pres
sure was strong enough to blow the ma
chinery sky-ward; the gas caught
fire and the plant was irreparably
ruined. The fire was put out and the
hole plugged up, but boring for oil has
never been resumed at White River
City. The gas is there, however.
Piceance creek is forty miles long and
is thickly settled for thirty-Gve miles OF
the entire distance by ranchers who are
engaged in the cattle business, and run
from small holders to veritible "barons"
with several thousand head. A large
number of settlers are located on tribu-
tary creeks engaged in the same bust
ness. A splendid country sustains the
stock business but very little land re-
mains unoccupied.
The twenty miles intervening be-
tween White River City and Meeker
shows some Of the finest ranches in the
county, especially in Powell Park. The
land is about all taken up along the
river bottom, but back on the mesas
there is still available large tracts Of
very good upland.
1t is generally conceded that from
Meeker up lies the best part of Rio
Blanco county. Right around the town
the country does not present prepos-
sessing appearance, but five miles above
in Coal Creek valley and Oak Ridge
park, is situated the garden spots OF the
county, and in this section can be found
large bodies of choice land still open to
settlement.
From Coal Creek up TO the confluence
Of North and South Forks of White
river the valley is thickly settled, and
there is very little unoccupied land,
although on the numerous tributary
streams there are still choice locations
awaiting the settler.
North and South Forks Of White river
are two lovely valleys and in them are
situated numerous fine stock ranches.
In addition TO the ranch lands mention
ed all the upper White region is blessed
with limitless FREQ and open stock
range with never-failing and abund-
ant supply Of the purest Of water. The
range is recognized as the finest In the
land. ,a.,. q, n,t
water on good deal OF the land refer
red to, but with the certainty OF
railroad and market for our products
assured 1t will pay to expend con-
siderable Of both.
In brief, Rio Blanco county offers ex-