Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-07-18
THE VALLEY OF GRAND RIVER.
An Empire In Resources. -ProAt for
the Poor, Pleasure fsr the Rlch.-
IT. Fruit, Agricultural and Mineral
Wealth.

IT. Fruit, Agricultural and Hinsra
Wealth.
Special to the Reflector
GLENwO0D SPRINGS, Colo, july
} lo-The Dickinson county excursion
lists who came to the mountains arr
taking in the sights Of the range
Many have taken the delightful triE
"around the circle" and are seeing
this delightful valley which merits a
detailed description as 1t is little
known to the average traveller.
In richness and diversity Of rssour-
ces, the Valley Of the Grand River Ia
an empire in itself, and capable Of
supporting in comfort vast numbers.
Of people. Its population which ia
steadily growing, is happy, content
ed and prosperous, and the future is
full Of hope for all who come to CO.
operate in the upbuilding Of this
fereile section Of the state. The West
ern slope was pioneered by loyal,
enterprising, energetic men; they
have built cities and towns, and con-
nected them with railroads; erected
school houses, churches and homes;
they have enriched their lands with
hundreds Of miles ofirrigating canals;
they have spanned the rivers with
bridges; they have opened up i'm
mense and valuable areas Of coal,
stone and mineral deposits in the Val
ley, and their untiring energy in de-
veloping the latent resources has
made it easy for those who are to fol-
low.
Nowhere can there be grown more
perfect fruit, or greater quantity per
acre, than in the Valley Of the Grand
River. The soil is rich sandy loan
highly saturated with mineral salts
and is adapted to the different varie-
ties Of fruit from the most hardly ST.
berian crabs, to the most delicate Ital-
ian grapes. Apples, peaches, pears,
apricots, prunes, nectarines, ounces,
cherries, plums, almonds and all kinds
Of small fruits, as well as sweet pota-
toes and melons are at home here,
and enormous yields are annually
harvested. The conditions OF soil,
perfect irrigation system, superb fruit
climate, natural protection from
winds and storms, high average prices
and unlimited markets afford super
ior openings for profits to fruit-grow-
ers.
Peaches that grow in the Valley the
Grand have achieved a lame extend
ing beyond the limits Of the State, for |
their Righteousness OF flavor, their
richness OF color and their fertility OF
growth. There are orchards in
Grand Valley eight years in bearing
that have produced eight full crops
OF peaches.
In 1873 an owner derived $SSlo'oO
from new 10 acre tract planted in
peaches, apples, pears piums' cncr-
ries, aprlcots' prunes' CRAB apples
gooseberrles' STRAWBERRIES raspner-
ries, currants and blackberrles. An
other owner sold $500 worth OF plums
grown on one acre, four years after
planting. =,
Pears OF the Bartlett kleter' Flemish
Beauty and other choice varieties,
produce large quantities three and
'our years after planning. :,
A single orchard in 1873 yielded
1880 per tree in apples ana as on
,rees can be grown on an acre, this
means the handsome sum oltls1opel
lcre. The Ben DAVIS tnrlves ana
produces excellent crops ana such
'ender and better naVored Var,eIies
= Is Rhode Island Greening' BALDWIN
Jhenango strawberry Maiden niusn'
irime's Golden and Jonathan thrlve
'qually as well. A single draha val,
ey orchard OF hve acres produced
70. OOO worth OF apples IN 1870
The average cost Of setting out an
richard is $26 an acre. and from $lo !
o $1,000 annually an acre Tor cult
alton, while the value OF the product
tier bearing is $40 to $1oo an acre q
tier the fourth year. Apples ana
ears, though late in beginning to
ear, yield with increasing proht as /
hey grow Older.
In 1917 Slow was derived from
ne acre OF Muscat grapes rrlces OF
GOD orchard lands with water rights ,
ange from $6O upwards. :. a
Next G to iruit culture the yalley Oh