The Delta independent., 1896-04-01
s01Ta FORK.
Spring Work Began-Hes Railroad Pro-
iset undsT way-aoad Repairs
in Progress.


/ A brief trip up North Fork shows
that the ranchmeR ard orchardists are
hard at work preparing for crops and
pruning their orchards.
On Rogers mesa large number OF
new houses are in all stages Of building,
new fences are being put up and teams
are seen in every direction working with
piow or harrow. A new road up Leroux
creek has just been surveyed and it is
expected that before long the ranchmen
on this mesa will have much better
facilities for getting to the coal, wood
and posts than at present.
At Hotchkiss new buildings are going
up in all directions and the town is
rapidly taking on an appearance OF
growth and thrift commensurate with
its position as the metropolis OF the
North Fork. The merchants are all
busy and report trade good.
All the way from HotchEiss to Paonia
on the north side OF the river the people
were found busy plowing, fencing or
cleaning bitches and large force was at
work on the North Fork Farmers ditch
putting it in shape for the seasons
irrigation.
At Paonia DIR. LEVERS has completed
a new store and residence and several
other residences have just been finished.
A number Of men from Paonia were out
with an engineer locating the right-of
10 a.n
to connect with the Colorado Midland
at some point near Aspen and a meeting
was held at Hotchkiss Saturday night
TO discuss further plans FOR the compile
tion o' the line, it being expected that
the preliminary survey would be coin
pleted by tha. time.
II this railroad can be put through.
and the indications are now favorable to
ills success, the people OF Delta should
join in the movement most heartily and
secure another outlet to markets
At the old Wade orchard L. J.
Mathews was found with 4 force at work
pruning. and grubbing out trees where
they were too close together, and haul.
ing the brush TO the river for rip rapping.
He has two very heavy young teams
tina, he recently purchased in Kansas
City AMI for draft horses they are hard
TO beat. During a trip through the
orchard Mr.. Mathews called attention
TO one Ben Davis tree from which he
last year gathered y boxes OF apples
He keeps an accurate account OF the
fruit gathered from each tree and expects
that within the next three years his crop
will reach 2o.ooO boxes annually. He
has cherry limb which last season
grew . feet aud s inches. and a plum
sprout which made a growth of feet.
On German mesa w. W. Wilcox has
10 acres OF orchard 40 OF the trees being
pears Just beginning TO bear. He has
"A acres of alfalfa and last year raised 10
acres Of corn, 100 bushels OF potatoes
and has 13 stands OF bees. Last year
he cold sl.5o worth Of pears from
one tree. tha, being its first crop. From
3-year-old peach tree he gathered .
boxss AMI from a six year-old Winesap S
boxes OF fruit.
NJ. T. Conner has acres in orchard.
OF which is in bearing. and will plant
10 acres more this spring.
Peter NoScl has a 10 acre orchard a
few trees being in bearing.
Fred Lucas has acres OF new orchard
and > acres in bearing; II acres OF alfalfa
and last season raised acres o. corn and
IL OF wheat.
heodorc Rocber has put in most OF
his time in handling cattle and horses,
having good herd. Uutil last season
he has had but little water but has now
completed reservoirs sufficient to enable
him TO work his ground. Last season
he took of 200 pounds OF honey from one
colony OF bees.
Marvin Stcwrat has just closed his
work in taking orders for spring delivery
for the Salt Lake nursery and has sold
over $4,000 worth OF trees for planting.
he says that the other men connected
with this company have sold about 5000
more in this county for spring planting.
George Stewart and Wesley Ault are
pruning and cultivating their orchards
and preparing for busy season.
Ntcr Gnrtrrc