St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-30
BOOMER FROM COLORADO.
w. T. Cross Talks Fruit Culture and
Mining.


pending his return to Grand Junction,
Col, where he and his family have
been enjoying the pleasures incloent
to the mana cement OF a large frult
farm which he purchased last May.
Mr.. Cross has been a resident of Min
nesota for forty years, and, while not
sWerving in the least from his loyalty
to the North Star state, he is full of
enthusiasm for the country which
temporarily claims him, and declares
it to be perfect paradise on earth.
Mr.. Cross would not advise young
man with any sort of favorable pros
poets in st. Paul to go into the Col
orado frUit-growing business, but, said
he to a q o b e reporter yeSterdy, 1T
is the ideal place and the most adapt
able undertaking for man as old as
L am. who desires to enjoy life and
at the same time to accrue considera-
bic Of an income"
Mr.. Cross admiration for the Grand
valley and the fruit raising industry
is borne more of observation, perhaps,
than Of actual experience, as his trees
have been out scarcely a year, whereas,
the trees. even in the fertile Grand
valley, do not begin TO bear fruit I'M
til the third year However, his or
chards are Furnishing in a remarkable
manner, and the surrounding fruit
ranches, the oldest of which have been
under cultivation but eight years, are
giving immense yields, and paying
from $500 to 5000 per acre. The ranches
are all supplied with water by an i'm
proved system Of irrigation, and, as
rains are very infrequent and light,
the soil never becomes water soaked,
but maintains an even degree of mOis-
ture throughout the year.
geographically" said Mr.. Cross, in
c-yof lit hi md
valley skirts the western slope of the
Rocky mountains, extending fifty miles
through the central portion Of the
state THE climate of this beautiful
valley, traVersed it's entire length by
the Grand river, is most healthful and
invigOrating. The weather of the past
week in ST. Paul is q fair specimen of
the Colorado winter, while the only DIFF
erence which 1 have noticed in the
summer is that the high temperature
prevails for a more protracted period.
Politically the people are a unit on the
single issue of free silver. They are,
however, not forcing their favorite
measure, but are cOnservatively rest
ing their energies, fully convinced of
the ultimate adoption of their adVO-
Gated policy. Meantime, the population
is devOting itself to gold, lead and coal
mining, content to let the vast 7eDosits
Of white metal rest in the bosom of
Mother Earth until what they consider
the inevitable political millennium ar
rives, when free coinage of silver. will
make them milliOnaires
In regard to the fruit industry, con-
tinued M. Cross, it bids fair to rival
in quality, quantity and profits any
fruit raising section of the United
States. Every variety Of fruit, except
oranges and lemons, is grown in the
Grand valley in the greatest profusion.
Drought, hail, frost or wind has never
yet destroyed or injured a crop in the
eight years the valley has been under
cultivation, and the duties of caring for
fruit ranch, far from being arduous,
are among the most pleasant occupa-
tons
peaches are at present the staple
crop, but in my opinion. apples are des-
tined to become the chief product of
the fruit farms. They grow to Won
derful sizes, possessing the highest fla
vor imaginable, in addition to being
free from the ravages Of insects and
worms. The cultivation of prunes,
too, is fast becoming one of the chief
occupations Of the farmers. Wild land
in this section, with a guaranteed wa
ter right, can be purchased for $50 per
acre, and, while the returns DO not
come in until after three years, thus
demonstrating some capital to main
tain the ranch in the meantime, when
the trees Go begin to yield, the rest is
easy. There will, in my opinion, never
be an overprOduction of Colorado fruit,
for the reason that only a compare
lively small portion Of the land, most
of which is embraced in the Grand
valley, can be utilized for Embarrassing
purposes, on account of the lack Of rain
and insurmount2ble difficulties in the
way of irrigation in other parts of the
state." The embryo fruit farmer
paused at this point and looked off
into space.
81 had an interesting experience
while on my way to st. Paul,"he finally
continued. Il stopped at Cripple Greek,
the new Eldorado, where men get rich
in a day, and l must admit that 1 was
agreeably surprised with the place. 1t
is, indeed, all and more than is claimed
for it in the line of gold deposits, but
what interested me most was the evil
dent air Of refinement and stability of
the camp. Most Of the houses are of
logs, however, and some of the popu-
lat1on is composed OF the rough ele-
ment, but on the whole the town of
Cripple Creek Is a marvel. A city gov
eminent administers it's civil affairs,
schools are maintained, and fine
churches, of as many different denoml-
shippers each Sunday. The population
of Cripple Creek Is placed at 10000"
continued Mr.. Cross, (which Is withal
an orderly community. OF course,
what is known as the 'Wide-open policy
prevails in the operation of saloons
and gambling houses, but this seems to
be an essential Of boom times. such
as Cripple Creek and the other six
surrounding, but smaller towns, are at
present experiencing.
81 think" said Mr.. Cross, that the
reason of Cripple Creeks superiority to
the old-tin1e mining camps can be found
In the fact that 1t Is, so to speak, in
the center Of civilization. Men from
large cities go to the mines to better
their fortunes. and in view Of the COM
para lively short distance, take their
families. This necessitates schools,
churches and social surroundings Who'll
ly unthought of in the days Of 40 when
California was the fortune hunters
Mecca. AS a matter of fact, all this
Cripple Creek region has been thorough
ly prospected years ago, but only for
placer dirt whereas the gold is be-
meath the surface, in the hardest kind
of granite. The main gold belt upon and
around which every one is endeavoring
to locate claims is but seven miles
square, but as a matter of investiga-
ton and fact the whole region is Won
derfully prolific in the precious yellow
metal. Mining at Cripple Creek is yet
in it's infancy, and consequently the out
put is not so great as it will be in time,
but the stuff is there, and when the big
reducing mills begin their work, the
street car tracks in Cripple Creek will
be of solid gold. Living is comparative
ly cheap in the camps frst-class ac-
commodations being obtained for $40
week" Mr. Cross will remain in st.
Paul until the first week in February.