The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-20
From ". i. wright.


"state Bridge" House, Delta Co., Colo,
June 1, l0O2-Editor INDEX; We ar
rixed at this point this morning about s
o'clock, after a drive Of twenty miles,
and will remain until morning. This is
an interesting locality at present. There
is a magnificent steel bridge across the
Gunnison at this place and all the travel
for the valley above crosses here, besides
the construction force on the new rail-
road is at work along here aud ii has
been a lively scene quite all day aud an
ideal spot as which to gather ipforma
tion From items gathered from differ
ent eources would infer that this
county (Deia) has bright future there
being number Of valleys tributary to
the town OF Delta, and it being in the
zone or proper sea level for alfalfa, fruit
aud stock raising, with an extensiYe area
OF high mesa land in close proximity,
where there Is an abundance of native
grass for summer use that the flock mas
ter has been unable to find his way to as
yet / was informed that several ranches
had changed hands not long since at
handsome prices, being way up in the
thousands Here al present is the COW.
man mecca and alfalfa is the king of
forage grasses. We met few hundred
sleek and fat steers from this section on
our way OYER "HOrsefy" mesa from
Placervlle before reaching Montrose.
Our trip SO far has been unusually
pleasant and enjoyable, the deep and tor
tuousswaterwaye, and their zigzag and
seemingly reckless courses, are themes of
thought and food for the diversion of
tine work Of the ranch and farm or other
ayOcations pertinent to the gaining Of.
the necessities and common comforts
that go to make up the average daily
existence of our lives. Our mind is being
mere impressed as day by day we see
more clearly the thousands upon thou
sands of prosperous homes for those who
may occupy this moantain country and
these charming and romantic valleys.
alfOrding opportunities for an ideal home
life ia this particular section as we'll as
10 the sunny San Juan Of New Mexico,
our adopted home.
3une 7th finds ue at the head Of the
Plateau valley. a sparcely timoered. high
plateau aud fairly we'll carpeted with
native grass, with thousands OF cattle ia
the adjacent ravines and gulches, an
ideal summer home for the cOWman. On
our way up the valley we passed through
tine zone of the scrub cedar, alfalfa, fruit
and the grape and found the husband
man all along the route overhauling his
mower for the first crop, the people hos
pitable, thrifty and unusually friendly.
Pardon me for hasty reference to the |
enchanting natural scenery presented t y |
the view as we descended the Gunnieon |
and made our way around the western /
end of the "Grand mesa, where the ba. /
salt rock stands out boldly and precipi- /
toua to the right, making a dark back
ground in comparison with the balance /
OF the landscape, and we'll toward the
summit Of the precipitous mountain aud
in sharp contrast to the immediate sur.
rou1dings of dark green verdure and
black rock Is a malteoe CROSS pictured on
the steep face Of the mesa II ie caused
by rnskslide or the outcropping of
ledge Of white im stone III must sure
ly be a Conspicuous iaudmHrk Tor many
miles TO the south and wesl Hnd t0 the
writer carries the mind back 10 the
story Of the lowly Savior Ia His ministra
tsons and East Jordan travels IN the
basalt rock formation of the arid plains
0l eastern Palestine.
From White River station we take q
near cut across the hills to Grand river
by way of Palisades. so called from the
singular conhguration Of this vicinity.
A few hours travel up the Grand river
aud we reach the mouth Of Plateau
creek. which We ascended to near the
head and where we found grass moder
ately plentiful and pitched our camp for
three days grazed our stock and enjoyed
The scenery ia the altitude OF the aspena,
red spruce and native grasses, to ths SAT-
aiaciiOn OF old "Rocdy" and his two
companions, while ye senbbler drank ia
.he natural scenery Of this green carr
p6ted reatiul nook brtween "Embattle-
nent' mesa 90 our north aud Grand
neea Immediately south Of us.
WA j WRI0ur
Bain farm wa00ne run liohtaei and