The daily sentinel., 1903-05-01

he 1lth of February of the next year,
Mesa county was created from a por-
tion of Gunnison county, with Grand
Junction as the county seat. Thus
equipped and favored, new era of
brilliant promise dawned upon the
people. So much by the way of his
tory.
Grand Junction is now the metrop-
oils of the western slope of Colorado.
1t has population of 5000 inhabi-
tants, made up principally of industri-
Gus settlers from the middle western
states. There are several reasons why
it has grown rapidly and why it is
bound to continue to do so. Firstly,
its position in the midst of a vast sec.
tion whose soil is capable of producing
in abundance all kinds of agricultur-
al and orchard products. whose noun
tains contain wealth of coal, copper
and other minerals, and whose grazing
lands furnish an ideal place for cat
tie.
Secondly, its apt location as a COM
mercial point, being the terminus of
four railroads, and situated on trans
continental line midway between Den
yer and Salt Lake City.
Lastly, its natural advantages, such
as the healthfulness and agreeableness
of its climate, its unlimited coal and
water supply and its water power
OF all the improvements found in
other cities of equal size or even larg-
~. nj Tn T..
city owned water works system whose
cost was $4,000 1t has schools,
churches, substantial business blocks,
fine residences, parks, free public Ii
brary, electric lights, broad streets,
free mail delivery, telephone facili-
ties-in short everything found in a
growing city that keeps abreast of the
times.
The citizens of Grand Junction are
all prosperous many have grown rich
here. Labor and enterprise are re-
warded to the fullest extent. The city
is making swift strides forward.
Scores of residences are going up. A
number of business and manufacturing
buildings are in course of cunstruc-
ton. And the future holds many good
things. One of these is the building
of high line ditch by the govern
ment. Another is the blowing in of
the big Pyritic smelter. A third is
the locating of manufactures here,
which are sure to come when our ad-
vantageous conditions are understood.
AS soon as it becomes known. what
opportunities Grand Junction and
Mesa county offer as place for man
utacturing plants this will then un-
doubtedly become a great manufactnr-
ing centre. when it is considered what
splendid railway connections it has,
radiating in every direction. 1t has
more than an abundance of coal; wa
ter power going to waste-these are
some of the reasons why the above
prediction is so confidently made.
The population of Mesa county is
about 11,000. That of Grand juno
tion, close to 5000. Fruita, Palisade
and DeBeque are prosperous little
towns, claiming between 200 and 500
inhabitants. Whitewater and Coll
bran, Plateau City and Mesa of the
Plateau country, are smaller commu-
mites but are none the less enter
prising and promising.
Mesa county possesses good schools.
The child may begin at the Kinder
garten and prepare for college.
Graduates of the high school are ac-
cepted at the state University with
ont examination. There are churches
of all denominations in Mesa county,
and all advantages found elsewhere
for the maintaining of good social,
moral and educational standing.