The daily sentinel., 1903-09-02
Building For A Stale.
Well Known Writer Speaks
Golden Words. A Great
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the sunset hour. 1t is the Metropolis
of the western slope-the future capi-
tai of the commonwealth of Western
Colorado; for nature has written
upon the rocks its destiny. All this
part of Colorado, after the range is
crossed. has interests seperate and
distinct from that part lying along
the eastern slope of the mountains,
and the day will surely come when a
great State will be formed of the
area between the Peaks and the
Green river in Utah. Grand river
has in it more water than flows in all
the streams that seek the Missouri.
The water at present utalized is not
one-fiftieth of what could be used.
were proper channels created to let it
flow over the magnificent country ly-
ing between the Roam Cliffs and
Green river in Utah.
At present about 60, 900 acres are
under a canal system, though not half
of these are in cultivation. AS in
the valley of the Uncompahgre. there
all fruits, grains and grasses of the
temperate zone flourish and on twsn-
ty acres a man can easily raise enough
to support moderate numbered fam
lily. 1t was here the first beet sugar
factory was built. in 1899; but the
soil is more stubborn than the sandy
loam of eastern Colorado and the
factory has never been able to induce
enough farmers to give attention to
sugar beet culture. which requires
more hand work and closer attention
than a grain or grass crop. The fac
tory lay idle last year and this. while
the half dozen built afterward ON the
eastern slope have been amply sup
piled and made successful runs, pro-
ducing an excellent quality of sugar,
hut not quite up to the standard of
that prodcued by the cane growers of
the South. Nor does it command as
good a price. When Cuba comes into
the Union as state, and its sugar
enters paying no duty, it is an open
question whether any beet sugar fac
tories in the west and in California
will pay expenses.
At present two towns and one city
are well established. The one at the
entrance into the valley from the
east is named Palisades; twenty-five
mi lies to the west lies Fruita, founded
by the writer in 1888, and beyond it.
thirty miles, is the Utah line. Be-
tween these two towns lies Grand
Junction, the county seat of Mesa
county, and junction point for the
railroad systems of the present. as it
will be for all those of the future.
Its future is as promising as the skies
surprised at the progress made in the
two years since 1 last saw it. For a
long time the town was in advance
of the country around it. But this
is no longer so. Having watched
its growth from the time when the
opening of the reservation gave the
valley to the white man for a posses
sion. it was with pleasure that these
evidences of prosperity made them
selves plain.
1 spent few days in the valley.
very much to my satisfaction. There
were many friends who had not for
gotten one whose twenty year ago
predictions had been more than full
filled. AS peach producing valley
it has no rival. Fruits of all kinds
abound. while farm products are not
forgotten. The dairy. the apiary.
the poultry yard, the orchard, the
vegetable garden, the berry patch.
the alfalfa field, all show the thrift
of the people and the fertility of the
soil Kissed by the waters. it smiles
back harvest to all who lend will
ing hand to natures call. In the
language of my good friend, the edi-
tor of the Evening Sentinel, ''We are
on the highway of travel between the
two oceans, and also on a highway to
a glorious future. w. Il. Pabor in
the Evening Metropolis. Jacksonville,