The Glenwood post., 1905-10-07
AN IMPORTANT
LAND PURCHASE
Option Given by Ddrrow & Ross
on Over 1000 Acres Near Ant
IerS--ChiCdgO Nan Agrees
to Locate Colony
WILL MEAN MUCH TO COUNTY

A deal was consummated this week
whereby C. w. Darrow and j. W.
Ross, constituting the co-partnership
of Darrow & Ross, contracted for the
sale of all of their possessions in the
Antlers country otherwise known as
the Grass valley.
Some years ago, soon after the big
reservoir waIhed out and at a time
when that country was on the wane
and the people were discouraged as to
the future outcome, Darrow & Ross
began to secure holdings which they
have constantly increased. until now
their interest comprises over four
thousand acres of as fine land as can
be found anywhere in western Colo
RADIO. Some of this land is watered
from the Lower Cactus Valley ditch
taking water from the Grand river,
but the majority of it and the best
portion lays above this ditch and must
be irrigated from the big reservoir.
the dam of which is now being re-
built.
The land is of loamy character
and will grow all kinds of crops to
perfection, being especially adapted
to fruit culture and some of it is now
set to trees.
Tho hr,ti
is, permits j. T. Forester of Chicago,
the party of the second part, to dis
pose of the land at price agreed
upon between the parties, Darrow &
Ross agreeing to deed the land direct
to the parties whom Forester may 10
cate on the land.
The contract price for the tract as
specified in the contract, it is under
stood. aggregates in the neighbo-hood
of $40, 600 and the deal it would seem
is good stroke Of fortune for Darrow
& Ross who are altogether worthy of
it since they have invested freely in
this section, always with abundant
faith in the final outcome of the tract.
On the other hand, Mr.. Forester
and his colonists are securing capi-
tai bargain for with some expenditure
for development, this section can be
transformed into veritable garden.
For the past year Mr.. Forester has
been Investigating the western slope
for suitable tract on which to locate
about two hundred eastern families,
principally industrious German farm
ers. Several months ago he entered
into negotiations with Judge Ong for
a tract of land just below Debeque,
known as the Virginia mesa An op-
tion was taken and payment ad
vanced, the provisions of the contract
being that Forester or his people were
to have clear title to the tract. Upon
further investigation, he found the
property clouded by 99-year oil lease
which the parties Elost interested re-
fused to cancel and the deal fell
through.
The Grand Junction News bewail-
ing the failure of Mesa county to Sc
CuIo EoCIbtcl COlOHy udS Tile
following to say:
MESA county has lost out in the big
land deal which has been under con
sideratiun for some time between j.
T. Forester of Chicago and Judge
Ong of Debeque. Mr. Forester was
in this city during the Mesa County
fair and in an interview with the
Daily News reporter stated that it
was certain that the sale of the land
would not he consummated, as Judge
Ong would not give proper title. He
stated that he had two hundred falni,
lies who were awaiting his decision
and that they would settle wherever
he decided to locate them. He was
positive in his assertion that they
would locate somewhere on the wes-
tern slope as he favored that part of
Colorado, and the news printed in the
GIenwood Avalanche Yesterday con-
firms his declaration. The citizens of
Garfield county are to be congratulated
upon Mr.. Forester deciding to locate
hie colony in that productive section
and 1t is to be regretted that Mesa
county lost the great opportunity of
increasing its taxable property and
populace.
1.-THE sale fell through because the
purchaser insisted upon release OF
the oil leases which Judge Ong had
signed and which be either could moi
or would not release. Mr.. Forester
did not propose to be subjected to the