The Delta independent., 1906-08-10
SURFACE CREEK MESA.
Impressions Of 4 Tenderfoot IS
Gathered On 4 Fleeing
Trip.
A LAND OF PRESENT GREATNESS.
Al NsalesfA Premise fss Ne fstsse.
Nsoes b erss Absadases ~
Ci0sie Neal.

WISER in essA Aboo1aaee ~
ciinsss Neal.
One day last week, through the
courtesy Of Mr.. and Mrs. N. H. Castle.
the editor and his wife had the pleas
ure Of = trip to Cedaredge. the country
surrounding and . return via Cedar
Mesa and Hart's Basin. To say that
we were surprised by what we wit
messed in the way Of agriculture and
horticulture is only putting it mildly.
The beet, alfalfa and grain crops be-
tween Delta and Surface Creek mesa
are simply immense and stand ~
eloquent witnesses Of the productive
meas Of the soil.
The writer has travelled over Colorado
for several years and is familiar with
the best beet districts in the state. but
nowhere have we seen better beets
than those which greeted our eyes on
this occasion. The crop Is . practical
and emphatic demonstration Of what
Delta county b capable Of doing along
the lines Of best culture. which crop
has doubled the value Of land on the
Eastern Slope during the last five
years and is largely responsible for the
rapid increase IN population Of both
towns and country On that side Of the
Range. Delta win surely have sugar
facAssy aad Il ssght to Be under eoa-
ssruet;oa in isss than twelve noaths
from this date.
Asesndhg Surfses CessA Mssa ~,
sight which greeted our eyes was . nsw
one and while what Ne say about Il
may b IN ~ story to large payt Of
the readers Of this paper. yet the reve-
lation which Rreets new. conner cannot
be too frequently told in print. for
each time the message 10 carried to
those who know not.
Too large = percentage Of eastern
people visiting Colorado see only the
Eastern Slope where fruit, although
fairly probably grown. is secondary
consideration. The tourist who misses
the fruit Mesas Of Delta county and
the Western Slope has failed to see the
soil Of greatest value and the crop Of
most wondrous beauty. There Is some
thing exceedingly picturesque about
Surface Creek Mesa. It Is . medley
Of nature, knowledge and toll. On the
one hand the land lays as nature left
Il, sadly barren except for . dense
growth Of cheeo (greasewood), scene
more or less unsightly to the eye &C.
customed at least to . growth Of prairie
grass on the virgin soil. Rocks-yes
there arc few, Of various dull colors
and an assortment Of dimensions. Di-
rectly across the way knowledge and
toll have exerted their benifcent infu-
eoce and the scene ID one to admire and
d sure to bring forth exclamations Of
admiration. There are few things
prettier than well cultivated fruit
orchard with the space between the
trees clean as . garden and the limbs
bending To the ground with their bur-
den. It IL delight to the eye and
satisfaction to the mind. The contrast
from the one hand to the other Is the
most striking we have ever witnessed.
The difference between desert on one
sids and IN alfalfa field on the other is
nothing compared with it. This scene
is repeated asyou drive along mile after
mile. The Land ID not all In bearing
orchard by any means, but the time
must surely come when It will be.
Many young orchards, ranging In age
from Q few months to three and four
years Of age. are On every hand and We
ars ,lnfurmed that million trees were
paaaesd N Delta county last spring.
Ne uust not lsavs the imprsssion.
hswsvsr. that Surface Greek Mesa 10