The daily sentinel., 1906-06-25
WHAT'S IN A NAME?

No community ever prospered by
appropriating what rightfully belong
ed to another Grand Valley is
known everywhere throughout the
country as that section of western
Colorado, beginning at the mouth of
the Grand river canon, twelve miles
east of this city and extending west
ward an approximate distance of
sixty miles, bounded on the north
and south by the Book Cliffs and
Pinon Mesa.
From a practically unknown and
barren tract of desert land, 1t has
been brought under cultivation, from
which there is gathered each year
/ bounteous crop of the most luscious
/ fruit in the world. Endless toll and
disappointments attended the recla-
nation of the land, the planting of
trees and providing water, by the pio-
neers of this section. But the grit of
the western mans spirit overcame
all obstacles and the result has been
a marvelously rich development
which has brought riches to thou
sands.
The fruit of this section, at first
only sufficient for local consumption,
later readily consumed in the mark
cts of the state, has grown to such an
extent that it is now purchased
throughout the entire country. Once
tasted, its delicious flavor enjoyed, it
became and is now a product eagerly
sought by the thousands, in less rich
ly favored sections of the country.
All of this splendid fruit was mark
eted under the name of "Grand VAL
ley Fruit" until this brand and label
has become a synonym for the finest
fruit in the world. Every crate and
package was marked with this tails
manic label, beside which other fruit
could not be sold.
OF the name "Grand Valley" the
people were proud. Branded upon a
box of fruit it brought rich returns
to the grower. But with success have
come those VINO would profit by the
reputation so hard earned and richly
deserved. AS in anything else the
imitator, the robber has bounded into
life believing he can profit by what
was earned by others.
A little section through which the
Grand river flows. bearing for many
years the name of Parachute decid-
ed that 1t could profit greatly by Sc
curing the name of another section
II chose well in making a selection
of name The name "Grand Val
ley" to which 1t had no natural right,
because 1t was a valley of the Grand
river, suited its purpose exactly and
the people of that section petitioned
the postal authorities to change the
name of the hamlet and surrounding
acreage to Grand Valley. On the po-
tency of that name 1t is making des-
perate efforts to grow and thrive, but
1t deceives few.
Is it to be wondered at then that
the residents of Grand Valley. the
original Grand Valley, known as such
since 1t was first prospected, succeed
ing the departure of the redmen, are
up in arms in defense of the title,
which means SO much to them.
If they would not make persistent
and continuous protest to the nat
ional government, We should not be-
lieve in them as We do. We believe
also, with the proper presentation of
the matter to the government, that
the change to some other name for
that which 1t now holds will be made.
The careless and unthinking per-
haps Will think that such change is
of little consequence and that there
is much ado about nothing but those
who have estimated the probable
damage, believe there is ample cause
for alarm and greater cause for an
ucipating future i'll consequences. |
There is some satisfaction in the
knowledge that no individual, no
country or section ever has profited
by the assumption of the rights of
others.
No man has ever yet gained head
way through jealousy, perversion of
fasts or lieing. All such conditions
act in the nature of boomerang. and
return to lay low those by whom it is |
hurled. This process seems to be
natural law, one of those provisions
of Providence, which act against the |
thief, the liar and those who would
rise over the body of another, struck
down by the hidden assassin.