Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1906-04-07
Letter from CAD Wood.

place Mr.. Wood left Custer about nine
years ago The letter is dated Coventry,
Colo, March 10, 1906:
w. ID. NEsTAL, ESQ, Custer, S. ID.
DEAR FREND Your letter of the 5th
came yesterday Very glad to hear
from you, and that you may visit us.
Now in regard to this part Of Colorado,
and its prospects for the future, | have
much to say | came here nine years
ago at time when the agricultural pos,
sibiities of this wonderful state was but
partially understood by even Colorado
ans. Since that time within so miles of
this point the fruit raising industry has
demonstrated that in favored sections Of
the western slope. Orchard land has an
enormous value, which is not fictitious
but is steadily advancing upon the basis
Of its dividends or interest upon the in
vestment till at Palsadi and Paonia for
instance, apple and peach orchards are
selling at as much as 81 10000 per acre.
That land in its raw and desert state was
valued at the Government price Of 81 %
per acre, not more than l6 years ago.
This result which has been reached is
due to intelligent culture of the right
varieties of fruit on proper soil to which
has been brought water available from
May to August or September, and all as
sisted by climate which is not surpass
ed in America.
! have tasted as good, or better It may
be, apples in my native Province Of Can
ada, but they had not the keeping quail
ties nor tine splendid color of this Colo.
RADIO fruit; and so it comes that today in
Nebraska or New York, in Mexico City
where Colorado apples sell at SOC per
Ib) or san Deigo, in London or Berlin,
our fruit is given preference over most
and at about double prices. The i'm
mense yield and a pleasant occupation
under these turquoise skies and the
inspiring run Of the silvery cleaning
mountains which form majestic though
rampant of circling wind breaks, will ac-
count in part for the great value placed
upon some particular spots. For all
land in these valleys is not good for
fruit Some not good for much but al
fafa, some better adapted for grain, etc,
and some of it not good for any crops
Yet again some that being saved by the
grace of water, yet its apparent salvation
being the very death Of it owing to pecu.
liar conditions of the underlying bed
rock or clay, etc, causing the water to
come 10 the surface in what is termed
"seep, and Gland gone to seep" is worth
less until again reclaimed by drainage.
That ancient and very capable vegetar
ian known to the Ancients as King
Nebuchadnezzar did few stunts during
his term Of Office and before he went
to grass" in the way of irrigation, re-
claiming about 100000 acres, much Of
which labor went to seep," and states
men yet to be elected will in the years
to come be asked to appropriate as much
almost for drainage of the very land in
many cases, that today the Government
is reclaiming at from $500 to $1,000 per
acre Black Sage Of the height you saw
at Grand Junction is of itself the very
finest indication of great fertility.
"Greasewood' is on the other hand, the
very worst sign, as it indicates SO great
percentage Of the alkalorides as to ad-
NIT of nothing else growing. Grand
encountered in the state, 10 above in
summer and 81 below zero in winter.
Now The point where we live is about
midway of the San Miguel Valley. which
is destined TO become the greatest apple
producer in the state. Orchards, few
! l6 years old have demonstrated that the
whole valley is unequaled for this fruit.
At the lower end is Paradox, and at the
upper is Norwood, 90 miles long and say
4 TO 10 miles wide all of the same soil
red or Chocolate" fruit soil, no stones,
| but underlaid with sandstone. Sparsely
settled probably 1900 people now ow-
! ing to lack of irrigation systems. Water
enough to lrrigate most of it if stored in
reservoirs, which are here. Railroad Is
miles from Norwood. Placerville near
est station on ID. & X. q. Southern.
| Daily stage to Paradox. No real estate
office Good opening with me if you
like). ! sold one farm last spring for
Sl2,0O0.O0. Have three more l will sell
on commission.
Our climate is temperate, few nights
in winter IA below 9S to 100 in August
Produce all the temperate fruits, includ.
ing soft shell almonds. 40 bushels oi
wheat is common crop, worth about a
81 80 hundred. Two to three crops oI
alfalfa. Great for vegetables. Blue
birds and robins and larks are here most
all winter. We can generally plow til
Christmas and commence lst of March
Pretty good grazing most anywhere. A
limited amount of good pine timber
near, plenty of cedar for fencing anC
feul, as also coal almost anywhere at 81
a ton. One of our neighbors has an iris
which bloomed 10 days ago in open air
in garden. Water good, bad and indif
ferent. Bees do well. | have beer
stung e number Of times. | can locate
you on 20 acres of very fine fruit anC
garden land just below my place. Gov
eminent land, if you come soon. Don
wait if you are thinking of coming be
cause there will be land rush" lik,
the opening of a Reservation after Ma.
lst.
| am incorporating an irrigation sys
? tnnn ~ hnSn rnrnnrnip name will he OH is