The Delta independent., 1908-07-31
FRUITLAND MESA APPLE COUNTRY
A Short Article Telling a Few facts
About One of the Best Sections
of the Country.

In taking survey of the various
settlements adjacent to Hotchkiss a
considerable space must be given to
the newly formed community of Fruit
land Mesa.
This is an extensive tract of land
lying just south of the Grandview Me sa
between Smith Fork and the Gunnison
river.
Here some 5000 acres of rich red
soil spreads out with gentle northern
slope overlooking the North Fork val
ley, with Hotchkiss, surrounded by
hundreds of orchards, below and the
numerous fine mesas rising beyond,
and above all the Grand mesa in the
distance affording shelter from all hard
winds and storms. Where now flourish
the parks of sage brush and the groves
of cedar will soon be transformed into
an empire of health, wealth and pros
perity.
1t would be interesting to relate here
of the enterprise which has been re-
quired of the stockholders in the COM
pany during the seven years of activity
in which the Fruitland mesa has been
projected, of the vision, and dreaming
of the promoters, of the months of
plowing and dredging it has required on
the thirty miles of ditch, the tedious
days and nights. hardships and danger
which. were spent in blasting out the
2,625 feet of tunnel and of the self sac
rifice required of the many who made
it possible that the work has never
stopped for the want of funds, and of
the planning and surveying fraught in
preparing for the hydraulic method ex-
pected to be used in the construction
of the reservoir dam.
But it is enough to say that these
efforts have been rewarded by the
LOO acres of land already under culti-
walton, 100 acres new in Orchard, and
the numerous claims already proved up
on by homes provided for a number of
families and by the prospects unparal-
lelled by any irrigated district.
Seven years ago this vast tract of
land was unsettled and unthought of
for an irrigated community, a waste
barren desert, the stamping ground for
the deer and the coyote.
Seven years has brought settlers
from other states and localities attrac-
ted by the opportunities here offered
for obtaining a home and twentieth
century advantages.
1t must be remembered here that the
majority of the settlers who have
taken stock in this company have been
those who have had to spend most of
their time in working out their assess
ments and keeping up payments on
water stock and for this reason the
improvements which delight the eye,
such as fine houses and barns, school
houses and churches are as yet lacking
on the mesa, but these have labored
and have made possible the projection
of the Fruitland reservoir and ditch,
they have proven up on lands and have
made secure the foundation of this
community.
Now the time is ripe when men will
come with capital, these claims will be
divided into tracts, suitable improve
ment, homes will be built, both will
share the reward of the first settlers.
To what is this red soil and climate
adapted? Sugar beets, potatoes,
vegetables of all kinds, fruit of all
kinds and the small fruit of berries to
apricots, peaches, prunes, plums, and
unexcelled for cherries and is the home
of the big and finest of red apples. -
Hotchkiss Herald.