The Delta independent., 1909-09-10

The town of Delta, TO which refer
ence was made in the chapter describ-
ing the Uncompahgre Valley and the
lands under the Gunnison Tunnel, is the
business and commercial center of
three rich valleys and has population
of 3. 800. To the south, in the Uncom-
pahgre Valley, there has just been put
under irrigation between 25, COO to 10000
acres of good fruit and farming land.
splendid orchards. To the east, up the
Gunnison river, the North Fork of the
Gunnison and its tributaries. is one of
the most productive fruit-raising and
farming sections in the world.
Lying directly back of the city is the
famous Garnet Mesa, with 5000 acres
of orchards and fertile farms. Across
the river is the settlement of North
Delta, largely divided into small hold
ings of from 2ia to 10 acres, devoted to
small fruits and vegetables. To the
east. up the Gunnison. is valley four
teen miles long and averaging two miles
wide. where immense crops of alfalfa,
sugar beets, apples. potatoes and other
farm crops are raised. In this section
are many home ranches where thou
sands of head of cattle, pastured in
summer on the adjoining ranges, are
fed on alfalfa through the winter.
SURFACE CREEK MESA.
Eight miles east of Delta, up the
ata x.yIo - lvau-t, k..
"Surface Creek Mesa long slope
from the river back to the foot of the
Grand Mesa. While divided by various
small streams into smaller benches.
which bear different names, the sweep
of deep, rich red soil is practically
identical in quality. This section of
Colorado almost doubled in population
in 1908, and more than $500 acres of
land were set out in new orchards. The
shipping point for the entire region is
the town of Austin. which has a box
factory, canning factory, fruit
growers association and full compile
ment of mercantile establishments.
The whole Surface Greek region is wa
tered from the streams which rise on
the south slope of the Grand Mesa, and
to make this supply certain reservoirs
have been built upon all the available
sites. The district is well protected
from bad weather, with high mountains
to the north and n long slope to the
south.
On the southern brow of the Surface
Creek Mesa, extending along the Gun
nison river, lies the little settlement of
Cory. six miles from Delta, A stage
delivers mail every afternoon and the
general stores provide the residents
around about with the conveniences of
home trading.
Twelve miles northeast of Delta and
near the center of the Surface Creek
Mesa is Eckert. The center of large
region. IT is an important point en- route
from the county seat to the upper Sur
face Greek district. The daily stage
touches Eckert. The town has several
stores and hall, church, excellent
school, etc. Many old orchards are in
the immediate vicinity of Eckert.
Cedaredge, the larger of the five
towns in the Surface Creek Valley, lies
ten miles from the railroad and has an
altitude of $500 feet.
Ten miles to the north Of Cedaredge
are some two hundred odd lakes which
supply the valley with the finest of
mountain water for irrigation and do
mestic purposes and free from alkali.
Cedaredge is Incorporated, has two
churches, a bank. newspaper, hotel,
livery, drug, hardware, dry goods,
clothing and three grocery stores, high
sceool, the popular lodges. no saloons
and no aikali.
Payne Mesa, now called Redlands,
comprises nearly eight thousand acres
and lies directly east Of the Surface
Creek Mesa. Within the past year