The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-05
VOYAGE ON THE GREEN AND GRAND RIVERS

ndcYclopcd resources Which VIII re-
Quirc years to bring out Is well known.
The astonishing thing is the slowncSs
with which many of the sections OF
the state have been opened mp. stores
are told almost every day of the Wcai'n
of mines in regions little Vs!ted ana
the wonderful results accomplished ny
ihe utilization OF irrigation methods
arc recnuptcd again and again FOR the
deeciation OF progressive citizens IN
the large commercial ceutcrs and for
arousinp the interest of capitalists anu
promoters IN other sections OF The couh-
try.
Important changes in the character
OF the agricultural and horticultural
resources of Utah have been made IN
the past few years.
That portion of Utah south Of the
line of the Denver x Rio Grande ram,
road. extending from the boundaries of
the Green river TO the La Sal noun
tains and southwark into San Juan
country. portions of Emery, Wayne,
San Juan aud Grand counties are m
c!uded in the area which has recently
come TO the attention of capital. Inc
rich mesas which cover the tops OF
the cliffs along the Green and Grand
rivers, the sloping sides of the huge
canyons guarding the waters OF these
streams the fertile bottom lands
formed by the deposits left by The rapid
currents and accumulated through
long period OF years, Us wei lS iHOu'
sands of acres of valley lands. and in
cludiug the beautiful Moab valley, must
all be considered in describing the won
derful section which has been almost
hidden for years, in fact, ever since the
discovery of the state.
Moab, thirty-ivc miles away from n
railroad the nearest station to which is
Thompson s Springs on the line of the
Denver & Rio Grande railroad. has been
regarded by citizens of Utah as cur
ious country place where the people
farmed little and went TO bed with
the chickens in order TO save coal OIL,
Along the Green River.
The country Just below Green River
City. only recently coming into its own,
is we'll known and commented upon as
the headquarters and stamping ground
for a notorious gang of cut-throats,
designated as the ''Robbcrs Roost
gang The canyons of the Green and
Grand rivers have been regarded rs
merely the beginning OF the widely
famed CANYONS OF the Colorado river
concerning which much OF romantic
nature has been written, and only the
few hunters who ventured few miles
down the streams have appreciated The
wonders of the scenery there. The
stories which they told have been
classed as hot air. put up FOR the
benefit OF gullible tourists. Invcstlga-
ton. however, proves the contrary.
Al least 10000 acres of fertile land
available for intensive fruit culture
lie along the canyons of the Green
river alone The same number of acres
can hc utilized along the shores ot the
Grand river, bv including the valley
lands of the Indian Creek. Within the
confines of the Moab valley there are
already being developed 10000 acres
of productive SOIL making Il total OF
more than 10000 acres which are I'M
mediately available for agricultural par
poses and which have been visited re-
Gently during n trip occupying less than
Two weeks, with party of salt Lakers
in two small boats.
On the trip. which was begun at
Green River City. November -. and
completed November %, with the ar
rival Of the party at Moab, were the
real estate firm OF Anderson Il Gum
mines: C. a. GRAY, H. s 5chofeld. +.
d. Il. Thompson, registrar OF the United
States land Office in Salt Lake City;
w. y. Griffin OF Salt Lake City. for
mcrlY an Ohio river pilot. and IL. |.
guests OF i. G.. WINNER a prominent
Janchmam Of the Green river country,
h. r. Merritt and A. II. Bjrrell of Salt
Lake City,
Start for Moab,
Messrs WINNER. Griffin and Bowles,
in small rowboats under the guidance
OF Harry Howland and Norval VOL
verton, two experienced trappers and
river men, left Green River City in
tending 10 reach the ranch of Mr.. VIM
mcr. located about thirty miles down
stream that night and wait for the
rest Of the party which was TO follow
IN the gasoline motor boat Utah The
boats. heavily loaded with traps and
baggage, were moved with diff
Guilty in the slow current. TIC Brown
rifle. the Moore rifle. Butterfly bend
and the Anger rapids were passed with
out accident. the lottle boats riding the
waves Of the rapids lightly and shoot
Jug quickly past The dangerous spots
10 smooth waters lower down. The
Tom Farrer rifle q few miles further
down was also accomplished with ease,
thanks to the skill OF the boatmen. The
recently developed fruit lands at
Peacharosa, formerly known as Little
valley, where several thousands Of
acres Of peach trees have been planted
and Will be ready 10 bear IN three
years, came next; then a stretch OF
quiet water for about six miles and the
small crafi were caught by the rapid
currents of the Gimlet. which were
safely passed. and camp was pitched
al the foot Of the cliffs lust below
The motor boat was more than due
and had moi appeared. II was after
ward learned that she had struck Il
number OF hidden rocks on the Brown
rifle and that the passengers had
wadcd ashore aud returned TO Green
River. They drove from there 10 the
WINNER ranch "Wednesday afternoon
where preparations were again made
for the dash through the big box can
you further down. The three small
hoats ACCOMPLISHED the remainder o,
the trip 20 the ranch without difficulty
nnd reached there al about noon or
Wednesday
Tic repairing Of the motor boat UtaI
and other necessary prcparatIonS occu
nicd Thursday and Friday and mem
heis OF the party utilized he time il
visiting the different ranches in th'
vicinity and viewing the scenic won
1crs of the locality. DR., Short anc
McSsrs. Strohauer and Younp, who nc
rompanicd the party from Salt Lake
left the party here and drove back i'