The Glenwood post., 1911-02-25

Perhaps the most excellent and pra:-
tcal address delivered at the annual
county "joy feed" given at Rifle Wed
nesday evening was that by Karl A.
Bickel, editor of the Grand Junction
Daily News on the subject "Work for
the Western Slope - The article
should strike responsive chord in the
heart of every western slope booster
breathing as it does the spirit of loyal
ty to the entire western slope section
and it is with the hope that such may
be the effect of this article that it is
printed here in full. Mr.. Bickel's ar
ticle is as follows:
There is work and plenty of it be-
fore the boosters of the Western Slope
Half of the joy of living in this glor
ious Western Slope of ours is in know
ing that there is this work to do, Of
anticipating our victories, of seeing
with the prophetic eye, that distin-
guishes the booster, the spendor of
our final accomplishment, of plotting
and planning to avoid defeat
United we of the western slope can
accomplish the tasks that we have
grappled with. Divided, antagonistic,
homeopathic we must continue to
limp where we should jump, attain but
half where we should have whole
loaf.
! want to preach to you tonight
upon the theme of United Western
Slope. Practically speaking the west
ern slope comprises the four great
counties of Garfield Mesa, Montrose
and Delta. These four counties by
virtue of a similarity of soil. products,
industries and ambitions, have much
the same problems to face, the same
obstacles to overcome. The great
rivers of the Gunnison and the Grand
bind us together into one community
of 10000 persons.
1 have but little patience with those
narrow souls who can see no farther
than their own door lot, who cou't
it victory to drive home seeker to
Oregon rather than see him locate in
an adjoining valley. The time has
come for a broader outlook and more
comprehensive ideal of what real con
structive boosting means. The man
who would "knock' Garfield county
to make a sale in Mesa is as great an
enemy of Mesa as of Garfield. Every
man who locates in Garfield directly
contributes to the prosperity of Mesa
perity of Grand Junction and Mesa
county reacts and brings prosperity to
Garfield. You cannot build prosper
GUS and enduring community by suck
ing the life and blood from your sister
counties or cities. And the real, loyal
and earnest booster of Western Colo
RADIO appreciates this fact
can for one and one for all" should
be our slogan. The pre-eminent prob
lem before the Western Slope is the
attainment of population. Population
means increased production. increased
production means greater per capita
wealth. Population attracts additional
capital which means additional develop
ment and additional development means
more population. Its an endless chain
running around two wheels and, we
the boosters of the Western Slope,
must supply the motive force to keep
that chain in motion.
The world is large and the Western
Slope is small patch upon it. Sin
gly, individually, as cities or counties,
the task of keeping the work up stead
lily and persistently, and unless it is
done it fails, is heavy burden. Left
to ourselves the chain slackens, the
wheels falter and run by jumps and
starts and often stop altogether
sometimes just at that propitious mo-
ment when they should be driving at
highest speed and attaining the great
est results.
The great land shows in the east
which have been held during the past
two years have demonstrated this need