The Delta independent., 1919-12-26

industry being represented by Luther |
Collins. G. W. Goodwin, Charles Lem
mon, Ed. Pitts and Henry Lupher OF |
tho upper valley. and John Campbell |
and Ira Morrow of the lower valley.
The bee industry is thriving in this |
valley. While there are many small
aDiaries those OF Frank Drexeli, John
vanEngen, Mart Rhodes and J. Lamb |
ertson are OF such size as to place |
their owners among the authorities
on the bee raising business. Mr.. Drex-
ell and Mr.. VanEngen both give their
entire time to the industry. We would
Ike to be able to give detailed re-
port of this industry, but will content
ourselves with passing on the word
Of some of these representative men
In the business that this season has
been very good year for their indus
Try, in fact. slightly above the aver
aee. They report that the honey
Yield was about 100 pounds spring
measure to the stand, Of very fine
quality and Is commanding . little
above the average price. Mr.. Van
hagen reports a total yield for this
season of 33.600 pounds. the average
OF 130 pounds per stand. All our bee
men report their bees as going into
winter quarters In fine condition.
which is the first step toward a good
year for the inductry in 1920.
Crawford n Business Center
Business conditions in Crawford
have been extremely good the past
year. This has been evidenced by
Improvement in both variety and quail
ity of goods Offered for sale.
The improvements in equipment has
been necessary to meet the increased
demands for goods, and the further i'm
provements contemplated in the very
near future by number Of aur inter
prising merchants show the spirit of
progress and prosperity that charac-
tertzes our town.
Since the first store, established
soon after the evacution of the valley
by the indians, the growth and devel-
opment of the mercantile institutions
of the Smith Fork section has been on
times shown a healthy growth With
business coming from the entire sec
tion of Black mesa and Fruitland mesa
on the south, and the adobe hills near
Hotchkiss and Paonia on the north;
from the Black canyon on the west
to the divide between Smith Fork and
Curricanti on the east, we find a sec
ton of more than 400 square miles
tributary to Crawford as a business
g. ,De SI<x~ ri
volume of trade from the transients
coming across Black mesa during the
summer months which is destined to
increase as the automobile road over
the mesa is gradually being improved.
and people are more and more realiz
ing the grandeur Of the scenery in
this section.
The original mercantile establish.
ment in Crawford was situated on the
hank OF Smith Fork and consisted OF
. store and blacksmith shop. This
was IN time abandoned for a better
location and building, and at the pres
ent time there are three general stores
carrying a very complete line of dry
goods. groceries, furnishings, hard
ware, etc. one farming machinery and
supply house. a drug store carrying a
stock as complete as can be found in
any town or city on the Western Slope
and two blacksmith shops whose an
wills ring all day long, an up to date
hotel. a real estate and insurance Of
flee. a barber shop. pool hall moving
picture hall. two cream and produce
stations, a bank. tin shop. feed mill.
planning mill. beekeepers supplies fac
tory. and a newspaper. And to this
list OF institutions we would not fail
to add. splendid school building offer
ing the full grades and high school
courses, and also church as progress
sive and efficient as can be found in
any rural section, and the superior of
many.
The people Of the section are pros
porous in the main, and are Intensely
loyal to their local instltntfons, as is
evidenced by our bank which was es.
tablished only a few years ago. and
which has grown to be one of the
strongest banking institutions in the
county. And we may pause to say
this of our bank management, they are
very accommodating to their custom.
ers. and are quick to realize the op-
portunities offered for, the develop
ment Of both themselves and the best
interests of the valley. We predict
for this Institution rapid future
growth.
It II BY the complete cooperation
of the residents Of the valley and the
businesB institutions OF the town that
the wonderful development Of the past
hns been brought about. and It 10 this