Gunnison news-champion., 1922-01-06
LIvEgr0CK. Hay. MINING AND
He,NJ,sMnsGA HGN;iHMGA1ED rARAS nAkE
vast District Tuning e laooo Fat
Seeers Yearly: WIKI Rich Mines OF
Netals sna CeaEKneWs Nething
OF Hard Tiaes

(Contannsd freD Ffrse Paesl
winter feed for the herds our most
important agricultural industry, di-
verified farming il becoming more
and more pr1cticed. and our ooil and
climate are found well adapted for
potatoes, grain and similiar products.
Dry Farning Saccess Il s.eee Feet.
A surprising sgricultural develop
ment Of recent years has been the
dry farming homesteads which now
dot the mesas and valleys that . short
time ago were SUPPOSED to be useless
unless put under expensive irrigation
systems. While Gunnison county is
known far and wide as . land Of un-
limited water for irrigation, there are
vast tracts suitable for grain raising
that are now proven to require no ir-
rigation. At between 5000 and 1000
feet, the belt where most Of the nom
irrigated homesteads are being taken:
our annual precipitation In rain and
ample, II properly conserved to grow
most crops, and the climate rs q rule
insures July and August rains TO
mature the grains into plump and
salable seed.
Over 100000 acres Of such land has
been filed upon during the last two
years, trebling the private ownership
Of agricultural land. Yet out Of a
county twice the size of Delaware.
there are still large tracts suitable
for such homesteads where not only
is success with grain assured, but
where the ranch home can be built
close to springs and living streams
and in immediate proximity to un-
limited timber, advantages which the
dry farms Of the plains must often do
without.
Here, as elsewhere, the precious
metal mining industry has languished
for a period, but now shows signs of
reviving. A number of excellent
properties, former producers, have
been leased by responsible mining
men, notably the Gold Links Of Ohio
City, q property developed by the
late A. Z. Reynolds. Adjoining this
is the Raymond tunnel, which will
also be opened this summer, while in
the same territory is the Carter tun-
mel extending over 5000 feet and de-
lveloping several excellent veins, some
of which are already leased and some
to be operated by the Carter COM
pany in 1922. The Augusta at Crest
ed Butte, the Headlight and Vulcan
at Spencer, the Maid Of Athens at
Pine and many others are preparing
to open for the coming season.
Produces Much Anthracite Coal
The coal mining industry is an inn
! portant one In Gunnison county. Our
three principal coal mining towns OF
Crested Butte, Baldwin and Somerset
maintain one-third Of the population
and q large part of the wealth and
business activities Of this section.
From Crested Butte hard coal mines
comes the main production Of anthra-
cite coal west of Pennsylvania. II is
shipped us far east as the Mississippi
river before il meets the product OF
the eastern mines. No figures OF
hard and soft coal production for 1921
are vet available, but the product has
been steady and Of the usual volume,
employing over 500 men in the three
carnps. Only 225 men in the C. +. 4
I. mine at Crested Butte were Affect
cd by the recent strike, and these men
have very largely returned to work
on December 20.
Gunnison county citizens have from
the first taken leading interest in
road building. Thru the city runs
the Rainbow Route, extending que
west from Salida to Montrose. THIS
great highway for the tourist and the
business man is being rebuilt and sur,
faced with diintegrated granite ana
gravel. Besides the beautiful Mon,
areh pass crossing of the continental
divide, which was opened last jury
after an expenditure of over two nun
dred thousand dollars in government
constructions; our alternate route.
crossing of the divide in the state
This fine road is open most OF the
winter when other passes are showed
tieht. Cochetopa pass was open as
\ highway until late Dec. this season. 4
and is generally ready for trave! by
Auyil first. A new road west from
! Gunnisou has this year been compiet.
ed by the state, running by way OF
! Crested Butte to Paonia, Hotchkiss
and Delta. Our citizens are now in.
tensely interested in q proposed short
route 70 the capital, which Is possible
via either Alpine or Cottonwood
passes to Buena Vista and thence over
the Midland roadbed and the South
Platte 10 Denver, making the distance
200 instead Of 300 miles by automo-
bile.
State Normal Attracts Student Bsdy
The city Of Gunnison boasts the
only state educational institution IN
the western portion Of Colorado. The
State Normal College, the building OF
which was begun in 1910, was opened
the next year to students. The first
ten years Of growth have shown faster
progress than any other college OF
COLORADO during its infancy. Over 500
students attended the summer quarter
Of 1921 and 1856 are enrolled as resi-
dent students in the regular winter
term now in session. The summer
sesson In this remarkable mountain
climate ct an elevation Of 5000 feet,
is particularly attractive to students
who mu4 otherwise swelter in the
hest Of eastern cities. A full thou