The Delta independent., 1923-02-23
Are
Many In This
Fertile Section
BY d. C. HARDING

kiss is located on the North
Fork of the Gunnison river,
ten miles from its mouth. and
near the center OF Delta county. The
town was incorporated about thirty
five years ago and has grown from a
barren waste of sage and chico brush
to an abode of beautiful homes sur
rounded by shade trees. flowers and
shrubbery, pretty lawns and prolific
gardens. Substantial business blocks
have taken the place of old time
adobe shacks: large churches and
school houses costing thousands of
dollars. have been created where lit
tie log cabins once stood. Cow trails
have been enlarged to wide expansive
streets with broad cement side walks.
Hotchkiss is inhabited with an educat-
ed and prosperous class of people
noted for their intelligence. refine
ment and liberality. Our commercial
interests are represented by nearly
every branch of trade necessary to a
wide awake and progressive commun-
ity.
The source of our domestic water
supply heads in the high mountains
northeast of town and originates from
immense snow banks and living
springs: ice cold and clear as crystal.
and is led to the city by a pipe line
about ten miles in length from La
Roux Creek. one of our great irriga-
ton waterways. The entire water
system. including a big reservoir, re-
presents an expenditure of about
s100.000.00. We also have n sewer
system equal to many towns with n
much greater population. rendering
our sanitary condition highly salts
factory.
Our electric light system, which has
proved to be n big asset and conven-
ience to the community. Is somewhat
subject to criticism, but the defects
will no doubt be remedied in the near
future by a nominal outlay OF money
and more judicial management
Our present population numbers
about 1900. showing gradual in
crease, which leads us to believe 1t
will double in number within the next
five years. providing we can get the
many new Industries which our town
and surrounding country demands.
Many undeveloped resources lie dor.
ing untold wealth and prosperity. One
of our greatest needs is canning
factory and evaporator to utilize the
hundreds OF tons OF apples and peach
es going to waste annually; also a
vinegar factory to convert the Gull
apples into a product which means
money. Another enterprise which
would prove remunerative is brick
yards. considering the mountains OF
shale at either end of our city limits
and the easy access to water. sand
and railroad facilities. A broom fac
tory and sorghum mills could not
prove otherwise than profitable. not
only to the investors but to the farm
ers growing the broom corn and sugar
cane. II has been claimed by grow
ers in other localities that the seed
from both cane and broom corn fed to
chickens and hogs will pay the actual
expense of the growing. Thousands
OF dollars are expended annually by
the people Of Hotchkiss and vicinity
for many products shipped in that
could be produced right here at home.
Our great coal deposits north OF us
have only been developed to slight
extent; geologists familiar with oil
formations state that they are fully
confident the time is not far distant
when an oil basin of no small proper
tions will be discovered in this part of
Delta county. This section OF the
country is underlaid with deposit of
volcanic ash many feet in depth which
has proved to be very fertile. being
valuable asset to the soil. especially
in growing fruit trees and alfalfa or
any other plant or tree. the roots OF
which penetrate this great natural
fertilizer.
We are Justly proud of our consol-
idated school system with the fine
equipment available for transferring
the rural children to and from their
homes; the large commodious modern
school buildings together with high
ly competent and intelligent school
faculty, all reflect happiness. prosper
ity and independence for the several
hundred pupils now In attendance.
Our several churches have constant
ly grown in membership until the pre-
sent congregations compare favorably
49, - vSlt