The Delta independent., 1924-09-05
JOSEPH ROLLINS WRITES
FROM ODD FELLOWS HOME


Delta County:
/ left your fair city on August 19, for
the Odd Fellows home at Canon City
where | am pleased to say / received
hearty welcome, especially from the
young folks who are inmates of the
home. The five weeks | passed in
Delta were among the happiest of my
life. ! met with several things that
not only pleased but surprised me.
One of these was the wonderful
growth that Delta and Cedaredge have
made in the past fifteen years. Fine
residences, business blocks and public
school buildings you have; the latter
would be a credit to any city three
times the size of Delta.
The second surprise occurred upon
leaving Delta on a trip to Alexander
lakes and this was the the fine condi-
tion of your county roads How the
good citizens of Delta county have ever
achieved this miracle is still a source
of wonderment to me. For the bene-
fit of newcomers to Delta let an old
timer explain that 20 years ago to
make a trip to the lakes it was
good policy to leave Delta at or
o'clock in the morning and if it did
not rain or your team play out you
might arrive at the lakes intine to
make camp for the night Walter
Beckley and left Delta at o'clock,
went to the lakes, had dinner and
caught 35 of the speckled beauties,
then having ample time to return to
Delta before dark II we had wished.
Your fine new bridge across the Gun
nison is another big improvement. Yes.
it is nearly as convenient as the old
scow we had in early days upon which
we could cross If the water was not
too high or the boat out of commission,
in which case We could ford or go
home and wait until we could cross.
Then l take note OF your sugar factory.
your packing plant and other indus
tries and l note the prices paid and
compare them with the 81 per ton for
beets and first cutting Of hay with no
sale for second or third cutting in the
early days. You lucky lucky farmers
Of Delta. 1t is no surprise to me that
You have bank accounts and ride in
automobiles but it Is a mystery how
those old timers managed to exist at
all
Now ! wish to say a few words to
the citizens OF Delta generally to show
my appreciation OF their treatment Of
me while in Delta. When I arrived in
Delta ! was able to do so through the
courtesy Of Delta Lodge No. l16. I. @.
o. F. ] was met at the station by
members OF the lodge who gave me
TO understand that Delta was mine
and that could do as pleased while
there and from that time on It was one
continuous round of pleasure. The
lodge not only betrayed my expenses
but presented me with a 25-year vet
Grams Jewel This is an emblem that
any member may be proud to receive.
My friends among the old timers and
| their descendants who were school
/ children when I left Delta who have
since grown up and married were
! prompt in giving me the right hand in
a friendly grip which is the hand Of
friendship and in their invitations to
visit with them at their homes. Had
II been possible to accept all of them
/ would not have left Delta when I
did and my room here would still be
vacant
Now my dear friends at Delta. 7 can
simply say that my trip to your fair
/ city was to me as the oasis on the
desert TO the weary traveller who looks
forward with pleasure to the time
when we shall reach its shade and
looks backward with regret that he is
compelled to leave so charming a
place. We're is possible for you TO
receive all the good things in life
which 1t is my wish you might receive
you would say as | now say. What
a blessing II is to be alive" In Friend
ship, in Love and in Truth | bid you
goodby until we meet again.
Joseph Rollins.
!. O. q. F Home. Canon Citv