Across Eastern Utah and Colorado, Chapters I-II [pp. 247-256]

Across Eastern Utah and Colorado.
Grand Junction that is likely to rob Colora do of its hitherto distinctive characteristic of
being solely a mineral and a mining re gion, for the recent settlers in the western
limits of the State are purely agriculturists.
In near vicinity to the town, there are ex tended grazing fields, and the more shel tered and secluded sections are particularly
adapted for farms.
Before the railway pushed its way west ward over snowy heights, through deep
cafons and across wide plains, the State
depended entirely for its reputation on the
mines that had been discovered and work ed. Colorado was essentially a mining
State. Men flocked to it for its gold, and
the railway was built primarily for the sole
purpose of reaching the various and scattered
mining camps. Now all has changed. While
the main line of the road still forms a verita ble network over the entire State-climbing
high ranges, penetrating narrow canions, enter ingfertile valleys —it hasreached onelong arm
westward into what was once the Ute Indian
Reservation, but which is now one of the
best known and the more generally settled
sections of the entire country. Grand Junc tion, Delta, and Montrose are all new towns,
dating back not more than two or three years,
but they all have enjoyed a steady growth,
and today are centers of the new agricultur al interest of the State. Western Colorado is
still in its infancy, so far as real development
goes; but the progress that has already been
made-and it is considerable-has been due,
not to mines, not to speculation, not to in fluence, but rather to the fact that the land
is rich and productive, the area for cattle
raising extended, and the climate particular ly adapted to the farmer and the stockman.
What was once the County of Gunnison, but
has been lately subdivided into several coun ties, is larger in extent than Massachusetts
and Connecticut together. It lies west of the
Rocky Mountains and on the Pacific slope
of the country, and may be best described
as an immense table land, enjoying an aver age location of from 3,000 to 5,000 feet
above sea-level, containing a succession of
long, wide valleys that extend among flat topped mesas. Along the north-western lim
its of the county flows the Grand River, containing an unlimited supply of water that is
now being used for irrigation, and through
the county flow the Uncompahgre and
Gunnison Rivers, giving their respective
names to two of the best known valleys in
the middle West. The Valley of the Uncompahgre River, especially, is a farmers'
paradise. The winters there are free from
snow; the soil, of a light loam, is most productive; and the river supplies all the water
that is necessary to properly irrigate the land.
Before the Utes were removed to their
present reservation in Utah, they had their
home in the Uncompahgre Valley, and their
largest encampment was near where the town
of Montrose now stands. Old Ouray, the
chief of the tribe, had his farm here, and the
tents of his people dotted the surrounding
country. All trace of the natives is lost at
present, however. The whites have driven
out the old-time residents, and a new town,
prosaic and crude, and freshly laid out farms
fill the region.
But the views remain; the vistas of grandeur have not been and never can be disturbed. The valley is not a garden yet.
Much remains to be done before cultivation
will be everywhere. But the scenery is perfect. Away to the south and to the south
west tower the rugged heights of the San
Juan range, lifting their massive shoulders
capped with never-melting snow high toward
a sky of deepest blue. Northward from the
river, hugging a yellow line of bluffs that
drop down from the tablelands stretching
back into the country, other heights appear
in sight, serrated and boldly outlined, looking down upon the sheltered vale. One visiting the valley for the first time is oppressed
by the grandeur that is present. The ruggedness and the massiveness of the ranges
overpower him. The valley is too vast and
long and wide to be taken in at once, but
acquaintance discloses the charms of the
place. The coloring is varied and exquisite.
Yellow sands stretch about red-hued rocks;
the distant ranges are blue; the river, winding through green fields, or over grayish
white ones, glistens in the strong sunlight.
One breathes freer in the unobstructed re
1885.]
253