222 J. A. lATCHA 



and iron, the day will come — and at no distant time — when 

 Colorado, Utah and Nevada, with their gold, silver, coal, and 

 iron, will be the richest territory in the world. But such a 

 wonderful transformation will be possible only when our people 

 shall bend their energies toward opening and developing the 

 resources of these states. 



But Colorado, Utah, and Nevada have boundless possi- 

 bilities of development in addition to their mineral resources. 

 Thirty seven years ago the writer traversed southern California ; 

 finding it a sage brush waste, with lands worth, if marketable 

 at all, not more than 50 cents per acre. Los Angeles, the 

 metropolis of southern California, then contained about 

 4,000 souls. Twelve years ago, a second visit was made to 

 the land of the sun; and a third, eight years ago. A grand 

 transformation had taken place in the appearance and wealth 

 of California. The utilization of water from the mountain 

 streams had made that waste region the home of the rose 

 the lily, and luscious fruits. 



The development of Colorado and of Utah began years 

 ago; but the greatest growth has been in the last fifteen 

 years, owing to the opening up of those states by railroads. 

 Abundance of water exists in Colorado ; and of many portions 

 of Utah the same is true. In those states irrigation has pro- 

 duced marvellous results. Vegetables are grown there 

 superior to those produced in almost any other portion of 

 the United States. Corn, equal to the best cultivated in 

 Iowa or Kansas, can be grown in the irrigated valleys. Within 

 a few years past, the annual apple festival of Caiion City has 

 become famous throughout the Rocky mountain regions. 

 In very few portions of California can a good peach be growTi; 

 but that fruit, equalling the best grown in Delaware, is pro- 

 duced in abundance in Grand River Valley and in other por- 

 tions of Colorado; and Utah produces just as good. Southern 

 Utah, too, can produce fine grapes, prunes, other fruits, and 

 cotton. 



Nevada is not so well supplied with water as are Utah 

 and Colorado; but the high mountain ranges of the southern 

 portion of that state offer ample encouragement to the seeker 

 of the fruits of the soil. Those mountains are the birthplace 



