FRUIT LANDS. 



IN THE GRAND RIVER COUNTRY. 



IjlRUIT growing, it is thought, will be a prominent indus- 

 try in Grand River Valley, as it lies in the same belt with 

 the best California and Utah fruit-growing sections. The 

 altitude is 4,500 feet, and the climate is one of the best 

 But twice did snow fall at Grand Junction during the winter 

 of 1881-82. Water is found at a depth of 30 to 40 feet, 

 coal adjoins the town site, lime and sand rock are abundant, 

 and it would seem as if this fair town had a bright future 

 before it as the center of a fruit and grain growing country. 

 When we look at Greeley, Fort Collins, Longmont, and re- 

 member what they were ten years ago, we can well imagine 

 that towns as fair and prosperous and communities as thriv- 

 ing and as happy will be found in the next decade in this 

 valley where of late only the dusky Indian's feet were 

 treading, and his gutteral voice was heard, making discord- 

 ant echoes in the wilderness. Now the early morning light 

 of pioneerism is breaking over the valley, to be followed 

 shortly by the bright beams of the rising sun of civilization. 

 In an article on the Fruit Lands of the Future, written 

 by D. S. Grimes, and published in the Colorado Fanner, 

 September 2ist, 1882, he says: "The new Colorado, of 

 which the fertile valleys of the Uncompahgre, Gunnison 

 and Grand rivers form a part, offer to the fruit grower ad- 

 vantages in markets, soil, climate and water found nowhere 

 else in the .State. In the Grand River Valley especially, 

 peaches, quinces and apricots can be grown, as well as 

 apples, pears, plums, cherries and small fruits. In the cul- 



