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Show Stock Feeding Industry Big Asset to the Valley- With the announcement of the final arrangements for making Gunnison Valley one of the largest stock feeding feed-ing centers in the west and the fact that some 25,000 head of lambs and old ewes will be fattened here during dur-ing the coming winter, the valley takes another step towards real progression. pro-gression. The negotiations pending; between the Gunnison Valley Bank and P. A. Delmue, of Riverton, and one of the largest feeders in the state, were brought to a final Monday when arrangements were completed to start the big project at once. The lambs and ewes have already been contracted and some time next week work on remodeling the alfalfa meal mill at Centerfield will be started, it is announced. Mr. Delmue, who is perhaps more familiar with feeding than any other stockman in the state, has made a close study of the local situation : id on a recent visit, and after ma'- ns a close study of conditions, hao rio hesitancy in saying that this valley offered far better opportunities for feeding than any other place he had visited. With the vast tonnage of falfa on the farms and with the meal mill and with the pulp and syrup that can be had from the Gunnison j Valley sugar com.oany7 lant. the conditions are ideal. In Audition to using the local feeds it is planned to , ship in corn and barley and the com-j com-j bination gives assurance of turning , out splendid stock for the packing I houses who are daily seeking this i quality of meat. Mr. Delmue stated that the climatic conditions were an ! added feature but emphasized the fact that the farms would greatly benefit by the fertilization that would accure from the feeding. At present there is a surplus tonnage ton-nage of hay and the same conditions j can be found throughout the west. ! With the feeding on here and with , many of the farmers backing up the j proposition by signing for 500 to 1500 sheep splendid results are sure to follow. Owing to the fact that the project was started late, and the cn-j cn-j thusiasm so pronounced, that many i were disappointed this year. IIow-' IIow-' ever, the plans are to be broadened ! and next year it is believed that fully ful-ly 75,000 head or more sheep will bo contracted for to be fattened on Gunnison Gun-nison Valley feedstuffs for the packing pack-ing houses. Some time next week workmen will be on the ground and the alfalfa I meal mill, which has ben idle for many years past, will undergo complete com-plete renovation. The plant, when installed, in-stalled, was one of the most modern in the western country and its capacity capac-ity is sufficient to care for all the needs in feeding 100,000 or more head of stock. However, some changes will be made and conveniences will be ridded rid-ded and it will be put in first class shape for the grinding, of alfalfa, which is to be fed to the stock. J. W. Jones, cashier; O. B. Berir-lund, Berir-lund, president; and Wm. Metcalf, I vice-president of the Gunnison Valley j Bank, and who have been largely in-I in-I strumental in inaugurating the feeding feed-ing industry in the valley, are highly enthusiastic over the results thus fur obtained. Yesterday Mr. Jones stated that everything was in readiness from a financial standpoint and that just, as soon as possible some 25,000 ; ad of shep would be shipped to tin valley val-ley and distributed about the va-i jus farms. "It looks mighty good," said Mr. Jo7ies, "and the starter is highly encouraging. Iverything is wor'.-Wig out splendidly and next year w- .x-j .x-j pect to have a 1000 or more sheep on j every vtvailable farm in the valley. The new industry will not only be a big boon to the farmers who raise ha'y, but'; the lands will be greatly benefitted as a result of the fertili-j fertili-j zation and the business men and all will share in the prosperity that will ' surely come." |