| OCR Text |
Show 5 the valley of the Gunnison River south across the area from Grand Junction. Railroad-shipping facilities are provided by the main Denver to Salt Lake City route of the Denver and Rio Grande We stern Railroad Company along the valley of the Colorado River. A branch line follows the valley of the Gunnison River to Montrose, affording convenient shipping points for the southern part of the area. State highways and numerous county roads complete the system of transportation. Climate Climate varies with altitude, but the area as a whole is semiarld with temperate summers and winters. ^At the lower altitudes snowfall is moderate, and snow seldom remains on the ground long, in spite of temperatures well below zero. Along the valley of the Colorado River eastward from Grand Junction warm days and cool nights are the rule in summer, and the raising of fruit, particularly peaches, is an important industry. The Uncompaghre Plateau and Grand Mesa with altitudes of 9,500 and 10,000 feet have snow from about October to May, and snow banks do not melt completely much before July. No great difficulty is encountered in mining or other activities through winter and summer. |
