Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-09-25
THE WONDERFUL San Juan
An Interesting Letter from New Mex
icO's Richest Agricultural District
Describing Ancient Ruins
and Crops.
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION Is NEEDED
Products Now Hauled to Market by
Teams Over Long Distances-Road
Projected from Albuquerque
to Durango.
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION is NEEDED

lies Farmlngton, the metropolis OF one
of the richest agricultural sections of the
Rocky mountain region. In making ths
trip into this Eden, one leaves Durango
and follows the beautiful Las Animae
river to the southwest, but before reach
ing this place many points of interest are
passed which are worthy of some men
tion.
The first impression made upon the
travellers mind, after riding some four
miles, is that the government has pro-
vided the Ute Indians with exceptionally
good lands, and as the reservation be-
comes better known, that impression
| deepens. For Is miles the way leads
through fine valley, with many acres of
| desirable bottom and mesa land that
might be made to yield rich returns.
The orchards and fields south of the
reservation are more than convincing
on this point. One may have due re-
spect for the noble red man and desire
to see him we'll cared for, but at the same
time cannot fail to note the little use he
makes of Uncle Sans donations. For
donations they surely are. This reserva
tion, situated as 1t is in the heart of one
of the finest portions of Colorado, ham,
pers the settlers on either side of it,
retards the advent of railroad transporta-
tion, and from the Indians natural
autipathy~to tilling the soil much valu-
able land is going to waste.
The time has certainly come when the
Ute Indians should have farms allotted
to each family, and the balance of land
thrown open to settlement.
As soon as the traveller passes the res
ervation line he enters into new field OF
prosperity, as we'll as into the promising
territory of New Mexico.
Here the valley of the Apimas wldens
and the eye is gratified to gaze upon the
green fields of alfalfa, wheat and corn,
and every home surrounded by well
loaded orchard. Crossing the river and
following the stream on its southern
| journey the traveller comes to the town
of Aztec, the county seat of San Juan
county. Here the luscious fruit you are
urged to help yourself to and the hum OF
the busy bee are suggestive of days rest
in the land of plenty.
Early next morning ones curiosity is
aroused by numerous four horse teams
loaded down to their utmost with the
fruit of the Pennington district en- route
to their nearest railway point-Durango
some 55 miles distant.
The name Aztec is derived from the old
Aztec ruins across the river. Their state
of preservation is remarkable, partially
due to the superstition of the Navajo and
other Indians that have inhabited these
sections, that they must not molest OIL
enter their houses. Of recent years the
white mans persistent search for hidder
treasures of pottery and relics has done
much to make them actual ruins. There
are many things about these ruins thai
not only make speculative history, bu
establish facts beyond doubt, TO this
day their lrrigating bitches can be readily
traced over the valley, showing that il
years gone by the country was under {
state of cultivation. Their pottery shows
advanced civilization over other Indiar
tribes, evidently at war with them. Tht
material used IN construction of thei
houses is evidence that the country hal
materially changed, or that they brough
building material, such as heavy ceda
logs, from distance of many miles.
Proceeding on our way it is not Ions
before attention is called to the ruins o
the cliff dwellers, another style of Indian
fortifiication so different from the Aztec
that one can not help but draw conclu
sions that they were at war aginst eacl
other.
These two tribes have disappeared AM
Chief Ouray's mode of expressing tn
length of time the ruins have remaine
: the same are of as much authority as any
"Heap big time, seven boys back" mean
ing seven generations. The Navajoe
have held undisputed possession of thei
reservation for 600 years and seem t.
know nothing of the cliff dwellers an
Aztecs.
Every ranchman has curiosity sho
on his own ranch. One ranchman wit
more eye to business than poetry ha
turned what was once the proud abode G
a.lordly Indian chief into a delightft
coal ceIler.
Arriving in the vicinity of Farmingtol
one is impressed with the luxuriar
growth Of everything as is found in
tropical cline. 1t is surely the "souther +
California" of the, territory, for nowhel
else does fruit of all kinds reach such pc
fection. Apples of all varieties are b.
yond criticism, peaches, pears, neotarine 9
spricots, persimmons, prunes, plums, a
monds and ell berries cannot be su
passed.
There are many orchards Of which sp
I cial mention might be made. One tel
acre apple orchard will yield 10000
n pounds, while 100 year old pear tre'
will yield 5000 pounds. Another orc
ard Of 40 acres has ten acres Of 15 ye'
old trees. ten acres of IL year old, ten
and ten of 4 year old with not a sing
missing tree.
The writer was given the last of Il
4 fruit of "Prunus Simona" tree, Whit
had as fine flavor as one could ask. II
freeness from insects and vorms, Il
perfection of skin and regularity, shaI
and size are particularly noticeable
the apple crop.
There is no accurate estimation of q
crop or acreage in San Juan count
Every farmer has from two to GO acres
orchard. Pork is scarce, but what the
is should be choice, for Mr.. Porker
lord of all he surveys and no peach, PEI
or apple is too good for his appetite.
Alfalfa grows luxuriantly and yiel
from five to six tons per season of thr
cuttings at an average price of about
in the stack. Wheat is fine. we'll fill
and will yield from 25 to 85 bushels p
acre, bringing the producer from $1.16
Sl.26 per GENITAL. One would not expe
to find large fields OF corn yielding fro
40 to IS bushels per acre, nevertheless
can be seen here.
One OF the industries that every farm