Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-04-20

COLONY ENTERPRISES.

| Mainly as the result of the work of the
local board of immigration, several col
Onies of eastern farmers have recently
completed arrangements to settle in the
county, and good many of the thrifty
and progressive people composing the
same are already on the ground. Among
these may be mentioned the colony of
Missourians, headed by DR.. J. J. Risk
Of Memphis, Mo. The promoters of this
colony have already expended at least
$1,000 in making surveys, and have Sc
cured filings and options on a number
of ranches, and are now at work con-
structing ditch of their own that will
cost about 100000, and it is expected
that fully fifty families will settle there
on. Another colony Of fourteen fami-
lies has located and bought lands on
the north side of the San Juan and COM
pleted ditch for watering the same.
This colony will expend about $45, 900 in
lands and bitches. These are merely H.
Illustrative. Other colonies are coming In
as soon as desirable locations are Sc
cured
GROWTH AND PRODUCT.
Taxes are low, the bonded indebted
ness of the county is small, and the ac-
cruing interest thereon Is always
promptly paid. The improvements in
the principal towns of Aztec, Farming
ton, Fruitland and Cedar Grove, as we'll
as on the different ranches, are neat
and substantial, and betoken a high or
der of intelligence. prudence and enter
prise among the people. Aztec, the
county seat. Is situated on the beauti-
full Animas river, in the very heart Of
the richest fruit and agricultural belt,
flanked on either side by the fertile San
Juan and La Plata valleys, and has
more than doubled in population during
the past two years. 1t Is we'll built,
brick, stone and adobe being the mate
rials principally used, and nearly all
lines of business are represented. 1t
boasts a two-story brick public school
building, commodious churches, and is
to have a normal school in September.
One of the territorial experimental sta
tions is located there, involving an out
lay of $500 for buildings and grounds.
A roller flour mill of fifty barrels ca
pacity per day, equipped with modern
machinery and operated by splendid
water power obtained from an irrigat-
ing canal, is late addition to the en-
terprises of Aztec. Harrington. situat-
ed just above the junction of the AMI
mas and San Juan rivers, is also
fiourishing trading point, provided with
good schools and churches.
A RAILROAD NEEDED.
The great need of the county Is a
railroad extending from Durango Colo,
to some point on the Santa Fe system
south, thus affording two outlets for its
various products. 1t is estimated that
such a road would at present command
at least ten cars Of outgoing traffic, in
Guiding hay, fruit, grain and vegeta-
bles. per day, besides incoming supplies
for the people, and this volume of bust
ness would certainly increase very rap!
idly under the stimulating influence Of
a railroad.
COAL AND NATURAL GAS.
Among the resources of the county
that have been passed over in the fore
going should be mentioned coal and nat
ural gas. Extensive and inexhaustible
coal fields, with veins from to 16 feet
thick, appear on the surface at various
places and on the ranch of Mr.. Shid-
Ter, one-half mile east Of Harrington,
at depth of 1870 feet, natural gas has
been tapped. There are also strong in
dications of coal oil in the same locality.
Timber and stone for building purposes
are plentiful.