Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-11-28
San JUAN
C0UNTY,N.
Paradise for the Farmer, Fruit
Grower and Stock
Grower.


country Tor a few days. The way to
go Is by private conveyance. SO one
can take it easy-stop along the route
visit farm houses, stock ranches. or
chards, etc. In going south the first
20 miles is not as inviting as il might
be, but in the course OF a few years
when bitches convey water over the
mesa lands and every nook and cor
ner is cultivated, there will be some
thing to entertain one while passing
through the late Ute reserve. Now
one travels something like 20 miles
to the state line over dusty roads.
Then you come to a hill. crossing ov-
or which you pass down on the other
side. To the left the wagon road
leads you to a lane which takes you
to farmers cottage. Then you
glance over stables wagon sheds.
stacks of hay and grain. shade trees
and orchard. which has Just returned
the owner a neat sum. besides supply
ing the cellar with fruit for the win
ter months. Inside the cottage you
will find a cheerful family consisting
of father mother and two daughters,
with comfortable surroundings. kept
| as neat as wax. The head of the
house, Mr.. George A Tinker. year af-
ter year of toll and hardship, tried to
establish home by pursuing other
ayocations than that OF farming, but
nothing more than living was the
result at the end of each year. The
land at the foot of Cedar Hill look
ed good to this pioneer and home
stead was taken up. Sage brush was
grubbed out. irrigating bitches CON
structed. and with small beginning
acreage was added each year. until
the crops supplied the family with
the necessaries OF life and a surplus
which paid of all indebtedness. and
today the Cedar Hill ranch is a fair
| sample of what hard work and close
| attention will do for one. Wherever
industry has prevailed and the farmer
devoted himself to improving his
ranch. prosperity has followed
Seven or eight other ranches are
within view. and Judging from ap-
pearances the owners are prosperous.
The same story could be told OF hun
dreds OF other places along the
| mas river
| The first impression OF Aztec cannos
help but be favorable. Aztec is the
county seat of San Juan county. It
has well laid out streets and substan.
tial bushes houses. carrying well Sc
lected stocks of goods. the merchants
reporting good trade from the sur
rounding country. The enterprising
citizens are aways found with their
hearts in the right place. and one is
made to feel at home from the time of
landing.
Over the divide to the northwest is
another valiey-the La Plata. 1t is
composed of bottom and table land
which has no superior as a hay and
grain producing area. 1t is the cat.
tlemen's paradise in winter Thou
sands of range cattle are driven there
every year to winter. Hay is usually
in good demad at fair prices. The
farmer has only to put 1t in the stack
the stockman does the rest The
climate Is mild In winter and pleas
ant In summer. An illustration of
the prosperity existing among the
l a
man last winter bought ranch for
81, 200 and this year sold the hay crop
alone for $500 cash in the stack
No other section OF this broad land
can make such a showing. The whole
southwestern part of Colorado and
northwestern New Mexico rank sec.
ond to none for productiveness of the
soil. And the climate is the best on
earth. Even this late day of No
yember the grass lands are as green
as they were in August. Who would
not compare this region to any under
the sun? 1t Is not strange that
farm lands are sought after and such
high prices offered almost every day
by wouldbe eastern home-seekers
The time is not far distant when ev-
cry available acre that can be cover.
ed with water will be worth 800
The returns will pay good rate OF
interest on the investment at the
present time.