Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-01-04

the rapidly growing trade. The facil
tiles for doing business were increas
ed in every line. In many instances
additional help was employed. The
ware onf the merchant were display.
ed by artistic hands with an elabora
tion and attractiveness never before
equalled
The money deposited in the banks
began to flow out into the channels
of trade and investment. The banks
were doing business over the counter
buying and selling exchange. open
ing new accounts, loaning money and
transacting business of larger and
greater daily volume.
Workmen were being sought for IN
every line of trade and occupation.
No man was idle that desired work
and was willing to work.
The tide of immigration turned our
way and the empty dwellings were
again being occupied. New lands
were being located and the waste
places settled up. Real estate found
market, weak at first, but growing
stronger daily.
wholesale and jobbing business
sprang up that was destined to bring
our city into close touch with and
into business relations with our neigh
boring towns and settlements.
Everywhere there was reaching
out to meet and grasp and enjoy the
fast oncoming prosperity and business
revival.
Strange to say. there were some
unwilling to admit of returning pros
perity. Some who were disposed to
stand in the way and obstruct pro.
gress. Some. who were ready to de-
public enterprise. Some to whom
prosperity meant loss of their job
and who live only by the agitation and
discord and the cry of calamity. 1t is
unfortunate, to say the least, that
communities must be afflicted by these
warts of ill-omen that stand on the
highways and in the byways. doling
out their cry of impending disaster
and impending ruin that confronts.
1t is a lasting shame and disgrace to
harbor and encourage fostering sore
iI the shape of detractor and de-
iamer of character and the good name
of community. And yet, these are
found, and within the gates of our
city.
Each succeeding week and month
during the year has witnessed grow
ing and increasing prosperity through
out this entire section of country, ana
Durango has felt its influence in all
branches of her Industrial life Many
OF our enterprising business men
have found their old quarters too mar
row and limited to accommodate their
growing trade and have either located
in larger and more commodious bust
ness rooms or have taken on addition
al room. Many have built up trade
OF such proportions that they have
crowded to the very limit their al
ready commodious quarters and have
added to their number of salesmen
and employees. New firms have To-
Gated in our midst, and with COM
mendable enterprise have iaugurated
a sharp competition, which, as the old
saying goes, 'is the life of trade.
Some new business houses have been
erected and others are on the way.
Large additions have been made to
the smelling plant, and yet others are
in contemplation.
Throughout the county like ad-
vancement has been made. Lumber
mills have increased in numbers and
ali the old ones have increased their
capacity, until numbering is now re
garded as one among our most import
ant industries. The herds of cattle
and sheep have increased until our
summer ranges are crowded. The
farming acreage has vastly increased
and the item of farm products that is
marketed and handled in Durango is
of greater Importance than ever be-
fore. The facilities for mining coal
from the unmeasured and almost lin
itless beds that surround us have
been materially increased, giving en-
ployment to hundreds of additional
men. Everywhere you go thrift and
enterprise is in evidence and mark
ed advancement is noticed.
The last days of the old year are
liz itSpcClS Lie DllShltSl ann
most encouraging. They have been
filed with great activities in all bust
ness and social circles. They are
fraught with great promise for the
future.
Should the progress that has char
acterized the past year, with the in
crease which has grown day by day,
continue, and We have every reason to
believe will. there will be some
startling revelations to record when
another twelve months have passed.
And now having come to the clos,
ing of the year 1900, which ushered
cut the brilliant Nineteenth century,
and standing on the threshold of the
new year and the new century, with
record for twelve months behind
that in many regards has been unpre-
cedented and bright and inviting fu-
ture before US, let us take courage
and strive to make the new year one
OF even greater achievements than
any which have passed,