The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-10-04
OUR ORCHARDS.
They Repay Inspection and Nest
Be Seen to Be Appreciated.
Rruits Of Elegant Appearanes and Fancy
Flavor That Would Please the Palate
Of An Epieure.

From the pen OF "Bluebell" !" the Du.
Fango Herald's correspondent, comes
the following realistic and favorable
account of Aztec and its orchards;
To realize anything Of the capabilities
OF Aztec in the fruit line, you must visit
the orchards. Then you can see for
yourself, II is impossible to do the sub.
iect justice 10 a written description. An
orchard is beautiful at any time. Even
in winter, the bare outlines Of the trees,
thrown sharp against the sky have a
beauty Of their own. Spring, the bios.
Homing time, with it's snoW-cheeked
petale, flushed pink with Joy at the new
life pulsing through the old earths
veinss has been made famous alike ia
song and story. The trees Of summer
with their green vigor, their depth Of
shadow, their delicate traceries, their
dainty dancing to the merry breeze,
bave likewise been extolled by many a
noble pen.
But the fall, sacred to Ceres and Bac.
chus, is the season Of seasons. Then the
orchards and gardens are ablaze with
color, feast for the eye-and palate
too, for that matter
Rosy checked apples. golden pears.
fDAh0NJ RDuAtAIni RANHAn anu phAb green
grapes, yellow and crimson plums-form
a scene If plenty that beggars descrip-
tion.
There is an orchard of some fourteen
acres, situated about half mile out OF
Aztec that is a pleasure to behold.
Though smaller than some, it is wonder
fully productive. That is trIe of the
ranches around Aztec generally. As a
rule the tracts Of land are smaller but
very closely cultivated. In the Austin
orchard you could seemingly pick for
hours and make little impression.
Bert Koontz ranks among the pro-
gressive Aztec isrmers. being both ecien.
tiic and practical. II there is anything
belnnging to the vegetable kingdom that
can be induced to grow in Aztec soil,
that can't be found on the Koontz ranch,
no one knows what it is. There is a
Himply magnificent field of corn. at a
low estimate, the stalks average IA feet
in height, while the ears measure 13
ilches and over.
Vol. w. ii. Williams owns a very pretty
as well as productive place. The flowers
and foliage at the front of the house are
80 lpxuriant as to be almost tropical
The orchard also contains every variety
Of fruit. From the 60 acres which he
has planted in alfalfa, Col Williams has
harvested this summer $50 tons.
While Mr.. and Mrs. John A. Koontz
ERl<e 10 attempt to cultivate fruit save
bta home Consumption, fruit Of the finest
~ LEV E n re found in their orchard
hahlie the writer was unable 20 visit
Ut orchard Of Mr.. Fred Bunker, she had
ths privilege Of trying some Of tho fruit.
The peaches, called the Champion, we're
lovely.
Situated as it is, in the center Of San
Juan county, AzIec has an advantage in
several wBys. Being parallel to the
other valleys, it has splendid Opportuni-
ties as a trade center-three mail routes
passing through the town.
As in other towns of Southwestern
Colorado and the adjoining counties of
New Mexico, considerable building is
going on. New people are going in, so
that the demand for houses far exceeds
the supply.
Last Saturday new brick hotel was
opened where visitors to Aztec will
hereafter be able to obtain the best of
accommodations. AS some belated trav-
elers can testify, this has not always
been true In the past. j. II. Whitlock,
the new manager Of the hotel, has put
In entirely new furniture and has fitted
up the rooms very handsomely. Mr.. and
Mrs. WhitlOck have had years OF exper.
ience in the hotel business, and will give
their patrons good service. Besides
comfortable rooms, guests can obtain
cooked meals nicely served.
A law passed during the last legisla-
ture provides for the erection of new
court house at ztec, from the proceeds
Of the grounds and buildings OF the
experimental station, which is already
being advertised The new court house
will be brick building.
The normal college, which opened last
year and is now closed for the summer
tacatiOni will reopen in a few weeks
Prof. o, A. 9rommet is ia charge The
college is not for teachers only-it is a
higher institution Of learning, iu which
NORMAL methods are pursued.
AS before stated, the school system of
AAteci as we'll as the pleasant winter
tlinatei affords an inducement to resi-
dehts OF mountain towns to locate there
during the winter season.
The discovery of oil in San Juan
county has turned the attention Of a
great many people TO that section. The
Aztec Oil and Development company, in
which great many OF Durango people
are largely Interested seems to be Ia the
lead. They already have their $500. foot
drill On the gfohnd, while some OF the
other machinery Is on the road. In all,
sohie five c0ihpanies are interested in
that section.
There is certainly the best of indica-
ti6nH for the development Of an extensive
lhdustry. In the recent survey made by
Prof, Hayden, the expert, the general
aVetage was found TO be higher than
either the Beaumont fields or those in
California
Some prospecting Tor coil has lately
been done, with excellent results; al.
though not 70 any great depth.
The sbhbtal prospects OF Aztec and
vicinity atB very bright. Prices Of real
estat6 have advanced 40 per cent TO SO
per cent the last year AS, however.
they were formerly very low prices are
still amal
The different enterprises cot on foot
have Invited penple With more or less
money to examine into the possibilities
ol Aztec and its vicinity. Their inveeti.
cations have proved satisfactory ia every
lpatancei and have resulted further ia
the location and Investment Of the differ
tnt parties concerned.
The future prosperity 6i Aztec seems
aasured. Next time you have an oppor
tunity 20 visit her, go down and sse for
yourself
A meeting Of the citis6ns Of Aztec
viii be held tomorrow Saturday night
AZ the probate clerks Office for the pur-
boas Of arranging fof tie Thanksgiving