Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-09-19
lFrom Del Norte Prospcctor)

ited Durango, Colorado. and Farming.
ton, New Mexico, last week. for IA
short outing. and had most enjoy.
able and profitable time.
Durango is showing signs OF pros
perity, every residence house In the
place being filed and business seem
ing good In all lines.
We were particularly Interested In
the operations of the Boston Coal 4
Fuel Company. directed by old Del
Noiiers-- the FranklIns. This com
pany has one OF the grcstest coal
propositions II has ever been our for.
tune 10 inspect. and from present in
dications, will soon be coining cash
every day Ia the week The mine
is developed In three tunnels. shows
acres and acres OF coal OF hpe quality.
with vein seven feet thick. a rail
road from the mine is owned by the
company and connects with the ID. &
H. q, Southern. making II poBsibie to
send almost any desired quantity Of
coal down the mountain mt any time,
This company undoubtedly has biz
thing IN the way OF coal mine.
The principal object OF our visit,
however, was 10 go down ioFsrming
ton. New Mexico. In response to an
Invitation from Mr.. q. W. Franklin.
and In company with that gentleman
and his better half. We left Durango
Monday, September 2, making the six
tymile drive by easy stages In two
days. stopping on route at Aztec. the
county seat of San Juan county, New
Mexico.
our road followed the Animas river
and encountered the fruit bolt almost
from tb. start,
Along this ronto are miles and miles
of fruit trees. waving corn fields. con
siderable wheat many melon and
pumhin patrbeH, countless npinries
and many other articles OF farm
growth usually encountered Mt low
altitude.
We found settlers along the route
who had been there from one to tween
ty-fve years. and their ranches show.
ed cultivation in proportion to the
time spent
There is plenty Of water In the Ami
mas river. and Water Commissioners
aIo not needed, for farmers do not
have 10 quarrel over water.
The town of Aztec ia quiet nj pres.
eni though surrounded by many
splendid farms and orchards.
Dropping down from Aztec latitude
b.ss0l TO Pennington latitude 5000
one hndH himself In the heart OF the
farming section. This town Hes upon
-.
the san Juan. Animas aud La Plata
rivera, ana shows signs OF life aud
Indications OF future growth and i'm
poftanoo. Considerable but lding is
going on at Pennington, aud more is
IN sight. aud " signs are not mis-.
leading. the day In not far distant
when the town viii assume n aig. and
Importance mure IN conformity with
the excellent country surrounding II.
Just st present soverai corps OF sur.
veyora under direction OF Engineer
Wiggieaworih. are running line
and setting grade stakes from Duran
10 via Pennington TO Clifton. Arizona,
a great copper smelling point ON the
A. y. road, Clifton AT presont buys
lts coal coke In Virginia and other
eastern points, and II the new road
is built. clifton will got It's coal sup.
ply from La Plata county. Colorado.
and San Juan county, New Mexico.
Pennington will fnd an outlet both
ways Tor fruit. hay. beef and other
ranch produce, and Durango and
Pennington viii take new life and as,
snme greater importance In every
way.
The combination is one that has
attracted the eyes of railroad men,
aud the construction of the railroad
now seems almost n certainty.
To reach n proper conclusion abou,
the Durango and Pennington section.
one should visit that country and
look II over
La Plata and San Juan counties In
Colorado, and San Juan county In
New Mexico present combination
of industries covering coal. gold. sill.
Yer and lea mining. lumber. fruit.
hay. beef and ranch produce not ex.
eellcd anywhere In the State. and IL
secms likely that that part OF the
world may soon attain the promin.
'hf' 70 Nuiau IT'S fttpuftth tniitls II.
Going back To the Farming,ou section
again, the traveller In confronted
everywhere with trees loaded with
peaches apples. plums and pears
vines hanging full OF grapes OF varle
Ties, and miles and miles of corn and
alfalfa fields. Shade trees ARE Lom
hardy popular, eataipa. weeping vii
low. soft maple. locust and similar
varieties.
he hills around Pennington are
low, the country ouside the river bot
toms rolling. The people ar. kind
and courteous wherever encounter
ed. They have fruit ITO burn" and
help yourself lis the invitation 10
the stranger passing through the land
There are thousand and one things
deserving mention In this country
but we cannot touch upon them all n,
this time.
Our route back To Durango lay
along the la Plata river. "a stream
that does not furnish u body OF water
equal to either the Animas or San