Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-07-31
A PLEASANT VIEW
OF HESPERUs

AS prosperous mining camp in
this country of mines, Hesperus
claims a good share of attention.
Passing it over the Southern, one
looks down upon little cluster of
stores and houses at the foot of the
mountain. disappearing in the heavy
growth of trees which makes the
valley beautiful.
Joe Curtets store, which is the first
after descending the high platform.
is well stocked and appears to be do
ing thriving business. Mr.. La
Comb has another prosperous busi-
ness of the same kind little way
down the street, and Heather Broth
ers' meat market is not behind the
others in its trade. John NJ. Brown
is the proprietor of a neat, comfort
able boarding house in the central
part of the town, and C. w. Mason,
the secretary of the mine. lives in
pretty residence on a road leading to
to the offices and mountain trail. Sew
eral little cottages, unpretentious in
appearance but neat and cheerful, are
occupied by the residents.
The one street of the town, clean
and sunny. is merry with the chatter
of children and the busy talk of older
folks as they cluster around the
stores or pass from house to house in
friendly calls-the families of the min
ers. The mountain side with its
groves is a beautiful place, and the
great shade trees of the valley sur
round the town with as fair a scene
as one could wish to visit in summer
time. Every one seems prosperous
and happy and well satisfied with life
at the foot of the mountains.
The school house of brick is the
finest building in Hesperus. Set
apart from the town, it is yet within
easy distance for the children. and
cannot be surpassed by the school
buildings of many towns whose popu-
laton reaches 10000. Surely Colo
RADIO looks to the needs of her chill
dren, and if good teachers and well
equipped schools can turn out fine
men and women. the future gen
erations of Colorado citizens, wheth-
er city or country or mining camp has
been their home, ought to stand
among the best in the country. No
eastern farmer or workman need fear
to look toward the western wilds as
a prospective home on account of his
little ones. for no eastern town offers
educational advantages to rival those
provided in the district schools of
Colorado. Modern methods are used
in the most isolated country schools.
and teachers of the lowest grades in
the rural districts must not only have
completed a high school course, but
have received a certain amount of
special training for her work before
she can be appointed to the charge
OF the little ones. La Plata county
has especially good schools, and a su-
perintendent who takes an interest in
their welfare, leaving nothing undonSI
which will add to their improvement.
me lower grades prepare the chill
dren for the high schools which are
located in every larger town and city.
Several of them offer the elective sys-
TEN of instruction, and all fit the chill
dren for colleges of the highest stand
ing throughout the country. The pros
porous miner or ranchman of Colora-
do can graduate his sons and daugh-
ters from Harvard Yale. Vassar, or
any other college, at the same age
and with the same advantages as any
farmer or tradesman of the middle or
eastern states. So that Hesperus
and other small towns and camps of
Colorado are no less fitted at the
present day for educational advance
ment than many country places out
side of New York. Chicago and other
great eastern centers of business and
general progress.
Outside Of Hesperus. in the coun.
try, there are several ranches which
present the same thriving appearance
that is evident throughout the coun
try, and judging from all aspects
Hesperus and vicinity is not by any
means an undesirable place to live.
PAULINE.