Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-07-21
SILVERTON Colo n

SILVERTON. Colo, July II.
Silverton, like Durango. doesn't have
ouch that is startling or exciting to
ell TO the public, but nevertheless it
| always busy Towns in which
here is not much excitement are not
always dead" Indeed. it is frequent
iV ] st the opposite way. The old say
ing Satan finds some mischief still
FOR idle hands to do" is more than full
! illed in places where there is not
cough employment to keep the peo-
pie busy than in the rustling towns
Nheie they don't have time to do
ANYTHING startling. The latter condi-
ton prevails in Silverton at present
and the pick. hammer. saw and shovel
unite with the whirr of machinery to
make Silverton a busy. prosperous
own with no time for idleness or
mischief.
Regarding the water question which
has been agitating the councilmen of
Durango for some time, Silverton says
that the blame cannot be laid upon her
or at least. only as a secondary cause
cf the mischief The source of trou-
BE originates further up the various
'tTeams, and if Silverton had to de-
pend on the Animas for her water
she would be in as sad plight as Du-
rauFo. Nor is there any means by
which to prevent the mischief unless
the mills We're shut down permanently
and all industry in that line stopped
rhen. and only then, would the waters
Of the Animas return to their pristine
lealuess and flow over the Durango
slopes and ranches with the crystal
purity in which it starts from its
mountain springs. Temporary provi-
vision might be made at considerable
ost. for turning the water containing
he mill sediment away from the Ami
mas. and into other channels, but in
the course of a year or two. the di-
verted stream would inevitably find
its way over the country side to the
valley of the Animas to flow down the
channel which nature has provided.
To clear the Animas water would be
? question OF stopping industries of
more northern towns in order to pro-
mote Durango's interests. OF course
the welfare of Durango is foremost in
the hearts of all her citizens and
every effort to protect it should
be made. But if 1T is impossible to
purify the Animas water, as the pres
ent conditions make it appear to be,
the easiest cheapest and surest course
for Durango is to look elsewhere for
her water supply. 1t is affirmed that
the mill people on the upper banks
OF the Animas would rather pay the
extra expense that Durango incurs in
| hanging her water source, than to
make the useless attempt to prevent
any of their tailings getting into the
while the townspeople of Durango
may easily obtain pure water from
the Florida or some other river, the
condition of the land which is watered
by the Animas is of vital Importance
TO the farmers of that section. If. as
is claimed, the mineral solution in the
water hurts the crops. then the real
question to be discussed and settled
IS, which is of most Importance to this
western section of the state, the mills
which form the industries of the little
northern towns or. the acres of ranch
land under cultivation for miles down
the Animas valley The argument
is not between Durango and Silvertor
as towns, but between the northern
and southern portions of the whole
western section. The most casua
observer can see that Silverton Is
aendng down a goodly number o.
dirty streams to join the Animas, ant
justly deserves share, at least. o
the blame. To a remark made to {
Siverton citizen about the condition
Of the Animas water, the answer wa!
given, why, it is only the natural orr
from the earth that goes down; th'
river is constantly. in its native ele
nent, flowing through those sub
stance" That was rather a lame ex
ruse. for the mineral in its native be-
of rock which it takes centuries 70
the rushing torrents to wear away, |
quite. different from a powdered gold
iron. lead, copper, silver. coke. cinders
quartz. lime. soil, and what not, tina
| ttlIhltS uONu, III ii BTdIlu UldSs
through every little stream to join tn
Animas river.
Traces of the Chinaman are stil
visible in Silverton. but the Celestia
, has departed forever. vanished to ia
r distant regions. San Juan's famou
mining camp has no room for China
man within its mountain circled plair
The storm which threatened Silve
ton Monday afternoon came on Thur
day. From early morning until abot
= two o'clock, the rain fell constant.
either in heavy showers or disi
e greeable drizzle. Over Sultan noun
i ain and Snowdon peaks the cloud
r hung dark and heavy. obscuring I'll
+ tops and drifting down far into I'll
d timber. The mountains up towart
Mineral creek were white with clout
e until it looked as II heavy sno