davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02
SAN JUAN COUNTY.
Output Of Precious Metals viii Run
ciose TO Three Million. ---1.
Phone to The Herald.

Phone to The Herald.
SILVERTON, Dec. 31.-The year
1901 will go down in history as the
liveliest San Juan county has expert
enced since the boom days of fifteen
to twenty years ago when the pro-
duction of ore and tangible wealth
was not half what 1t is today. It was
artificial life then. Now activity is
based on solid foundation. More
men are employed in the mines and
mills of the county than ever before
notwithstanding improved appliances
In both milling and mining, and while
1t is not possible at this writing to
give tonnage treated by local reduc-
ton works or shipped outside smell
ters, 1t is safe to state that it Is great
er than any previous year. So far
no statistics have been prepared as
to shipments by rail but same will
probably be made up during the week
Your correspondent has made care
full inquiry of mining men and those
well posted and putting everything
together. feels that the value of the
gold, silver, copper and lead produced
by the mines Of San Juan county for
1901 will not fall far short of three
million dollars. Last year the value
of the product was something over
two and half millions and all who
have kept tab feel that half million
additional will be placed to the credit
of the county when the totals are
added
Never was the outlook more prom
Using. A conservative estimate
places the value of mine improve
ments the past year at half a million
dollars. the greatest part of which is
evidenced by new mills and enlarge
ment of old ones. The Silver Lake
improvements cost little less than
one hundred thousand followed close
ly by the Iowa. Many new producers
have recently been added and there
is every reason to believe the coun-
ty will about double the output the
coming year. The North Star on Sui
ton. under management of Mr.. Stark
weather. and the North Star on King
Solomon, operated by the Conten-
ton company, are notable instances
of recent improvements and resump-
tion OF work.
In the town OF Silverton the ad-
vancement has been along similar
lines. A builder OF experience says
$125. 900 has been expended the past
twelve months in business blocks
and residence, the Miners Union and
the Benson blocks having been fin.
ished during the summer. There are
many buildings under headway and
others contemplated. Probably one
hundred new residences have been
constructed the past year. This does
not include engagements and i'm
provements of old houses.
The people Of Silverton and Sar
Juan county were never In better
spirits. believing the coming yeal
will advance them materially on the
road to wealth and greatness.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

Durango is in touch with the out
side world now. having ben placed in
the middle of telephone line of one
hundred and ten miles, constructed
during the year between Silverton In
the mountains and Pennington in the
lap of the foothills on the south.
Durango can now call up Denver
500 miles away and talk to nearly all
of the towns of the San Juan mining
region. Connection with the Farm
ington country is as valuable as any
touch Durango enjoys. as the trade
of that rapidly growing country prom
ises to be of vast benefit to Durango.
In fact, Durango is the hub and geo.
rgaphicai center, and the building of
broad gauge railway south is bound
to lend the city greater Importance
as wholesale commercial point.
During the coming year the telephone
will connect the city with many other
towns. hamlets and communities.
Since the Colorado Telephone COM
pany has cut its rates in two, the peo-
pie will find the phone the most sat,
isfactory and economical means of
communication. Many delays here
tofore necessitated in writing letters
Will be avoided in the future, and the
wheels of commerce will roll on more
speedily.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02
POSITIVE
PROGRESS
Some Things for Which Our
People Have Cause for
- Rejoicing.
Same Encouraging News from
All Parts Of the Great
Southwest.

Durango's progress during the past
year has been more positive and per-
manent in character than that of any
former year OF the city's history.
J While the city itself has not made
any material advancement in building
there have been Improvements on all
lines. Grading has been extended on
many of the streets and alloys, ana
the city's throughfares generally are
fifty per cent better than they have
ever been before. Our trade has
grown twenty per cent during the
past year, and while this fact may
not appear to every one who has
been engaged in business in the city
a study of the situation and COM
parison will readily convince. While
1t is not anticipated that the city Will
experience a building boom without
further railway building, there is
every reason for a steady substantial
growth.
The several industrial elements
upon which Durango depends for fu-
ture growth and prosperity were
never attended with more favorable
conditions than at present. The de-
mand for everything we produce far
exceeds the supply, and the producers
are receiving higher prices than ever
before.
Smelling. coal mining and the pro-
duction of lumber have been the
chief industries of the country of
which Durango is the center, and now
there is a fair prospect that the oil
industry will be added to these. Min
ing is chief of all. as without it there
would be no smelling and little OF
coal mining, and the lumber would
be manufactured, while the forests
last as the foreign demand suggest
ed. Those who mine receive the
highest wages, the greatest pay in
the aggregate and circulate the most
money.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

The lumber business of La Plata
county has grown in Importance an
nually until now it is estimated that
at least two hundred million feet
were cut during the present year.
Durango is the distributing point for
millions of feet Of lumber cut out
side of the county. which is shipped
to the mountains or to the east. The
Durango lumber area has we'll
earned reputation for the manufac-
ture of first-class products in all the
grades, and the city will be per-
manent distributing point for lumber.
at least for many years.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

The Durango plant of the American
Smelling and Refining company has
found it necessary to increase its
capacity during the past year to
handle the constantly increasing pro-
duction of minerals in the adjoining
mining sections of the San Juan, and
will doubtless be compelled again
during the coming year to largely in
crease its present capacity. The
several mining camps continue to in
crease the volume of both crude ore
and concentrates, and the many new
mining enterprises which have been
inaugurated during the past year.
with ample capital to carry them to
the consummation of profitable pro
duction, will soon be adding material
ly to the present vast volume of ore
production The splendid progress
which has been made in the economy
and value saving of modern milling
especially in concentrating the min
eral values of low grade ores, has
done more than all other agencies
combined for the advancement of the
co-existent industries, mining and
smelling, and genius is going on in
it's ceaseless effort to recover the val
ues of still lower grade ores and to
make closer savings on all. 1t is safe
to say that the Durango smelter is
handling sixty thousand tons OF ore
monthly and employing regularly
an average of $50 men. Enlarging
the capacity will not require great
number Of additional men but will
require greater quantity of fuel and
fiuxing and will thus employ more
men in coal mining and lime quarry
ing. The Herald has conservatively
estimated that the local smelter pays
out for labor in Durango annually
over four hundred thousand dollars.
This annual pay roll must continue
to increase steadily to meet the de-
mands of increasing ore production.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

The sugar beet industry Is only in
the experimental stage in this coun-
try. but 1t has been clearly demon
strated that our soil will grow su-
required to secure sugar plant is to
seed enough ground to beets to guar
antee suficient product to warrant
capital in investing the required
amount. Mr.. F. l.. Chase, who has
been foremost in the effort to intro
duce this subject practically to the at
tention Of the farmers. has recently
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

and about one ton of hops. This
company has paid out In expenses
during the year $4,000. of which
$4,000 has been for labor. Two thou
sand tons of ice have been manufac-
tured and 100 tons OF this have been
sold to the trade in Durango. The
brewery is anticipating largely In
creased demand for home beer and
ice the coming year.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

One of the big enterprises that will
rebound In much benefit to Durango
is the proposed Durango e. Clifton
railroad. Mr.. Chas. E. Mcconnell
and those associates with him have
great confidence in the construction
of the road the coming year. The
preliminary survey was completed
late in the fall and 1t shows an easy
grade most of the way. With work
commenced, the whole southwest Will
at once make rapid strides in popula-
ton.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

returned from Rocky Ford, this
state, where he has been engaged in
the largest sugar plant in Colorado,
having made careful study Of the
industry from the seeding of the beet
through all stages until the sugar is
recovered. Mr.. Chase feels reassur-
ed that the Durango country should
no longer hesitate to take up the in
dustry. Rocky Ford this year had
1900 acres Of beets. yielding twelve
and half tons per- acre. Mr..
Chase says: I'VE can grow the su-
gar beet just as successfully as
Rocky Ford, and II our farmers will
only take hold 1t will not be long un-
til we will have a sugar plant We
have Montezuma, Dolores, Mancos,
Animas Valley, Florida Mesa and the
Pennington country. all as product
i've as Rocky Ford. We have an
area rs miles square that cannot be
surpassed. We have railroad run
ming east and west through the area
and when we get the southern road
We will have roads running four ways
from Durango. through sections that
can produce the sugar beet The
sugar plant pays the freight and the
Pennington producer would get the
same price as the producer at the out
skirts of Durango.
THE beets which have been raised
in this county are as good as IL per
cent sugar. The farmer cannot raise
a more desirable product for certain
sale at a fixed figure one year after
another. He may plant a given num-
ber of acres and contract that aggre-
gate product, resting assured that he
will have so much money when he is
ready for delivery. 1t will cost him
$50 per acre to raise beets, and his
yield will be from twelve to fifteen
tons per acre.
ut would require about three hun
dred thousand dollars to give this
country such a plant, would at once
meet the demands. 1t was estimated
more than year ago that Durango
distributes locally about six million
pounds of sugar annually and the
surrounding towns viii more than
double this quantity, making total
to the southwest of about two billion
pounds annually"
Mr.. Chase is very sanguine for the
future of the southwest In. the matter
of sugar production and he thinks
the farmers should begin at once to
prepare for receiving a sugar plant.
He will be here now for some time
and will be glad 30 furnish such in
formation as the @rnfers may desire.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

There are no more eloquent evil
dences of the material advancement
of the country in all its industrial
lines than is given by the banks of
Durango. The First National bank
cent in its business during the past
year, and is now carrying a deposit
line of nearly six hundred thousand
dollars. In discussing this fact Mr..
Camp says this growth of business
may be said to represent the progress
of all that country from Chama, one
hundred miles east, to the Utah line,
seventy-five miles west and from
the upper Animas valley twenty miles
north, to the San Juan river, sixty
miles south. Mr.. Camp thinks the
increase of the First Nationals bust
ness is very uniformly distributed all
over the area mentioned. No. other
industry has shown more rapid
strides of growth than that of agri-
culture. The stock business appears
to be enjoying prosperous conditions
and the mercantile business is on
better footing than ever before
Many land purchases have been made
during the year and there is an up
ward and onward tendency all along
the farming line. Mr.. Camp says
there is every evidence of the splen-
did advancement of mining produc-
tion and development and he thinks
the outlook for greater activity in the
Needles and La Plata districts is
most encouraging.
The Colorado State bank notes
marked increase in its businesss dur
ing the year, probably an increase of
fifty per cent in it's deposits. This
bank has been in direct touch with
much of the progress made in agri-
cultural pursuits and the transfer of
farming lands. Many newcomers
have taken hold of lands in Monte
yuma. La Plata, Archuleta and the
country along the Animas and San
Juan rivers in New Mexico. Mr.
Reinhold says his bank carries many
evidences of prosperity in all the
industries as well as in the general
mercantile situation, and he adds
that the outlook for the home min
ing districts was never so good as
now.
The Smelter City State bank has
had marked increase OF business,
and expresses the opinion that next
year will be better still. Mr.. Sheets
said he did not know that one indus
try had advanced more than another,
but believed that all the industries
and interests of the country bore evi.
dences in his bank. of progress.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

The United States land office at
ing for increase of business during
the past three years. particularly for
the past year. The business of 1900
doubled that of 1899, and that OF 1901
has been an increase of 90 per cent
over 1900. Register F. c.. Perkins
says the Office is in receipt of daily
inquiry from all sections of the Unit
ed States regarding the character of
lands and information generally re-
garding opportunities for settlement
in the southwest, and all questions
are promptly answered. And let The
Herald suggest that pc mphlet SINH
lar to the one published at the time of
the Ute opening would be valuable
if sent out to all these inquiring home
seekers. II the land Office could not
send them out, a board of trade or
some organization could do so.
During the past two years there has
been greater activity in the sale of
timber lands. several thousand acres
having been sold, until now there is
very little of such land available or
accessible remaining. During the
past few months there has been
great amount of land claimed for set
tlement under the homestead and des-
ert acts. These lands are being TAX
en- in the vicinity of new irrigation
enterprises, projected or under con-
struction.
During the past three years there
have been over 800 .-Jmestead filings
in the Durango office. The business
of the past three years has been SO
per cent of the volume Of business
transacted during the years from
1883 to 1899. sixteen years. Our
friends in the eastern and middle
states who realize that the better
conditions of the west invite them
will not ask for greater assurance
of our growth and advancement.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02
Weekly Herald, Vol. XVI. N. tss.

being 1854. as against 1901 in 1900.
and 2,2s3 in 1899. This is partially
accounted for from the fact that ad-
ditional mills have reduced the ore to
compact form. thus cutting down the
number of tons but increasing the
value two and three fold. A good
list of mines are In shape for steady
production the coming year.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

thousand tons, even though there
should be no further railway build
ing which would open up new mark
cts for coal. The increased demands
in the mountains will call for fifty
thousand tons more.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02
ouray's Output.

Special Telephone to The Herald.
OURAY. Dec. 31.-The mineral pro-
duction OF Ouray county for the year
1901 is placed at even $4,000. 900.
This Is less than former years. The
number Of cars Of ore shipped fell
considerably below the previous year.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

The time will come when the
Southwest. instead of shipping In
every pound of sugar consumed, will
produce sugar for export, and We
have not even begun to raise sugar
beets or selected the ground for the
first sugar plant. The Southwest
is more truly a self supporting en-
pire in itself than any other section
of the civilized world. Our resources
await only the touch of industry. 1t
is true we are far removed from the
more populous sections of the United
States, with only one railroad, but
when Industrious people get estab-
lished here once, they find It as easy
to sustain themselves as anywhere
else In the world.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

Among the new enterprises in
stalled in Durango during the year
none are more important or promise
better general returns for the city
than does the cold storage plant
which is under contract for construc-
tion for VIM. Wolf & Co. This COM
pany which has for years been recog-
nized as one of the strongest in the
Southwest has but recently been
made stronger still by the associa-
ton of Mr.. Ernest Wetter. The
company is now composed Of VIM.
Wolf, Mic. F. Cooke and Ernest Wet
ter, all men of sterling value to the
business fabric of community
The new cold storage enterprise will
doubtless be in operation by next
June. The contracts for machinery
and necessary appliances have been
made with the National Refrigerator
company and the work OF building
and reconstruction of buildings will
be begun as soon as the weather will
again permit the work to go on to
completion. In connection with the
storage plant will be an ice manu-
pIdhI vi uNe lOho uhlly Ia
pacity to begin with. The daily re-
frigeration capacity of the cold stor-
age plant will be twenty tons. The
west one hundred feet of the block
known as the Wolf property adjoin-
ing the railroad will be used as the
site Tor the new enterprise. And this
Is not all VIM. Wolf & Co. will do for
Durango during the coming year. 1t
is their intention now to erect a
modern business block fronting on
Main avenue at Sixth street or on the
east portion of the Wolf tract 1t
has been recognized for sometime
that the present buildings are inde-
quate for so desirable location.
The new building will be one in
which business men can do business.
surrounded with all the modern ad-
vantages.
Messrs Wolf &Co. bear most
substantial testimony of the progress
of the stock business during the year,
having purchased and shipped nearly
half million pounds Of hides. wool
and pelts. the largest tonnage han
died at Durango for ten years.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

The coal mines of the Durango
fields have produced during the past
year one hundred and fifty-one thou
sand tons Of coal and their average
monthly pay roll has been $31 800,
employing $50 men. Thus 1t will be
seen the coal mines paid out for coal
development and digging $37S,000
during the past year. Added to this
amount is fully 100000 expended
during that time for coal railway and
surface improvements. During the
coming year the Durango fields will
increase the coal output at least fifty
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

The annual production OF fruit near
Durango and in Northern New Mexico
has varied. owing in part to new or
chards coming in and mainly to vary
ing seasons. The total yield of San
Juan county. New Mexico. for the
past year is estimated at one million
pounds, about one-fourth the amount
of the preceding year. The average
price per pound received by the grow
ers for the past year has been one
cent. The Animas valley section
along the river. ten miles In length,
north of Durango, produced during
the year 100000 pounds of fruits, the
second largest crop in the history OF
fruit growing here. The seasons
here are quite uniform but the or
chards are limited in the aggregate OF
area. Fruit growing in the Durango
country is In its infancy.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

The Durango Beer G. Ice company
has done good business during the
past year, having made two thousand
barrels Of beer. consuming one hun
dred thousand pounds Of barley malt.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

10 not make any good resolutions
tomorrow unless you intend to keep
them.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

The growth of the country will
bring more railroads and more great
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

industries. The conditions are much
more favorable today than they have
been in the past. and many home
seekers are recognizing this fact.
Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02

Subscribe for The Herald.
The Tucson citizen., 1902-01-06
DIR. MtvER-TYSDALI.

At the Opera House on Monday and
Tuesday nights Dr. McIyer-Tyndall
will demonstrate in Ais celebrated
seance "A Night OF Mystery" those
phenomena which connect lnls world
with what we call the supernatural
Thought transferance. ciairyoyance
and wonderful manifestations of an in
visible power are made In fun sight on
an open stage and unuer the direct
supervision Of committee Of promi-
nent citizens. He uses no apparatus,
no assistants and no cabinets. yet his
far surpaSs anything
accomplished by theosophical adopts,
or gplriuAllstIc medium. On the oc-
cASiou ol MclveT- Tynaslfs last public
appearance in thi8 part Of the country
some elx years ago the theatres we're
crow ded mighty and many we're turn
ed away. SO great was the interest in
the power displayed by this strang"l.' :
gifted man. pr McIYer- TyndaiIs ei.-
,erfainments are repiete with mystiiF-
Ing and noyei features. but at the aaine
time they are absolutely sacn.inc and
convincing.
The Tucson citizen., 1902-01-06

main building. The wings will be con-
nected with the main building by pas
sage ways one story in height and
having glass coverings. The entire
structure will have a basement OF the
same dimensions beneath 1t. The en-
tire building will be lighted by cleo
tricity and its elevators will be oper-
ated by electricity. 1t will be heated
by steam and the modern sanitary
equipment will be installed in 1t.
NEW FREIGHT INSPECTORS.
f. II. Sanborn and Harry J. Fouts
from Albuquerque. have taken places
in the service of the Trans-continentai
Freight Inspection bureau, Arizona q
New Mexico division, Mr.. Sanborn as
chief OF the force and Mr.. Fouts as in
spector at the S. p. freight depot at
FL Paso. Mr. Sanborn was In the
same service at Albuquerque, and was
succeeded there by Inspector Suther-
land, who went from this city. Mr.
Fouts was chief night clerk In the Al
buquerque Santa Fe office, and now
enters the service OF the inspection
bureau for the first time.
The Tucson citizen., 1902-01-06
Our Statesmen
Want MOre noney

WASHINGTON. Jan 6,-Those
members Of Congress who have been
seriously contemplating the bringing
forward of proposition To increase
the salaries OF Senators and Repre-
sentatives from $1,000 10 $4,000 year.
are not happy over the blunt state
ment OF Representative I'D iy. Of Min
nesota, who. in an interview in St
Paul. says: Congressman do not
earn S5 600 year
Certain Representatives from the
Middle and Western States who have
apparently forgotten the fate Of their
predecessors who lndulged In a salary
increase movement years ag', came nv
Washington this winter convinced
that the increased duties imposed up
on members of Congress by their con-
stituents. coupled with the announce
ment of an overiiowing treasury
might justify them in urging an in
crease in Congressional sa.aries.