Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-08-11
ALONG THE FLORIDA.


One OF the prettiest spots to be
found In La Plata county is the sec
tlon along the Lower Florida river.
Descending the steep grade from the
Florida mesa. that looks down upon
n picturesque little village Nesting
lust below on the bayfield, road. and
keeping to the right one finds him
self III country overlooking with ru-
dusty OF course. as all country roads
are but bordered with green turf.
lnmpened by the water from numer-
ons bitches. a laughing summer sun
and cool breeze-these alone would
make two.mile walk delightful. But
The Florida country has much more
10 offer.
Under a beautiful sky. too beautiful
for words. whore dainty patches of
cloud Hoat like love-dreams across a
maiden'B heart. we journey joyfully.
Profognd silence broods over the
scene save for the chirp of bird or in
sect or the musical ripple of water
crossing the street under some rus
tic bridge and losing itself among the
waving fields Of grain and alfalfa.
The brcoze is full of sweet. subtle
odor breathing of home. OF freedom,
OF every sentiment dearest TO the
heart the scented breath OF sweet
clover All along the road on either
sido it waves it's white blossoms. and
the bees dart in. but out among the
honcyed fragrance, as they used to do
free MS the clover blossoms ere the
world thrust In it's keen edged scythe
OF doubt and evil. moving down the
odorous whitcness.
The wide acres of the ranches are
green and tlourishing with their mid
summer growth, giving promise OF a
golden harvest In grains and hay
Sleek cattle, here and there, lazily
chewing their cud in the shade. testi.
fy to the luxury OF country life. An
Occasional house far back from the
street sets comfortably amid its
pleasant fields
There are Wild flowers everywhere
yellow. purple red, blue. quite
enough to MI with unending delight
the heart Of the botanist. and with
various discolorments all the pages
Of the tenderfoots' story books. where
they are placed for pressing and pres
ervation Wherever they can keep an
inch OF ground they raise their pretty
heads aud all the land is blessed with
their beauty.
A solitary rider gallops past. raising
a little dust cloud. When IL has set
tied we are at the top of hill and
the view is superb. The whole broad
plain is carpeted with the beautiful
green Of the fields. undulating In the
halmy breeze Far away on the hori.
zuu rise the mountains, dull rich
stretch OF blue meeting the azure sky
here in smooth outlines. there cutting
it with rugged peaks that tower in
sublime magnitude above their fellows.
And Oft the traveller paused to view
The summer heavens delicious blue. s.
Wherever there Is river In Colo
rado-all along Its course Is beauty
and and fertility and life. The Flori-
the story Of the Spanish travellers who
traced It's wandering course half a
century after their countryman Just
discovered the great new continent,
rising among the rich ore beds of the
Needle mountains and flowing through
one pf the fairest agricultural dis
trirts OF the southwest. Is the life OF
tho 10 In
SHE ON It's level plains from the
fearful winter storms that visit the
mountains blessed by the never-fail-
Ing waters ot its sparkling river. the
Florida section is an ideal spot for
a country home. Only few miles
from Durango. where Its products al
ways find ready market. supplied in
turn with nll the commodities of life
by the Smcltcr City. and easily reach
ci 10y the great wagons that come up
Ia their season from Pennington, and
an the warm fruit belt. laden with lus-
ctous apples. pears. plums. peaches
ANA every variety of fruit. the happy
residents on the Florida may enjoy
both the pleasures OF pastoral life and
ff'f 'kAAiNNANt anu vi Nnt
town There are school houses and
churches at the station and other
places along the river La Plata
county provides well for the intellec-
tual and spiritual as well as the ami
NAL growth of her children. and II is a
constant source of surprise to one
who has known the narrowness and
stagnation that prevails In many east
"rn towns and villages to see the ad-
Nanccment and breadth OF mind and
me among the most rural inhabitants
ot Colorado, The progress In this
wonderful state of wealth and gran
denr is marvellous in its rapidity. and
the southwest, its youngest and fair
est section, is pushing to the front
every day One year in south western
Colorado is worth a dozen in the slow
ahu tne-Worn east. PAULINE