Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-08-18

The rainfall in southern Colorado i
: very slight. there being only a few
inches each year. But the heay,
SHOWS among the cloud-capped mount
aims of the San Juan. melting in sum
fner. form constant source OF wate
supply for the rivers. which, witt
their tributaries, bring down a Iarg.
volume of water throughout the whole
season. irrigating and enriching al
the valley land along their course. The
Animas river. which flows through Du
range and southward to New Mexico
is always full of water. nffording @
plentiful supply for all the irrigatlne
bitches that have been cut from it.
Agriculture. In this section, with
out irrigation, is impossible. but by
this process the farmer secures a far
richer and more abundant crop than
his eastern brother who depends upon
summer rains for his harvest; and is
never discomfitted by fear of either
drought or wet season to spoil his
crops in the spring. and turns the wa
ter into his bitches, he is sure of a
bountiful harvest
The maximum temperature of the
summer season is about 90 degrees.
the minimum 75. The nights are al
ways cool and the mornings are de-
| lightful. only the middle part of the
day reaching the maximum heat of
| summer. The warm days of winter
have a temperature of 65 degrees. and
the thermometer in the coolest seasons
seldom falls below zero An average
| between these two extremes Is the
customary temperature.
Smelling is considered at the pres
ent time to be the chief industry of
Durango. A large amount of coal is
produced from the surrouding mount
aims. from which coke for the smelters
is made. and it is easier for the rich
mines of the San Juan country to
send their ore to Durango for smelt-
ing, than it is for Durango coal TO be
carried up into those regions. To
hardly less extent. however, are car
ried on the mining and agricultural
Industries. Wide ranches. green aEd
tlourishing with their hardy products.
cover the whole Animas river valley
both north and south of Durango.
large coal mines are turning out great
quantities of coal every day, and the
| rich Oro Fino district is opening up
claims that will soon provide work
for thousands of men. The Neglected
mine has become wonderful producer
the whole region has been prospected
and numerous smaller properties.
which may some time become great
mines, have been located and are
now being developed. Another rich
strike was made a few days ago at
the Alexander Hamilton mine near
Lightner creek. the ore containing tel
lurum, silver and some gold. These
places are about nine miles from Du-
range, The whole La Plata system,
the most rugged of Durangos peaks.
are rich in gold and silver waiting only
for the prospector's pick.
Farming is carried on very extern
sively throughout the valley. alfalfa.
wheat, oats, and potatoes being the
chief products. Every variety of vege-
table is raised in large quantities and
some of the higher mesas around Du-
range have produced winter wheat,
rye and barley without irrigation of
the surface, The valley soil varies
from sandy loan to heavy clay, and
the mesas have a black vegetable
mould, washed down from the forests
on the higher ground. The harder
| fruits and all kinds of berries are rails
ed successfully and profitably. and
strawberries have been shipped In
large quantities to Denver and other
distant points. Large numbers of
cattle and sheep are raised in the Ami
mas valley, the immense ranges near
the city furnishing them food.
Various sawmills. a few miles out
of the city furnish employment for
large numbers of men; there Is an
iron foundry. new gas plant. large
brick works, an electric light plant
and electric railroad a cold storage
| plant, and commercial pursuits In all
| lines. There Is one small cigar fac
tory with only two or three men en-
ployed.
Durango has a very fine school sys-
TEN. a High school conducted on the
| elective plan, and giving certificates
to any college in the country, and sew
eral schools of lower grades through
out the various districts of the coun-
ty according to the needs. There are
seven churches, most of them having
| fine brick or stone buildings. n hospi-
tai, a young ladies' academy. three
banks. four hotels, and all the accom-
modations for a first class. modern,
progressive city. The beautiful parks
of the town are being fixed up and
opened to the public, free band con-
certs being of frequent occurrence
during the warm weather. Dances and
social entertainments of all kinds are
enjoyed the year round, and baseball
games. races and other outdoor sports
draw large crowds in their seasons.
Bee keeping is carried on to a mod
ate degree, there being some apiaTies
down the valley. Conditions are ia
vorable for this business. An oil well
is now being sunk at the western
margin of the town, and Indications
are that large quantities of petroleum
will be forthcoming in a very short
time, adding to Durango one more
source of wealth. The railroads arc
the Denver & Rio Grande from tht
east, and Silverton and the Rio Grands
| Southern The land has been survey