Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1903-10-29
PROSPEROUS
PINE RIVER
DISTRICT

|
TO the resources of our county. The
mining section has certainly given eyi.
dencc of great wealth from the many
new discoveries made that arc now
| producing. Many OF the old proper.
ties have been cleaned up and again
put in the paying columns. The east
| ern portion of the county is devoted to
| agricultural and stock interests and to
| realize what has been done and now
| under way one must pay visit To
that great heretofore undeveloped re-
gion.
II Is estimated there Is now under
| cultivation in the Pine river district
10000 acres and the coming year Will
have grand total OF $4,000 acres nm
der pillow and harrow. large portion
of this land has been reclaimed
through the means Of ditch construc-
ton.
The ditch now nearing completion.
known as the Hillside ditch. taps Pine
river short distance below Bayfield,
following closely the foothills as seen
from the railroad after leaving Igna-
clio. This ditch will convey water to
cover 10000 acres or more, taking In
mat large area east or northeast of
lgnacio known as Vallejo No pref
tier or productive soil exists In the
state. II has been remarked by thous-
ands OF observers coming and going
over the Rio Grande railroad, what
an IDEAL farming section this would
be II water could only be brought to
cover IT," Well. that time has come
and In another year hundreds of new
homes viii have been established.
The ditch to cover this land will be
ten miles in length and cost 1886 5000.
Up the river about eight miles an
other survey has been started and he
fore winter sets In a new ditch will
be located taking In all the high land
under the foothills north of the Pa
gosa Strings wagon road. This enter
prise is known as the Beaver Creek
and n. d. Ranch ditch and IT is esti-
mated eight to ten thousand acres
will be made productive.
The King ditch company and the
Morrison ditch. which was completed
the past summer, will cover 1900
acres.
Could a Durango citizen ask for
greater evidence of growth of our own
county? In less than Ave years this
great farming region OF east La Plata
county Will be dotted with happy
homes doubling our present popula-
ton. And what is to be gained by
this additional farm land is beyond
on IayI a Tho v,tI A,.I
ready market and at good prices. 1t
will cut OFF to a great extent importing
farm and dairy products which has
been a great drawback to the advances
ment Of the whole southwest.
BAYFIELD,.
Bayfield, Is the trading point for n
good portion of the Pine river district.
The town is unincorporated; temper
ate as most places when no permits
sion is granted to sell spirituous liqu-
ors. has three churches-Presbyter
Methodist and other denominations; a
graded school with Albert Guess as
principal; the attendance is good and
the condition of the school speaks
well for the community.
The Woodmen OF the World have
recently completed a hall costing ST.
900. two stories. 24xG0. the first floor
to be devoted To public meetings and
entertainments, having seating ca
pacity of>300. The Woodmep are
strong and have shown UNUSUAL enter
prise in having a building of their
own.
Geo. G. Coddington. one OF the pion-
errs OF Pine river, has In the past
furnished accommodations for lodges
and entertainments and the Codding-
ton hall has been the scene OF many
pleasant gathering and will be long re-
membered by the people. Mr.. Cod
dington is an old bachelor and gen
tleman whom it is a pleasure to meet.
bayfield, is well supplied with stores.
blacksmith and wagon shop, markets,
etc.
THE INDIANS.
When one has looked over what the
white man is doing that is not all.
There are the Ute Indians who own
great deal OF land, 30 per cent oil
which is unlmproyed and the pros
poets are good that it Will remain SO.
The Utes are not overburdened with
ambition. Work does not agree with
them. but with the rising generation
there is a disposition TO work and
when they farm good crops are rails
ed There are few OF the older
Utes who have good farms and good
stock about them, but the majority OF
them prefer to draw rations and an
nuities and spend their time in Idle
ness.
It is the policy OF the government to
teach the present generation how to
work and give them schooling. The
government. school. which is located
at the agency. is known as the South
ern Ute Training school. 1t is Stu
ated on one side OF 35-acre tract un-
der fence with an irrigatiDg ditch TAX
en- from the Pine. The school was es-
tsblished 2 years ago last March with
la little Ute Indian boys and girls.
The building Is quite an imposing
structure. standing on an elevated
corner. two stories. with bassCent