Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1905-11-20
SAN JUAN COUNTY
PUSHES FORWARD
Editor Frank Staplin
Tells of Swift
Advance.
RAIL EXTENSION BIG FACTOR
Denver & Rio Grande Opens
Vast Territory---Is Great
Fruit Country.

Frank Staplin, the energetic publish
er of the Pennington Enterprise, re-
turned TO his San Juan County home
Saturday morning over the Denver &
Rio Grande Railroad. Mr.. Staplin is
publishing paper, which Is big
factor in pushing the northwestern
part OF the Sunshine Territory to the
front, by its constant work, in calling
|attentiOn to the extraordinary natur-
al resources, which offer wealth and
happiness to thousands of people.
Asked concerning the progress of San
Juan County by a New Mexican re-
porter, Mr. Staplin said:
Building and permanent improve
lnents are being made very rapidly
now. Since the first of February, the
Red Apple line of the Denver & Rio
Grande Railroad, which is q broad
gauge branch, has been completed
from Durango, to Pennington, which
is the terminal of course, and is rap
idly assuming importance as the trad
ing point for large area Of country,
to which the advantages of railroad
| facilities have not yet extended. The
places which thus become tributary to
the San Juan metropolis are Fruitland,
Jewett, Kirkland and all the valley of
the San Juan beyond the extensive
and undeveloped lands of the San
Juan Valley above and to the east of
Pennington, the partially reclaimed
valley and mesas of La Plata and all
| the vast rolling lands of the Navajo
Indian Reservation"
| Trade is Developing.
With such an immense tributary
lcountry in which trade is being de-
iyeloped rapidly to denend upon, Ferna
ington is fast taking advantage of her
situation and new buildings are being
CONSTRUCTED as rapidly as material can
be obtained. Good business blocks
2 land residences are demanded by the
, new conditions and both are being
provided
"The government has contracted fol
land is constructing school buildings to
the value of over $4,000 at ShfprOck,
thirty miles west Of Pennington and
at that place large office buildings are
projected and 1t is to be made the
headquarters for all government busi-
ness with thousands of Navahos. New
buildings are also under construction
at Aztec, at Fruitland and in fact IN
every part of the county.
"The present year has been pros
porous one for the farmers, stock rails
ers. and the new railroad has done
four times the business that was eX-
pected in carrying out products OF
the soil--particularly fruit.
Great Fruit Country.
"The Animas Valley, the greatest
fruit country on earth, is ren'd'I at
tracing attention on the outside aud
the demand for its fruit far exceeds
the supply.
"The profits of fruit raising, where
the orchards are we'll taken care OF,
are enormous, sometimes netting
above all expenses labor, interest, IN
vestment and taxes, ETC., over S3oo
per acre. Especially, is this true OF
! cherries, peaches, melons, and veget-
3 liable are equally profitable.
5 "The people are just beginning 70
i. take advantage of their changed con-
{, ditions and the progress of industry
n lis becoming more rapid and gaining
q strength and volume and San Juan
r Countv. with resources too numerous
TO enumerate, is fast becoming the
+ banner county of the Sunshine Terri
g tory in health, wealth and prosperity.