Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-03-02


lands of San Juan county, where the
sunshine and peculiar soil plants and
enrich It's fruit
From Jewett and Fruitland on the
San Juan to Cedar Hill on the Animas
Is almost continuous orchard. whose
fruit has captured the prizes at the
eNpositions held in Chicago. Omaha.
st Louis. and Paris The apple may
be classed as king of fruits. Last
year shipment of apples was made
to Chicago, which sold on the market
from $3.50 to $500 per box and The
Packer said; They were the finest
and prettiest lot OF apples that II has
been our lot to witness In the Chica-
go market and they were all from san
Juan county" A train load of apples
were shipped over the ID. & II. G.. n
few years ago bearing the legend
All from San Juan county, New Mex
leo. million apples and not sin
gle worm
A writer In describing an orchard
half mile from Aztec court house
says: TO realize any of the capabili.
| Ties of San Juan county. YOU must
visit the orchards. The trees of sum.
mer, with their green vigor. their
depth of shadows, their delicate ira,
eer'es, their dainty dancing to the
merry breeze, have been extolled but
the fall Is sacred to Ceres and Bac.
chus. II Is the season of seasons.
Then the orchards and gardens are
ablaze with color. a feast for the eye,
and palate too, for that matter"
'Rosy'cheeked apples, golden pears,
velvety peaches. purple and pale
green grapes. yellow and crimson
plums. from scene of plenty that
beggars description"
Cherries, strawberries, raspberries,
blackberries, currents. and other
small fruits grow prolific in the val.
ley.
The Future Great.
That Aztec. the county seat, is and
Will remain tine important town of
this productive valley cannot be gain
said by anyone conversant with her
location. surroundings and resources.
Equidistant from Cedar Hill and
Pennington. Blanco Bloomfield and La
Plata, with the beautiful Flora Vista
but few miles below, shows conclu.
sively, she will be the shipping point
OF the valley. From Cedar Hin to
Flora Vista. the valley on botn sides
OF the river has the most productive
agricultural lands in the west.
The San Juan river country is an.
other section that is almost, II not
quite, as rich in soil and productive
ness. and in the near future viii be
heard from and recognized by the peo-
pie seeking new homes. 1t will not be
noted SO much for its sheep and cat
tie and range and large wool clip. as
for It's horticultural and agricultural
products. Already there are thrifty
settlements springing up, and a bridge
across the river somewhere between
Blanco and Bloomfield. would add to
the value OF land and wonderfully In,
crease Its population. This whole re-
gion IL tributary to Aztec and It's peo-
pie would nere dispose of their pro
ducts and buy their supplies.
The building Of the Rio Grande rail
road from Durango to Aztec and Farm
ington the grading OF which has al
ready commenced, will open up the
La Plata country. 1t is learned that
this road will run spur from Aztec
to the coal fields The Durango Tele-
graph Of last Saturday, said. in sub
stance, the Southern Pacific has ac-
quired q larger area of coal lands
there than any OF the other coal cor
porations. One outfit has been known
as the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. and
another, which was supposed to be
the Phelps Dodge syndicateb is tnle
Rio Grande or a combination OF the
two. The Rock Island is said to have
located 5000 acres, rs the checks
of the company have been paid for
work done there. II Is the life OF the
Southern Pacific to build in there.
The building of the government
canal and reservoirs, survey work on
which will be resumed in April. II
consumated, will open up the greatest
country under the stars, and this Is
no dream. The products OF tnis section
naturally belong to Aztec as the ship
ping point TO the outside world.
The other railroads coming from
the south SHOULD convince the most
skeptic that Aztec is destined to be
come. in this section. The Future
| Great"
| In Conclusion.
| This county offers every induce
ment to new settlers; the country
Is new and lands are cheap. People
are coming from the East, Middle
West. North and West. and when
railroads begin carrying passengers
and freight all present conditions will
be changed. Lsnds will be higher and
harder to secure, although at present
we have enough left for 200. 900 inhab.
itants.
The people are coming here now be
cause the country Is the best In the
world. best watered; raises crops OF
the best variety; not afflicted with
drought. bizzards. cold winters; rails
es horses. hogs, sheep and cattle. has
wood and coal; taxes low; 1t is n land
OF churches. schools and good society
and finally. because the people are hos
| nitahIa and will Walcnma you tn n