Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-08-03

Small patches of rubber weed are
seen in the little parks and glens
about the foothills of the La Plata
mountains. at attitudes of 1000 and
5000 feet.
II half of the mining deals pending
in the La Plata district are consum-
mated there will be several new com.
panies operating with enough money
TO develop mines.
There are from 10000 to $4,000
sheep in the Lightner and Deep creek
foothills. ranging as high as 10000
feet. The grasses are rich and juicy
and the sheep are fat.
Miss Lou Smith departed this
morning for der home in Farmland.
Ind. after n two weeks pleasant Wis
1t with her brother. W w Smith and
his family.
Jesse Shields and partners expect
TO start construction of fume for
placer mining on South Lightner
creek within few days Results
from prospecting surface gravels
they feel, warrants tnem In more ex-
Tensive mining
Lillian Hartman Johnson and son
Charles a., Jr.. arrived from Chicago
yesterday evening and Will remain at
Durango and In the Montezuma val
ley two or three weeks attending to
some business matters and getting
away from the heat OF Chicago
Tne foothlll ranch is to become
within few years the Independent
home OF thousands OF people who will
get their mail at Durango, Deep
SHOWS OF winter cut no figure where
big crops are raised and warm stables
and sheds are provided for stock.
Durango outing parties have exper-
fenced many difficulties with fallen
trees, sliding rock and earth across
during the past few weeks. II re-
quires constant attention to keep
such thoroughfares open for travel
William McQuald is up from camp
today and reports that grading is
practically finished on the Farming
ton line distance Of 80 miles. The
graders are being let out as the work
is finished and they leave for other
fields, many of them going to the Uin
tan opening. The force has been
thus reduced to about 300.
Encouragement of the exploration
and development of the east side OF
the La Plata mountains will do much
for Durango. The poorest roads In
the district are ON the Durango side
Without good roads along the La Pla-
section would now be 20 years behind
Its present state OF development and
gold production.
George w. Lane and the Misses
Freda and Edna Ambold and their
ing from their outing on the head of
the Rio Grande They were accom-
panied on their trip by Louis Wyman
of Sllverton. They report most en-
joyable time and brought back lit
tie box OF fish az evidence OF their
luck.
The rain storm visiting Durango
yesterday appears to have extended
as far north as Silverton and west
through the La Plata mountains. The
Anlmas river raised two feet between
8 O'Clock in the morning and in the
evening. 1t was a pretty day for
dragging horses down the soft slip
perry sleeps OF mountain sides where
there are no trails, a good day for
ducks"
Charlie Van Brimmer and Johnnie
Herr returned from flying trip to
the Deep creek country Saturday
evening. There was some nice look
Ing ore lying about on the ground
near the hole they dug. A rainstorm
came up and drove the boys away be
fore they had eaten their hard-boiled
eggs. They couldn't dig their shaft
any deeper without hammer and drills
and powder.
Many Durangoites who calculated
on being on the ground the first day
at the drawing for lands on the Uin-
tab reservation, have concluded that
their chances will be as good or bet
ter 60 days later. and some of them
will not go at all. The chances at
home are good. many chances better
than In Utah, and hundred or more
dollars saved from travelling expenses
will help out good deal In starting
ranch around Durango. The prices
OF farm products acre. too, are three
times AS much as In Utah.
The Normal Institute will com
mence at Mancos August II and last
two weeks. The conductor will be
Professor Miller of Fort Collins. who
,nuductaa tho la at normal fuatitute in