Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-03-06
. 4 4 . u = 4 = d . . 4 q 9 q {
souTHERN sREEzEs.
BY viii A. Ballingsr.

Considerable like summer for the
past few days. Dry roads; and the
old San Juan booming. No mail
since Thursday.
A few cases OF smallpox-mild
form-in the Hammond settlement
Little danger of 1t spreading. II the
warm weather continues for few
days the settlement will be effectually
quarantined by the river.
None of the San Juan rancners will
he sorry to see considerable of the
snow melt at an early date. Farm
operations on bottom land will be
more secure.
Our county election for local officers
was found to be illegal and the com
missionera wece to f1ll the Offices
by appointment last Monday.
A letter from the Hon. Granville
Pendleton announces the Introduction
of foul brood bill in our legislature.
Mr.. Pendleton is sending out some
up-to San Juan county circulars
that are o. X.
The mail brought us flaming cir
cular from which we CLEAN some in
formation that is decidedly new. II
states that one oil well to an acre is
the usual estimate and in some fields
rs many as sixteen are drilled on
an acre We're dead easy, but that's
most too strenuous for a New Mexi-
can. We'll gladly turn the order
blanks over to some one who wants
to take stock. In good territory in
the Trenton rock fields eight to ten
wells are considered amply sufficient
for eighty acres, while in the best
pools six acres, while In the best
minimum for a well.
Rancn work is slowly getting under
headway, and by the last Of March
should be booming.
A sugar factory would be a great
thing for this part of the country,
and we hope TO see the enterprise
pushed ahead. Let us look at the
propositions: A s5O.ton factory. the
size OF that at Grand Junction. which
we believe is the smallest in Colo.
| rado.-those at I.oveland and Rocky
Ford being l.O00-ton outhts-woulj
in the regular working season of 100
days use the production OF about g.
| 900 acres. The expense OF growing
| at $40 per acre would aggregate $780,
| 600 annually. This being principally
labor would remain at home. Thir-
teen tons TO the acre would probably
be near the average yield. although
| not be content to raise only an av-
| erage crop. This should bring $5 per
| acre or more per ton at the dumps as
| tests at Quilla Park showed San Juan
Dee's 10 tahe tnt ledn oi MI AIueTIcdu
grown heets-S5 per cent purity and
81 per cent saccharine matter. This
gives $4,000 for use of land and pro
At. Next we would nave the factory
pay roll, which would not be small
A 3bo-ton factory would consume
about 5000 tons of coal, 700 Of coke
and about $500 tons of lime rock In
a working season. The pulp, which is
very fne feed for sheep and cattle
would cause the establishment OF
quite feeding industry near the
factory AS 5000 acres would he a
small area to devote to beet growing
within reach Of the factory. we may
as well double these figures. FERTILE
ers are necessary. where crop rOta
ton is not practical. to secure tine
highest results, but the rancher who
properly looks after this matter will
not have to figure on a $65 per acre
basis.
| Weather report for last week;
Highest temperature, 60: lowest, 81;
greatest daily change, 30 degrees
least. 10 degrees; precipitation. "a
inches.