Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-08-10
DURANGO IS KING
OF A GOLDEN EMPIRE

For the benefit of the distinguished
party of visitors who are in our city
today The Herald will briefly call at
tentton to the principal resources OF
Durango and the tributary territory,
and also to some of the bright pros
poets OF the near future.
Durango's population is nearly l..
900. II is the distributing point for
vast area of country. embracing
Silverton, on the north. Pagosa
Springs and the little towns on the
Denver Il Rio Grande east of here !;
Aztec, Pennington and the whole OF
San Juan county, n NJ on the south /;
Mancos, Cortez and Dolores on the
west, and the La Plata mountains on
the northwest
1t is the pride OF Durango's citizens
that the resources of their town are
more diversified than can be boasted
of by any other town in the state.
The chief industries are agricul-
ture and fruit raising; cattle. horses
and sheep; metal mining; coal min
ing; smelling; lumber and new in
dustry just starting-the manufac
ture of rubber from rubber weed.
For 4lny years the town has been
called lc Smelter City of the South
west" he smelter is branch
plant @. he American Smelling &
Refining company. Its Importance
grows as the mining industry OF the
ts. TOD
here from Telluride, Rico. Ouray. Sill
verton. Creede, the Needle mountains
and the La Platas. The smelter has
for many years maintained large
payroll which has ever been a potent
factor in the stability of the town.
Durango is surrounded by vast
and rich agricultural area, and each
year more land is being reclaimed and
put under cultivation.
The great fruit section lies in San
Juan county, n. NJ, and that wonder
ful home of the apple and other
fruits. McElmo canon in MonteZuma
county, both of which are tribu-
tary to Durango this being the mar
ket point for all shipments. San
Juan county fruit is finding place
in the markets from San Francisco
to New York and from Canada to the
City of Mexico. San Juan has the
reputation of being the wealthiest
county per capita in the United
States. Nearly every adult resident
is land owner and the people near
ly all own their homes. The advant-
ages offered by this section to the
homeseeker are rapidly being taken
advantage of and the country is en-
ioying a great and substantial growth.
They will soon have railroad connec-
lions with the outside world which
will enable them to market their fruit
without the long hauls that have al
ways been necessary heretofore. The
Denver q Rio Grande is building u
branch from Durango to Pennington
and the road is expected TO be ex-
tended on south. Cars will be run
ming to Aztec within another month
and to Pennington a few weeks later.
Montezuma county offers opportun'
tiles for the homeseeker such as are
rarely met with in the West, and the
whole county is enjoying a rapid and
substantial growth.
Within few miles of Durango are
the golden La Platas a district EN-
bracing a number of shipping mines,
and at the same time containing a
vast area of unprospected territory.
The May Day is a great gold produc-
el about which little is heard. the af-
fairs of the mine being kept very
uuiet, II has been steady shipper
from the time a pick was first stuck
into the ground, and a depth of about
400 feet demonstrates that the ore
goes down, the values holding out
euual To those on the surface. This
is the greatest depth ever gained IN
the entire district, and it is said that
this is he first instance where none!
and a thorough knowledge of mining
have been combined in tnis section
The Neglected is another producer
with an enviable record but as sale
Is pending. little work is being done.
The Durango Girl is another mine
with record OF some extremely ni6h
grade shipments. Other mines wor
thy of mention are the Comstock,
Bulldozer. Chief. Bonnie Girl. Boren
Gulch, Little Jane, Columbus. Bessie
G., Old Kentucky, and several placer
properties. Considerable develop
ment. including mill building, is be
. ing done in this district.
The Needle mountains. between Du
range and Silverton. after a quarter
OF a century of desultory and spas
modic working on small scale. have
at last developed a shipper of un
usually high grade, large body o.
ore being opened up In the Bullior
Mountain group, and this has stimu
lated other property owners to re
new their efforts.
East. south and west Of Durangt