Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-01-02
SHORT RESV::::;:::'5!:. :! 500 Of VAR|EO|
nd1s society
INDUSTRIES OF Ih|S
SECTION

posed railroads which are to make Q
southern outlet for Durango ant
| furnish a market for coal and coke
The Colorado Fuel & Iron company
and number of smaller concerns
have had men prospecting and locat
| ing coal lands in the field south oil
Durango the past few months, to say
nothing of the claims located by many
individuals. Sufficient work is being
| ton of the coal land claims taken up
| 10 demonstrate their value. The vast
area of coal lands tributary to Duran.
| go is one of the city's proudest boasts,
| and will be great industry hun.
| dred years hence. With the building
Of one or more railroads to the south
| this section will have an immense
| market for its coal and coke and that
industry will Immediately be increas-
cd many fold
Coal mines that are now In opera
ton have been preparing the past
year for increased production, com
mencing very soon. New ground has
been opened up and new machinery
and facilities for the better working
of the mines and increasing the out
put when the necessity arises, have
been installed
The Porter Fuel company alone has
added about 100000 worth of improve
ments. installing an electric railway
at h.. nlA t,fo
car at the Porter and Hesperus mines
and many other improvements, which
will make possible an increased out.
put that will meet any demand which
is likely to be made. The coal produc-
tion for 1904 has been largely handi.
capped from the same cause that II
suffered last year. and that was cur
failing of shipments to Telluride on
account of the labor troubles there
Now that those troubles have been
amicably adjusted and conditions are
assuming their normal shape, the ship
ments of coal to the Telluride dis
trict will be largely increased next
year
The year has been a good one for
building. The greatest building. which
is now nearing completion. is three
story brick hall for the Red Men. 1t
is to cost when completed $4,000.
and it is beauty and an ornament to
the city. Several lesser business
houses and quite number of dwell
ings have also been built, while
scores of residences have been added
to or otherwise improved
Great Power Scheme.
The lockwood Power company has
taken shape the past year and has its
mammoth reservoir and power plant
well under way, and the prospects
are that is will be completed in good
season next year. This enterprise has
given employment TO a large number
of men OF various classes OF labor
common laborers, carpenters, stone
masons. timbermen, choppers, saw
mill men and teamsters. A great deal
of money has been put in circulation
by this company, many landholders
having sold out to them at good
prices, and work has progressed con
tinually since early spring. a large
force of men making good wages the
o'hooii AhiOuBhs Iuty nave JuSl NulSI-
ed several miles Of fiume, which is to
carry water from various creeks and
small streams into the great reser-
voirs above lockwood. A pipe line
will bring the water from the reser-
voir to the location OF the electric
plant this side Of lockwood The COM
| pletion of this plant means the ina,-
| guration of cheap electric power,
which is intended to be utilized by
mines, mills and other enterprises
throughout this section. requiring
| cheap power This will revolutionize
mining. as the matter OF cheap power
is one which determines whether
many a mine In this section works or
not This great enterprise is expected
to give new impetus to the golden
La Platas. Besides this 1t is the in
tention Of the promoters OF the
scheme TO supply electric power to
mines in neighboring counties-Sar
Juan, San Miguel and Ouray. Hence
1t can be readily seen that this greai
power scheme means much not only
for this county, but for the other min
ing sections in southwest Colorado.
| Telephone.
The extension of the telephone
system is worthy Of especial mention
Nearly all the towns OF Southwestern
Colorado and San Juan county, New
Mexico. are now brought into closel
toch with each other by the telephone
The line from Durango to MancoI
was completed January 10 tn, 1904
ana me iine 10 bayneiu naa Uut re
eeutiy Ueea nnisned. Inc hanco'
iIue IaAes IL Porter Aesperus, anS