Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-04-10

diploma has a passport TO the univer-
sity.
Nor are the churches behind the
schools Each of the principal de-
nominations has its own congregation.
There are eight houses of worship.
the German Lutheran, the Baptist,
which is a pretty new stone building
with study, lecture room and Sunday
school apartment; the NJ. +. North
and NJ H. South each with it's parson-
age; the Episcopal. which is a pictures
que little chapel, the Mexican Cath
olic. with its parocbial school. the
Presbyterian with its $1,000 manse
Just completed, and the English Catn-
Ollie with its parochial school and hos
ptal. All Of them save two are self
supporting, and all are well equipped.
So the nomeseeker has the founda-
tion laid for him. If ne asks about
the prospect, his question makes the
pen of man falter, for, though much
is in sight, doubtless the wealth of
the region Is hidden from observation.
Tne plow of the farmer, and pick OF
the prospector. and shovel of the min
tl. dUu lUDUtN VI lus
come to tell the tale; but some OF the
apparent possibilities are as follows:
Durango is in the midst of an agrl-
cultural section. Vast stretches of
adjacent territory which are open to
the public for grazing are covered
with grass six montns in the year, and
nearer at hand are rich low plains
which are or may be watered by irri-
cation. The government finished sur
veys for a ditch just a snort time ago
which is calculated TO water 100000
acres of land, and make 5000 new
farms and there is room for a mum
ber OF like investments.
Doubtless such enterprises can be
made to pay. More than one-third
of the vegetables. chickens, eggs, oats.
wheat. hay and pork consumed are
shipped in from points from 200 to
500 miles distant at mountain freight
rates. The consumer has TO pay the
Iariff. OF course, which makes all
such products high; but all of them
thrive about Durango. All needed to
raise all sucn stun at home is TWO
things; First, capitol TO dig ditches;
second, men of Drawn and brain to
ill the soil; and ,wheresoeyer the
Two things can be gotten together, the
outlay promises much. Until tne sup
ply is equal 10 the demand the maket-
price Is bound to remain up, and. since
the mining industry grows faster tnan
he farming, the demand can but con-
tinue 10 tax the supply.
Durango also has an economical
large stream vito swift current,
whose waters may be corralled. The
Canal, Reservoir, Water, Power and
Investment Company has already built
dam about 25 miles above the town,
and Us installing plant TO run tne
machinery of the mines and villages
for radius OF 40 miles. Manufact-
ruers may harness this unseen force
TO the wheels of their factories, or
| If it is 10 their advantage, may pen
up the same waters at mucn near
er point and utilize them for indivi-
dual purposes.
But the treasures of the region are
In its mineral deposits. Durango is
walled in with coal. Hitherto the out
put has been limited because OF a
shut-in market, but eight mines which
employ about 400 men at from $3.50 to
$500 per dey nave been in regular
operation and the way is at last open
for unressticted development The
Southern Pacific railroad and the
Phelps. Dodge people who have large
lmelting interests in Mexico, Arizona
and New Mexico in their desperate
straits for fuel have become convinc-
ed that this is the place for tnem to
come for 1t. The Southern Pacific un-
Ter the corporate name Colorado and
Arizona II. h. mas made surveys OF
late al an expense of $50 900 for road
to extend down the Las Animas val
ley TO point near Clifton, Ariz.;
| he Phelps Dodge people in conjunction
with the ID. & II. G., X. r. nave al
ready begun to make the dirt fly on
road TO go down the La Plata valley
md connect with the Santa Fe at
Grant Station. n NJ. and both of
nem cut through bed of as good
bituminous coal 40 miles from north
20 south and none knows how far
| from east to west as there is in the
world, The first men in the field
are sure of their reward. There the
capitalist may have a lucrative bust
| ness. and the miner earn more than
living wage
Ana the quartz mines are also in
viting. The La Platas are veined
with silver and gold. A single stroke
| IT the pick there may make man
rich Withinsight of the town--1S
| miles to the north-west-eight work
ngs have shown paying values; two
are past the development stage, and
are steady shippers and one has taken
ont about 100000 above expenses in
he last three years. In this vicin-
lly the prospector nas visions of a
hole in the ground inlaid with lust
| rous silvanite and studded with mug
gets of gold, and the capitalist with
nerve enough to invest may realize
he dream.
SO tina, which is suggests much.
The outlook of the vista is a metropo-
lis. But great city is built, and, tho
the natural resources are at hand,
willing muscle, wit and money are
needed to secure the future. Rose