Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1905-07-13
Lsrrsa senr TO ,Nouiaeas.

Dear Slr:-The following is just a
little sketch OF Durango and surround
ings to which wish to call your at
tention:
The Spanisrd In 1541 discovered
what Is now called southwestern Colo
RADIO, or the Great San Juan; wonder
full mountains and more than won
derful ruined cities; bits OF cloth, bas-
kerry, mummies with silken nair, pot
terry or strange designs and other
things which evidenced nigh civil
Izsuon.
Fremont and his party. on reach
ing the line between the Pacific slope
and the eastern slope of the Rockies,
were amazed at the panorama before
them. He 10 said 10 have written.
we trembled with joy 10 see the
beauty OF peak and plain. unlike any
thing in song or story, more beauti-
full than pen or brush can portray"
He had seen one of the most beauti-
full spots on earth, the 6ower-draped
hills. the winding streams, the noun
tains and valleys, the pine-clad slopes
of The Great San Juan.
A town was built at the widening
or the canyon where two streams
flowed into the AniInas-Durango-
the meeting place OF the waters, and
Of the various tribes for council. The
story of Durango liz romantic one
truth stranger than fiction. Was 1t
chance or wisdom akin to genius
which arranged this spot. surrounded
Nv high tnesss. Storms leap from
peak to peak. while this sheltered
spot Is untouched.
Durango is properly called the SKY
Bright City OF the Rockies" by the 70.
mantle. II is also called t,ne "Smel
ter City" by those of commercial in
stinGt. Seemingly Durango was form
ed 10 creation, and all OF its choicest
deposits hidden in its surrounding
mountains and fertile valleys, and LETT
century's progress. II il the natural
supply point for all of southwestern
Colorado and northern New Mexico
In Its hills we And rich deposits OF
gold, silver. iron and coal In its
fields we produce records watch no
other spot on earth has rivaled. Fol-
the production Of wheat, rye, oats
sugar beets. we have the worlds rec,
ord. Corn grows in great profusion
and our fruits are shipped to the
markets. OF California, New Orleans
and New York.
ypA&hi. urr,at ,,raaynInnal ,,,,,,,,. .,
Colorado. Durango has been the most
neglected Of all. but capital of the
East lie now discovering what won
derful possibilities are in this dis
trict Great strikes iu metals are be
Ing made every day. Placer fields
are found where no one ever suspect
ed gold to he. We have greater fields
of the rubber weed than has ever
beef discovered and two factories will
be In operation in Durango shortly
Cut Durango OF from all the world
and We will produce all the necessi
lies. and nearly all of the luxuries
without outside assistance. Our alti
tude Is $500 feet, aud we brae of 36o
days of sunshine. We have the I'm,
est water and plenty OF it. consequent.
~ our health report rivals that of any
other city In the world Nearly 1000
people live in the city Of Durango
Among the things that we are
proud Of is the second largest smelter
in the West. the second largest cleo
tric power plant in the world. electric
lights, electric street cars. magnili.
cent buildings. unrivaled schools and
people that / will defy any town of
double the size. of Durango TO equal
Think what 1t means for our three
banks To have deposit OF one anG
one-half millions OF dollars, WI
toe incoming of our beet sugar fac
our proposed new paper mill WOO
securing plant AID tannery, business
will jump as II never has before. I
will guarantee to say that nearly 90
per cent OF the homes in Durango are
owned by the people living in them
Toe new railroads are the most I'm.
portant topic OF the day. The South.
eru Pacific. under the name of the
Colorado 4 Arizona. will give Ms a
trunk line to the Gulf of California.
and the Denver a 10 Grande with
Its broad gauge To Pennington. will.
make connections with the Santa Fe
and VIII glvr us an opening for our
products 10 the eastern and western
coasts, Old Mexico and the South