Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-04-17
DURANGO. THE METROPOLIS
or SOUTHWEST COLORADO
(By Mrs. F. c. Perkins.D


chords OF resounding narmonies that
the world must near. Seemingly Du-
range was formed first, in creation,
and all the choicest deposits hidden
In its surrounding mountains left for
the benefit of twentieth century prog
ress.
In any community the water ques-
ton Is an all important one, and most
cities are fortunate If they have one
unfailing source OF supply, but Duran
go has Two inexhaustible mountain
streams from wnich she can draw a
limitless amount to quench her thirst
or lave her face. Far up in the gran
Its hills, free from all contamination,
rises the beautiful Florida, whose
pure sparkling water fills the city
mains. and in Its course is open only
to the purifying air and the rays of
the golden sun. The otner never
failing supply is the Animas, called
by the imaginative early Spanish ex-
las. the River of Lost Souls-a grue-
some name. but misnomer indeed.
for such another stream never cours.
ed through any continent. Viewed
from the peak towering to the west
of our fair city, this peculiar winding
stream presents a picture of fascinat-
ing beauty as I, creeps in undulating
descent through the fertile valley TO
which ii gives its name, after its dash
ing course through the far-famed An.
imas canon farther up. 1t has no
''worn-out" farms and needs none ol
the scientific incubation to produce
marvellous crops OF grains aud grasses
that would stagger an eastern farm
er The soil IL ricn in nitrogen and
phospnoric acid and all other ingredl-
ents to grow luxuriaDt crops. which
take the prize in competition with the
world. The valleys vie with each
otner for the supremacy In boundless
fertility. The panoramic variety OF
owing to tne infinite variety OF the
encircliDg mountains.
Within radius of fifty miles are
many prosperous towns and villages.
rich in agricultural resources, or the
wealth of the mines. Millions OF
beautiful tall pines stand as sentinels
over the forests, that man has not
dared to molest.
Rancners in Colorado are men OF
means, education and progress. They
hs ,uitu tpt al
nifty. A gigantic system of irrigation
brings the life-giving water to the fer
tile soil. and bounteous crops repay
the toll with no wlthered fields.
brown and sere from lack of rain
The amount raised on small area
affords the farmer his living while
the rest of his ranch affords him the
iuxuries.
Coal should have no second place
In our description. The eve is easily
deceived into believing the wnole
mountains are made of coal. Thick
massive deposits crop from the sides,
and prove the inexhaustlble supply
of the BLACK diamonds" 1t Is Meth.
er hard nor soft. but breaks with a
clean lustrous fracture. and never
crumbles on exposure to the weather,
and in quantities to supply the world.
Within easy access over excellent
roads are tne metaliferous mountains
with gold and silver in such quaint
ties as to make 'get-rich-quick'
concern die with envy and the ore
comes in such quantity AS to make
Dnrango's smelling plant rival all
others In the state, with a payroll ol
400 men. and the best paid laborers
at that.
For The higner mountains the bur
ro, the famous Rocky Mountain Ca.
nary" with his ludicrous voice and
hardy back, carries the ore down and
the supplies up, the least expensive
beast of burden known 10 man, feed
ing on sunshine and sage brush, Tree
10 ALL
The lockwood power plant, twenty
five miles up the valley. with It's tire
mendous water power insures Duran,
go with limitless electrical energy for
teeming population. Time only can
tell what will not be run by that mil
lion-dollar enterprise.
Durango has every force behind II
that humanity is acquainted with to
push 1t to the front The board OF
trade, composed of prosperous, ener
getic merchants and business men
have opened wide the throttle and
forward she must 60. Railroads are
already fighting for rights of way
realizing the immensity OF the re-.
sources OF this region. Already the
Denver a. Rio Grande has its men at
work grading on the new line
Durango has $500 Inhabitants, elec.
'ric lights. electric car service, iele.
phones, waierworks. the best schools
and buildings In the southwest
churches. well-kept streets, fine pub
lie buildings. free library, and annual
fairs that attract from the whole sur.
rounding region.
II makes ones mouth water even
TO mention the luscious fruit raised
in the region tributary to Durango.
and its fame has spread abroad In
spite of lack OF facilities for market
ing IL that have heretofore existed
80. H.. ~