Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1906-07-23
CENTER .IOF
BtGe9UNT

Evidences of material progress In
the industries OF Montezuma county
during the past year are found at Do
lores, the prosperous little town on
the Dolores river. and an important
shipping point on the Rio Grande
Southern railway, 20 miles west Of
Mapcos and 40 miles south OF Rico.
Cortez. IA miles distant. Is reached
by stage. carrying the mail.
Dolores is the old trading point for
the stockgrowers OF the West, and
until few years ago this trade ex-
tended $50 miles west. Twenty
years ago the town was the extreme
western point Of supply for all that
country as far west as the Blue noun
sains. but during recent years other
the Dolores area. until now the west
srn boundary IL only about 35 miles
distant The northern boundary is
about as far distant and the southern
line about 10 miles. On the east the
trade is divided with Mancos.
The two larger mercantile COM
panies are now enlarging their build
ings to meet the demands of the
trade. ]. J. Harris & Co., are adding
stone annex of one story, 32x100
feet to be used as salesroom, prob
ably for dry goods, carpets and furni-
ture, and the Dolores Mercantile com
pany is building stone, adding enough
on the rear to make the building
32x100 feet Exon & Rush, among
the largest meat dealers in the coun-
wy, are building stone house 50x80
feet with basement.
There are three large sawmills EN-.
ploying O large number OF men who
contribute to the trade of the little
city. The mills cut from 100000 to
10000 feet OF lumber daily. The
principal and permanent elements of
trade come about equally from agri-
culture and stockgr0wing.
The stockgrowing industry is grow
ing rapidly. Last year about $4,000
worth of cattle were shipped from
here. besides considerable number
of sheep Great quantities OF wool
from the Utah sections are hauled to
Dolores for shipment to the markets.
Many cars are being loaded here now.
The annual shipments have amounted
to about $4,000. The hay product
OF the immediate country is used by
the people here, principally by stock
feeders.
Dolores boasts the finest stockyards
In the southwest situated about
three-Quarters of mile from town.
In the mouth Of Lost canon. The
population of the town is modestly
given at about 400, but the schools
show an enrolment of about 100, with
half as many not attending. Two
teachers are employed. The building
which is very creditable is being
thoroughly renovated and repaired for
the next term. In the district there
are Eve other rural schools which
have beer making splendid progress,
and It will be interesting to many
economists to learn that this district
IL generally about $500 to the good.
Everything at Dolores bears evidence
Of prosperity. The people live in good
houses and keep their horses in com
Portable barns In winter. The chill.
dren all look tidy and the young Ia
dies are quite as attractive as those
Of Durango. Sturdy men and boys
with hobnail boots come and go
they are the fellows who keep things
moving.
Since 1t has been proven that fruit
grows high up among the cedars and
pinons, on the hills and slopes, many
new orchards have been set out dur.
ing the past year and many more will
be set out this fall and next spring.
Fruit Is growing here above an alti.
tude OF 1000 feet, and It has matured
and ripened to perfection. Contem-
plated irrigation enterprises would
bring in thousands Of acres more OF
high lands which a few years ago
were generally regarded as worthless. /
Reservoirs may be constructed at alti.
tudes 1000 feet higher than Dolores
which would irrigate the highest
lands available to agriculture. |
ihe peopie mere, 100, want 10 KNOW
II anybody knows what the Southern
Pacific railway is going to do about
building from the south. They COM
plain that they cannot reach the mar.
hets In competition with western
slope points.
1t is estimated that the annual
trade of Dolores aggregates from
$25O,GO0 to 100000. owing to the
crop yield and stock shipments.
1t is very evident that there has |
been gradual gain In trade here for |
~ years. The numbering interests
have been about the same In proper
ton all that time, SO the growth has
been in farming and stockgrowing.
The upbuilding OF the adjacent sec
tions will give the town a gradual
growth for several years to come and
1t Is possible for the place to acquire
population OF 1000. even should
there be no further important discov.
cries OF mineral within the Dolores
area. Only portion of the Bear
creek country Is included in this
trade area at present In that sec