Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1906-07-26
BAYFIELD,
COUN TRY
Growing Metropolis Of the
Pine and Surrounding
Resources

greater fall than the AntmaS river,
doubly greater, Pine carries as much
water every minute as does the Ami
mas.
And this is not all. From the head
to the mouth of Pine, ABOUT go miles.
there are nearly four times the area
OF farming land possessed by the
Animas watershed. Might as well
tell the truth.
The area OF bottom lands along the
Pine probably is not as great as that
along the Animas. Pine has less
wire grass stepped in alkali than has
the Animas. Pine has its first, sec
ond, third and fourth benches OF land,
one rising above the other in steps OF
30 to so feet, and all can be covered
with water without building the first
storage reservoir. While Pine river
is giving more water to irrigation ca
mails and bitches today than Is the
Animas, the stream appears to be
ready to give up five times as much
more. Much of what is known as the
Florida country is the west wing OF
the Pine river valley which may be
Sdlu W Ne " uiilcS iou6 Anu ~ hicS
wide.
The values of improved lands In
this section range from $50 TO 500
per acre About all the land 1T for
farming has been located-that land
lying within 20 miles of Bayfield,,
north or south.
Lands further down the river, to-
Mo- loco ptt-
tiyated, can be purchased for from
$40 to $50 per acre.
The Pine river country, like all Its
neighbors, is shy on hay. but has ex-
cellent yields of grain. Fruit grow
Ing which has only recently begun
here, is making good progress. The
people are learning which are the
best orchard lands and are moving
out to higher grounds, leaving the
flats for hay and the dangers OF over
irrigation.
Bayfield, Is a country village OF the
old-fashioned sort, where all the
church bells ring at once and the
COWS bay in concert with their jang-
ling bells. 1t was voted a few days
ago to incorporate the town and a
day or SO later the people of the
school district decided to abandon the
school house on the hill and build a
new and better one down in the town.
In their differences of opinion and in
terest the people fought with the
same zest that has characterized SO
many Durango school elections, but
at bayfield, the vanQuished threw up
his hat and hollered as loud as the
victor Bayfield, has many nice peo-
Pile and a few very nice residences.
1t is pretty site where rich people
will 60 to live and to get away from
the clamor Of the city-they will go
there TO sleep in the cool breezes
famed down from the mountains
when the day is over
The Pine river country has fully
gain thousand year for 10 years.
There will probably be more towns
than bayfield,. The first one will be
farther south than Ignacio. The land
owners have not begun to cut up
their tracts but will probably begin
to do 80 within year or SO. Many
of them tell you 40 or 80 acres is
enough for farm. Nearly every
ranchman has bunch OF stock and
helps to supply the markets for beef,
pork and mutton. They do not have
to vote bonds to get water, but will
have to construct some higher line
bitches and reach out to claim a
greater population.
The most valuable lands along the
river are among the allolments made
to the Utes and hundredes of acres OF
these are covered with the sage
brush found there 30 years ago.
bayfield, has a larger trade than
many would imagine. There are four
general stores, hardware store and
Hour mill. Since Incorporating IL is
among the ambitions to have an elec-
trio light plant and a water system
Ex-County Commissioner Herman
SHREDDER has under consideration the
matter of adding electrical machinery
to his flour mill to furnish lights, and
1t probably. will not be more than a
year before an effort will be made to
secure water system
The people are divided as to wheth-
er Bayfield, shall have a saloon. Some
OF them say one saloon at $1,000 a
year, would pay the interest on wa
ter bonds. Others favor going to the
river to get drink.
bayfield, feels cock sure OF getting
a railroad some time. 1t Is figured
that the Rio Grande will have to go
in there TO protect its territory and
that II the Southern Pacific ever does
build into the country. 1t cannot miss
bayfield,.
Pine river is the best fishing stream
In the southwest. Few anglers fail
to bring in string of fish. A trout
for breakfast every morning at the
only hotel makes travelling men talk
and tell the next landlord what he
ought to have In his hotel.
Among the things Durango might
contemplate for the future would be
an electric line Of transit to the Pine
river valley, one that would carry
and freight. This would
help Durango and please its neigh
1ors on the Pine. The hrst years
business would pay q handsome mar