Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1906-07-23
OURANCO'S
FARM LANDS
Rich Section Southeast oil
Durango and Ground Is
Barely Scratched.

Durango has little hiea OF the yust-
ness OF her farming support on the
cast, In the Florida, Pine aud Piedra
river sections. and those who nave
not visited the country during the
past few years cannot undertake to
imagine the progress which has been
made in the cultivation OF the lands
and general Improvement of fences.
houses and barns. From either side
of the car the traveler may see fields
of hay and grain embracing from 400
10 nearly l,00G acres IN the single
tract.
And the ground is only scratched.
Irrigation is barely begun. There
are thousands of acre remaining TO
lie brought under cultivation and the
three streams mentioned will furnish
the water for them all without bav'
ing to reclaim any part of the spring
flood waters which in the years to
oome will be conserved 10 lend TO
other sections, probably as far south
rs the mesas south Ut the San Juan
liver. Passing along The Rio Grande
IS far as the eye can reach from the
higher elevations. We see an unbrok-
en- stretch of knd, undulated by lit
lie knobs and knobs. On and on to
he San Juan river these thousands
Of acres await the coming of the
homeseeker aud the pillow and the
harrow
This will be another vi the great
grain ans. fruit growing sections OF
he southwest. II Is one OF the pin
on and cedar areas and is far enough
removed from the streams TO get
lway from the FROST Lines. The coun-
Try is advaniageouafi situated for
comprehensive irrigation at the min
mum cost Within "a year or so
there will probably be several hun
bred new homes established south
Of the Rio Grande railway, extending
10 the San Juan river,
Pine river empties into the San
Juan 25 miles south of ignacio sta
Ion on the Rio Gfande, so it will be
ieen that between Pine river and Du-
range or the Ahimas river. there Is
4 country nearly Is uiiss square,
ihree-ffths of which is open to set
ilement. The advancement OF this
trade interests.
There does hot appear To be very
rapid progress on the allotted Indian
.ands. only those tracts leased to
whites being under cultivation which
promise production. But the Indian
ands should not necessarily retard
he progress OF the balance of the
ountry There is plenty of room for
Jew homes.
The Florida uiesa, with its thou
ands of acres. is scarcely appreciat
ID In Durango The entire area, with
IS trade, belongs ~ Durango No
ither land is more fertile and farm
ing here Is but barely begun. While
t is probably true that the Florida
liver has not enough water at all
NJ the large area VI agricultural land
Pine river has wafer to spare, and
reservoirs can be constructed on this
heights overlooking the Florida.
There will be water enough, and land
hunters should have their attapuDn
directed to this locality. No other
section offers better inducements to
the grower of Wheat, oats, nay and
fruit. The banks az the southwest
are holding more than two million
idle dollars, and half OF this money
could he trebled in i've years by in
vestment in lands east and south
east Of Durango.
There appears ~ be little doing
Tor the Development of the coal and
natural coke lands between Pine and
Piedra rivers. Much OF this area is
located and held by individuals and
syndicates.
1t would occur 70 The ordinary OBJ
server that this country is not known
to the outside world, as the hun
breeds OF homessekers all over the
West would not overlook these OPP
portunities II they knew them.
As the Durango country may dou
Bile its production without fear OF
having surplus 1t would seem that
more general effort 10 attract capital
and energy would be Justified, and
while waiting for the Montezuma val
ley 10 determine what It will nave in
future for an irrigation system 1t
might help TO attract attention TO a
section which has AN abundance OF
water for tho e,,u4urip. ~ fnlinN A
homeseekers' rate on the Rio Grande
has been mentioned from time TO
time. and II conld probably he had
for the asking Durango's back
country is ~ years behind the city's
growth and there ought TO be some
thing doing TO build up and secure
needed productioh-there mtSt be
before Durango can so on.
FRANK HARTMAN.