Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-06-25
Plenty Of Room for tn.
Growing Towns Of Aztec
and Pennington

extends along the Animas river from
the state line to Pennington, a dis
tance of 80 miles. and along the Sar
Juan river, from Bloomfield, 12 miles
east and to Fruitland, IS miles west
from Pennington. Aztec is situated
nearly midway in the belt on the
Animas, and claims the trade of the
section nine miles each way. north
and south. Pennington sits In the
conveyance of the points of a tri
angle and draws its trade from these
three pronss, as well as from the Ma.
| yajo country south of the San Juan
river.
So 1t will be seen that there is
plenty of room for both growing
towns, and some little towns between.
II the people want them. Aztec is the
county seat of San Juan county. and
probably will enjoy this distinction for
long time, II not always, as other
ambitious sections would vote for Az.
tee rather than give this plum 10
Pennington. but with a standard
gauge railway along the river, it is
but an hours ride between Farming
ton and Aztec. Mr.. Palmer who has
the only set of abstract books In tho
county, finds it convenient to live at
Pennington and 60 to Aztec to take
up the transfers recorded In the coun.
ty clerks office.
If Durango hotel proprietor tells
Durango newspaper reporter that
Bill Sykes came from either Farming.
ton or Aztec. when in fact BIZ came
from the other place, 1t should not be
regarded as a hostile demonstration
against the town which had not heen
properly accredited with full quota
of its population by leaving Bill out.
Enough there are so many orchards
along both rivers and so many fields
of hay and grain and other crops. It
may be wondered that there are still
vast areas of land just as the Aztecs
left 1t 1000 years ago, save that most
Of it has been fenced with barbed
wire. There are hundreds of acres
here and there, of the most desirable
land along both streams which has
never been touched with plow,
where never seed has been planted
since the Aztecs lived there, and most
of this land on the Animas is Just be.
low Cedar Hill. 1t is land that ougn.
to be bought at very reasonable
prices.
On the east side of the Animas
across the old 15-mile strip of Ute res.
ervation, there are several miles OF
fields Of hay and grain. few years
ago this land was barren, but the gov
ernment started an enterprise for ir.
rigation, expending $1,000 or more
and the settlers, It is understood, ex.
pended about $4,000 more, completing
very comprehensive system of irri
CATION for that section, and bringing
in as good land as may be found in
any country. The country north OF
the New Mexico line, in Colorado, Is
improving rapidly and Durango will
be joyous to learn that this part OF
her immediate territory promises to
do much in fruit growing as well as
in other branches.
Much complaint is made in the fruit
belt about people holding their lands
for high prices, they say too high. 1t
occurred to the correspondent that
while these tracts have been with
held from the market that other mold
ers OF realty had a better opportun.
ity to sell their lands and lots. and it
IL probable that Pennington has ben.
Gifted much by large tracts being held
at high prices. 1t was learned that
many of the people who went there
to purchase tracts decided later to
purchase enough ground in Farming
ton on which to build modern homes.
and that the acre tracts in Farming.
ton had been cut into lots and sold
for homes, as a result of the investors
being unable to buy acres at prices
which suited them. 1t would seem
that Pennington has been fortunate In
being restricted from building down
to the mosquito lines along the two
rivers, at their junction The town
has been compelled TO build on high
er and prettier ground, and to extend
north and south from the business
| center. until there is a street over q
mile long lined on both sides with
| shade trees.
Aztec boasts that she will do more
| building this year than Pennington
and with the preparation being made
In burning n million brick, It look,
very much as If Aztec Will do this
1t is up to Aztec to do 1t to catch III
In number OF buildings.
Aztec enjoys the distinction of be
Ing the only town In the southwes
having postoffice in building whic;
is devoted exclusively to that pur
pose.
Aztec has some enterprising brigh
fellows and they will be the hagne
that viii draw more like them. Ere