Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-08-19
PAST AND
PRESENT
Some Interesting Facts
About the Fertile
MOntezuma

Twenty-one years ago, as a repre-
sentative of Frank Hartman's newspa
per, the Daily Durango Southwest
the writer visited the scene of ditch
construction of the Montezuma Valley
Water Supply company. and has since
that time visited the Montezuma val
ley annually. There being no d. &
II. G. S. railroad in 1886, through the
courtesy of Mr.. James w. Hanna, pro
moter of the canal enterprise. the trip
was made In his private conveyance.
and not then as now did we reach
Dolores at noon. but that hour found
ms tired and hungry at the home of
A. w. Menafee of Mancos. famous at
that time as the largest house In the
county, for its hospitality to all com
ers, and Its good pioneer stories. And
not until the moon had risen did we
reach the home of Billy May at Do
lores, the headquarters of the officers
OF the canal company.
AT this point the one-mie tunnel
for diverting the waters of the Do
lores river into the valley was being
driven, and the various laterals lead
ing therefrom were in course of con
struction. Relief seemed near to
famished land for with the exception
of few who had located lands on
small streams fed by springs, the set
tiers hauled water from the Dolores
river and McElmo creek for all pur-
poses; and the housewife of Monte
yuma could do more things with one
barrel of water than a lady of Sahara
ever dreamed Of Shall 1 throw this
water out?" was the household ques-
tion. and NO maybe it can be used
for. something else" was the answer.
3At that time The Bend three miles
south of the present town of Dolores,
was the QUILTING and supply point for
all of the country lying between Do
lores river and the Blue mountains,
and Indians. 1t was at The Bend,
that the cowboys were brought to-
gether socially during the roundup
season. Here they accomplished Terp-
sichorean feats, robed in flannel tun-
les, leather chaps" and leaden belts,
decorated with six-shooters: here they
drank freely and often to one an
others health, and followed this Bach
nalian joy with friendly shooting
matches. But everybody was glad to
have the boys keep in practice, for
cowboy and his accurate shot that the
settler depended for victory over the
hostile Indians, whose outbreaks were
frequent at that time.
A typical border town was the old
Bend only log houses of small dimen
sions, no churches, enough saloons,
two stores and a school consisting of
a tiny number of tiny children in a
tiny log house. conducted at that time
by one of Durangos fairest girls who
afterwards became the wife of one OF
those splendid cowboy pioneers OF
progress. But today the Bend Is n
memory, for when the d. & II. G. came
miles away, the Harrises, the Pyles.
the Ordways and others who We're OF
the people that make history, who cut
away the trees and brave all kinds OF
perils to leave a clear trail for those
who come after, located at the beauti-
full little town of Dolores. Here Har-
ris Brothers have one of the largest
general merchandising establishments
in the west, having recently added to
their former large capacity room
65x10O feet, exclusively for dry goods
They also carry on banking busi
ness. The success of Harris Brothers
Is fine object lesson In what time
energy and merit will achieve, fol
they have not only been successful
financially, but as men, being reveret
most by those who have known then
lreeest and best; and though Dolore:
Ns popular with travelling men as 9Th,
prettiest town on the route" because
of its shade trees, its trim lawns, iti
flowers and the singing river, 1t II
q best known as the home of homes
2 John ]. Harris. who has twice served
In the state senate with all homo
to himself and constituents. Dolores
has churches and good schools and i
altogether desirable residence place
A recent purchase by Mr.. George Rob
inson OF $150.0OO worth OF cattle iron
the Dolores stockmen, to be delivere'
this fall, indicates the measure O
prosperity enjoyed by this section. bu