Semi-weekly herald., 1908-05-11
blossom IKE III rose. Nj. wilhans
writes the Sun e foIloMs:

blossom IKE III rose. Mr. Wlyhan1
writes the Sun a. follows:
Durango. Colo. April rs. 1908.
Dear Sir and Friend: As number
OF my friends have asked me 10 write
them In regard to this country. and
especially AZ to this tract OF land
which is to be thrown open for settle.
ment under the Colorado Land 4
Water Supply company canal. will
take this way OF reaching all Of thsm,
II you will be kind enough TO give
this letter room In your paper.
Durango IL located on the Animas
river and In the foothills of the San
Juan range; is about e,50o above sea
level; very healthy climate; q town
OF about 1000 population: the whole
sale and railroad center Of southwest.
ern Colorado. northwestern New Meri-
co and southeaste-n Utah. The Den,
yer q Rio Grande shops and round
house are located here. The<e arc
gold. silver. copper and coal mines,
also number OF lumber camps close,
giving cheap building material, um-
ber selling at from s14 to ti7 per
thousand at the sawmills To the
east about twenty miles we strike the
Pine river valley. whore expect 10
file on claim under the Colorado
Land a. Water Supply company pro.
ject, and under the Carey act, which IL
absolutely safe and the easiest way OF
getting government land. as you do
not have to live OH II for only q very
short time when making final proof.
The Pine river Is beautiful stream
that has It's source in the Needle
range of mountains which are $4,000
feet above sea level and are covered
with perpetual snow. which win al
ways furnish plenty of water for irri
CATION. There nre no mines or srnelt-
ers on this river to polute its waters
The altitude OF this valley is about
5000 feet the soil is rich chocolate
and the best have seen ia tho west.
well adapted to fruit. root crops aud
all kinds OF grain and hay. Since
coming out here spent three days
on this tract OF land. A few settlers
went In there last year. I had the
opportunity to eat vegetables they had
grown without water They were as
fine as ! ever care to eat. Stock does
well and is raised much cheaper than
back there, as they run on the range
winter as well az summer.
The field pea is great crop here.
One hundred and sixty ncres OF peas
will fatten 1000 sheep. Stock. sheep
or hogs may follow the fat sheep as
there will be lots of feed after the
fat ones are taken Off. All this IL
done without the trouble OF harvesting
the crop II Is claimed 1S0 acres Of
peas will raise and fatten 800 hogs =
year and carry over tho brood sows.
The meat fattened on peas In much
sweeter than on corn.
The ID. & Il. @. railroad now trav-
erses the valley from north to south,
and some towns will be built In the
near future. The Southern Pacific IL
now building from Ei Paso. Texas.
north to the coal lands OF this county.
where they have thousands OF acres
of the best coking coal in the wesa.
This rond will give this country an
opening TO the southwest. which they
are greatly in need OF. These lands
are now ready for settlement. Watsr
will be ready for next years crop.
AS expect to settle In this valley.
and I prefer eastern people for neigh
bors, would be more than pleased II
other papers would COPY. Further
more. II anyone cares to know more
about this country or these lands. or
II they should want 10 locate. would
only be- too glad to help them. OK
pect to go out with the surveying party
next Monday. Then about June l
will have charge of gang Of graders
On the canal. My address, Is postofflcs
box i4i. Durango. Colo.