The Dolores star., 1909-12-17

of Montezuma county, in the south
west corner of Colorado. ON the Rio
Crande Southern railway, about
midway between Telluride and
Durango. At this point the rail-
road leaves the Dolores valley and.
changing its course from northeast
and southwest TO southeast and
northwest, runs through Lost Can
on. The reader will note from the
above that. while Dolores is not
the terminus of this railway, it is
most western point on the line, and
for this reason is the shipping and
Quitting point for vast territory
Ia the south and west. All sup
plies for the San Juan oil and placer
fields are shipped by rail 10 this
place and freighted overland dis
tance of seventy miles or more.
This is also the chief shipping point
for the great Montezuma valley,
which comprises sixty thousand
acres of the most fertile land in the
world. A large part of this land IS
not under cultivation yet at the
present time it taxes the car supply
during the shipping season.
Dolores is situated in the Dolores
valley Just east of where the Lost
Canon creek flows into the Dolores
river. AT this point the valley runs
nearly east and west and is about
five hundred yards wide with a
rise of four hundred feet on either
side which protects the town from
the winds The dust storms that
make life almost unbearable in
many other Colorado towns, are
unknown here. The streets run
nearly due north and south and
east and west and are wide. and. in
the central part of the town are
bordered with bt autiful shade trees.
The Dolores river flows by the
town OH the sonth. In the spring
and early summer vast body of
water rushes down this stream to
water the thirsty land. but the lat
ter part OF the summer and in the
fall and winter the water is as clear
as crystal. This stream furnishes
an abundance of the best and purest
ice, and during the winter, citizens
can harvest an abundant crop for
summer use at very small cost.
This stream is pure cold mountain
water has a-great underflow and by
digging or driving water can be
reachedin any part OF the town at
depth Of from 6ve to tifteen feet.
Water is taken from the river and
run through bitches and fumes to
water the gardens and lawns of the
ttown. y ~ 5s ~
Plans are. being made for the
kinstalation Of water system and
Zig plantsto be owned by the
lefty. Surveys were made and plans
land specifications submitted to the
the town some two years
3ago for water system and lighting
plant. but, nothing definite was
Idone at that time. The matter is.
IRgain being strongly agitated and
mo doubt the matter of voting
bonds will be before the people at
the April election.
IL The altitude of Dolores is 5000
feet, and while considerable snow
falls as a rule. it seldom gets more
ehan eight or ten inches deep and
1oes not lay long except on the
porth side Of the hills where the
BUN cannot get to it. The climate
IS the finest in the world. The
bummers are cool and the winters
Ire mild with just enough snow TO
hbsorb the impurities that are IN the
air and occasionally provides few
Hays sleighing for the enjoyment
IF the young folks. There are no
Excessive hot spells and the sum
ners are pleasant. May and June
ire usually dry, but in July the
Iains begin and frequent showers
turing July and August eliminate
he dust nuisance which causes so
nuch annoyance in other parts of
he state.
In the summer the town is like a
lawn, the vacant lots being covered
Nth a growth of white clover and
ther grasses. Nearly every home
as lawn and garden. Vegeta-
lies and fruit grow in abundance,
nd small garden patch will sup
iy the home with garden truck.
The town at-present is without a
rainage system. but there is a
eneral slope to the west of between
nenty and thirty feet to the mile
hich makes fine slope for sewer
&c or open drains. At the base OF
be hill which borders the town on
be north are thousands of cubic
hrds of dirt and decomposed rock