The newspaper., 1909-06-18
Whittier Are We Tending7
BY MAUDE LAMSON.

MAUDE LAMsON.
Whether in the future Paonia shall be East
than Western life is decided by its geograph
ical position the physical features OF the valley and
by its past and present.
The geographical position, its being to one side OF
the main route of travel has prevented the calamity
of it's being boom town. For they consist priIci-
pay of tents and hastily poorly constructed build
ings; the buildings being resplendent for time in all
the glory OF their unpainted condition. But rule
what follows? Absolutely nothing. And that can
not be said of Paona. for most assuredy this valley
has future and a bright one too, before it.
The physical features of the valley settled to
certain extent hundreds of years ago. that we should
not be typical western town. The rich soil washed
down from the mountains is too valuable to be used
as cattle range, the first white settlers OF the
valley discovered. Also of what value to any
thing but agriculture is valley breeze? But having
1t, we have made use of it, and making use OF it we
have proved its value to this occupation. The great
shetering mountains and glorious Colorado sunshine
have been potent factors WELL in making the valley
OF the North Fork OF the Gunnson river a splendid
fruit section.
So see how the local conditions have decided the
future character OF our valley making 1t agricul-
tural region And because we do not have the other
forms of occupation found in towns throughout all
the west, but follow the occupation that many east
ern communities do, we have established basis of
comparison. Only 1t must be understood that this
comparison will only hold true between Paonia and
the same kind OF place elsewhere, not between Pa
onia and city or a factory town.
In as much as these conditions have existed and
do exist present they brought people
here from other places largely the east, who
making the present of the town they have made
the past And the past has Influenced the present,
the present will influence the future. Without
doubt the industry of place determines the class OF
inhabitants; so would not expect people, used all
their lives to working in factory to be predominant
Neither would we expect the population to be COM
posed largely OF mechanics miners cattlemen: for
they and their occupations would be entirely out OF
place In an agricultural community. Instead OF peo
pie from these different walks in life there has
the valley group of farmers and enough people OF
other occupations to nil the splendid openings for
them here.
Not only has this Kind OF citizens come, but they
viii go and work their ideals in every side of
the life of the town. thereby attracting the class
OF settlers they themselves Even
the tendency towards conducting things they
conducted in their former homes. OF course some
concession he made for the climate that il found
in Colorado. But I'm the very necessary and
supposedly strictly western Of Irrigation mny
be seen the outcropping OF eastern ideas. For
have such gigantic canals. carrying enough water
to make fairly good sized river. be found
in other parts Of the state and throughout all the
section known Arid America. Instead have
more of the eastern idea Of size making canals
smaller. though amply large supply needs.
What would we say II one man owned hundreds
of OF land In valley? Certainly his fortune
would be made for all time to come II Paonia
strictly fair specimen of the towns OF the Wild and
woody west man would not only hundreds
but thousands OF acres.
This tendency in business affairs is not confined
entirely to farming for in matters OF trade Paonia
people cautious and saving than n typical
westerner thinks II altogether becoming to him.
Aside from these commercial interests the people
bringing the front the conditions
Of the school, church. political and social life OF their
homes. They recognized the value Of educa-
ton because they have been accustomed to good edu
cationa systems and do not intend that their chill
dren snail not have good advantages for educa-
ton they could have had In their old homes
From the realization of the need OF good school
buildings and therefore the supplying OF the need has
come splendid, well equipped school buildings.
The best possible methods OF work have been intro
dueed: the futile condition Of good buildings and
good methods presided over by Incompetent teachers
has been prevented For we have class Of teachers,
both in the grammar and high schools. that would
do credit to any community IL Is to these teachers
largely that we owe interest that the students
take in their work; and not alone in their work at
present but In their education in the future. AZ