The La Jara chronicle., 1910-05-27


San Luis valley on the map even as
we are doing in the Valley of Con
tent 1t is my pleasure and graf
ification to have been invited for
nally TO be present at this confer
ence and assist in the formation of
the system of organization and con
centration cf the day.
From Antonito. the old Mexican
town within five miles of the New
Mexico border. in south Conejos coun-
ty. and a mile from the county seat
OF that county. Conejos, the oldest
town in Colorado. up through the
new and hustling little town of
: Romeo, the Mormon settlements OF
Manassa and Sanford, the town of
La lara, live'y place. to Alamosa,
all these having been made by my
self and Mr.. Hooker, secretary of the
national organization of the Irriga-
tion congress in one day, on through
the other counties, we had a splen-
did reception as we went along talk
ing boost and explaining the Irriga-
ton congress. Everywhere we found
live commercial organization, that
were raising money to be used in
the valley, and the greatest possible
ional Irrigation congress and the ex-
position to be held with II. | have
seldom seen a liver section, one more
anxious for every help in the way of
development, or one more ready to
put up real money to get publicity,
than the San Luis valley.
Garden City has talked of taking
its fine band to the big Irrigation
congress at Pueblo next fall, but in
the San Luis valley / found the first
band that had taken real steps to-
ward representation. This is in Co
nejCs county. where r. B. Potter.
deputy county clerk, at Conejos, has
organized n band of % pieces and
secured an appropriation TO help de-
fray expenses from the county and
also from the town. 1t will be
Conejos county If not a San Luis val
ley institution. 1t sets the mark for
other towns and counties and sections
to follow in connection with local
demonstration. at the big Irrigation
congress at Pueblo next fall.
Alamosa is the capital of this fine
San Luis valley, and is about the
size of Garden City. 1t is among
nrh &c
a Rio Grande division point, and has
all the trains of the valley entering
and leaving it. Alamosa is a splen-
didly-built-up town, with uniform bust
ness center and handsome resi-
dences. Its commercial club, under
the leadership of r. S. Shahan, is
running the town as all good com
mercial bodies should do in any town.
A,amosa is preparing now for the
conference of San Luis boosters next
Saturday, when this valley central
organization will be formed
There are older and probably finer
districts. under irrigation, in Colo
RADIO and the West, than the San
Luis valley. but in my judgment, there
is none that has the promise that
this one has. Within five years time,
| look to see the San Luis valley
running the Arkansas valley great
chase, because of the opportunity
and possibilities therein. l am watch
ing it closely, in connection with
work for the Irrigation congress,
and predicting a great deal of pro-
gress and development. The live
wires scattered throughout this do
main mean, above everything else.
to catch Old Mr.. Opportunity who
is Looping around through the valley,
rope him, and keep him there.
The Monte Vista high school track
tcam, went to Boulder to participate
Monte Vista athletes including Medina
who made the highest individual
score at the San Luis Valley Track
Meet, were unable to attend. But
withstanding this heavy handicap,
the boys captured four points and
tied with East Denver for fifth place
in the meet. Charles Webster took
third place in the pole vault, going
over the bar at 10 feet inches,
which is high enough to win most
| college meets, but the high schools
of the state excel the colleges in this
event. Mack Davis took second in
the high jump at feet inches.
The winner of this event broke the
state record Ralph Cary succeeded