Semi-weekly herald., 1912-08-05

localities were in constant attendance
upon us, showing us every courtesy,
doing everything possible for our com
fort and to facilitate our undertaking.
During very active week we travelled
$50 miles by automobile, familiarizing
ourselves with the country, its devei-
opement, production and possibilities.
The San Juan congress is fed
GRAFTON of commercial interests repre-
senting that portion of the state Of
Colorado lying south and west of the
Continental divide, including the coun-
ties of Archuleta, La Plata, San Juan,
San Miguel, Dolores and Montezuma,
also the county of San Juan lying in
the northwest corner of New Mexico
The waters of these counties flow into
the Colorado river and thence into the
Gulf of Mexico.
Area-The superficial area of these
counties is something over $500
square miles. For convenience this re-
gion is called the San Juan basin.
TOpOgraphy-Those portions of this
region lying adjacent to the Continen-
tai divide consist, for the most part,
of very high mountains, indented by
| long deep canons forming great wa
| ter sheds where the SHOWS lie deep
| IN winter affording storage for abun-
dant summer water. From these high
ranges the country slopes to the south
and west, cut by numerous streams,
bordered by comparatively narrow
valleys between which valleys are ex-
tensive mesas chiefly covered by a
growth of sagebrush, the soil being
mostly of a reddish type, very deep
and very productive wherever water
has been introduced
| Mines-The United States geologi-
cal survey report of 1910 shows 12l
| producing mines in the counties OF
San Juan, San Miguel and La Plata.
Many of these mines have been pro-
ducing for quarter of century and
have yielded many millions in gold.
There are numerous reduction mills,
and located at the city of Durango
is large smeter in constant, active
operation.
COal-According to the United
States geological survey a very large
proportion of Archuleta, La Plata and
Montezuma counties in Colorado and
San Juan county in New Mexico are
underlaid with coal measures, being a
portion of coal areas covering over
$4,000 square miles and extending as
far south as Gallup, N. M. Coal mines
iaNt pCtii Optneu III places
but sor want of transportation arc
generally limited to local consump.
ton. The railroad operates mines for
its own use, as does the smelling
company and others. The coal meas.
ures are in some instances of great
thickness. Later, figures will show
what the United States geological
survey says of the extent. We are in.
former that the quality of this Goa
is among the best in the United States
and superior to any west of Penn
sylvania for colsing.
Water-Nine rivers, some of then
quite large, and all very considera
ble streams, flow out of the nigh
mountains and cut through the musai
above referred to, according almos
unlimited power as well as ample wa
ter for irrigation and other purposes
Comparatively little Of the power ha!
, been utilized because TIE demand i
limited, and the waters have beer
used for irrigation also 20 only +;
J limited extent because of the diff
culties in marketing the products o
the soil. Several new canals are nov
IL der construction covering man,
thousands of acres of choice lands
and we were credibly informed tina
one entirely new irrigation system l.
practically financed and when com
, pleted will supply ample water Il
250,000 acres of very fine land whicl
land and water will be available t,
actuai settlers on extremely Favorable
, terms Practically AL of The erea
-eservoir systems, and the more ex
pensi,e gravity sylrems from th
flow of treams, are yet to be de
! vel, I'd.
H., ds-As before stated, the irri
e gable lands consist chiefly Of MGR
{ or less undulating mesa and narroN
/ valleys, both of great depth and rich
D ness of soil, responding quickly an
abundantly to the application of wa
ter and cultivation. We have no
compiled the figures, but shall not b
3 surprised to find that the irrigabl
i lands in the San Juan basin, 10
which there is plenty of water, ma
aggregate millions of acres.
Farm PrOducts-The chief product
of this irrigated land, so far, are al
/ falfa, wheat, barley, oats, potatoe
I. and fruits, very few of which prod
ucts are ever exported for want o
0 transportation facilities.
CattIe--The nesas generally affor
good pasturage during the sprini
n months, ant the foothills and noun
: tains summer pasturage, upon whic
thousands Of cattle feed to be drive
5 to the forms and fed alfalfa in til
q autumn. | preparatory to shipment.
Sheep-Upon the drier ranges hun
dreds of thousands of sheep are rcam
ing constantly.
Hogs-Hogs are also raised on thes
alfalfa farms, but chiefly for yea
. consumption.
Fruits-The principal fruits grow
in the Sal Juan basin are apples
: peaches, pears, cherries, plums an
! small fruits. Information obtained O
: our visit leads us to believe that tn
4 apples OF that region are among tn
q best in the world. There are section
well adapted TO specializing in differ
ul.t fruits, some of them very supe
rior. The region along the San Jua
, river and the lower Animas river al
s ready grow the various fruits in con
siderable quantities, but to reach
market must be shipped first to Du
! range over a broad gauge railroad
/ thence to Alamosa 200 miles over
n narrow gauge and there transferre
again to broad gauge, making i
very difficult to profitably market any
thing but apples and these to the east
ward.