Semi-weekly herald., 1912-11-11
the committee in charge of Mr.. Rea.

the committee in charge of Mr.. Raa,
gan, and to enjoy smoker.
Mr.. Clay, president of the San Juar
congress, called the meeting to order
and in very interesting manner ex.
planned the object of the report com.
piled by Mr.. Reagan and his assist.
. ants.
1 Mr.. Clay called attention to the task
that has been completed and to the
thoroughness and comprehensiveness
of the work and its value to the peo-
pie of this part Of the state.
The president of the congress and
chairman of the meeting then an
nounced that Secretary Raymond
would read some communications that
were on file with him concerning the
matter under consideration. After
Mr.. Raymond had read the communi-
cations which were listened to with
much interest President Clay called
| on Messrs. Smith of Cortez, w. G.
Black of Aztec, George Allen of Farm
ington, Harry Pyle of Dolores, j.
Rhode of Rico, DR.. Nossaman of Pa
gosa Springs and I. C. Graden of
Durango, all of whom had words of
praise for the excellent work of Mr..
Reagan and those who had contrib
uted their efforts toward making the
report complete.
1t developed that the money had
been raised in the different counties
as it was needed and that no county
had been backward in meeting the OBJ
legations as they were placed by the
members of the congress from the
various counties.
All the speakers insisted that moth
ing had been left undone and that
with such united energy the under
taking must be a success, that the
people throughout the San Juan coun-
try are back of the congress and the
committee body and soul and that
good results are certain to reward the
efforts made.
After the various speakers had con-
cluded their remarks Mr.. Clay an
nounced that all would proceed to in
vestigate Herman Hanno's sour krart,
sour roast and the many other good
things that he had prepared for the
occasion. While this was the last 1f
the program it was enjoyed immense
ly and all INDUCED to the limit in that
nothing like it" sour kraut and sour
roast.
The whole affair was great sue
cess as was evidenced by the express
sions of each and every one present,
and it was not until l0:30 chat the
smoker was adjourned and those pres
ont journeyed well pleased and well
satisfied to their homes.
The following letter OF slr Clay's
#as read by Mr.. Raymold;
Durango, Colo, Nov. 7, 1912.
To the Los Angeles Chamber of Com
merce, and Messrs. George II.
Stewart, Charles Weir, and A. H.
| ANaitSSNit
Gentlemen: 1t is our pleasure to
transmit to you by the hands of Mr.. j.
w. Reagan, his report upon the sec
ton known as the San Juan basin,
lately visited by your committee, to-
gether with the statistics collected
and compiled by him for us.
We believe the report will fully
| corroborate the report made by your
committee, and that the conditions
there disclosed justify the continual
tion of our joint efforts to secure the
railroad construction necessary to give
quick and convenient communication
between your city and the basin.
The movement for the construction
of such road has the united and en-
thusiastic support Of every resident Of
the basin, and of every owner of prop
erty within it. 1t is vital issue ia
all of us, and our anxiety for this con-
struction arises not out of any hatred
or hostility toward the Denver and
Rio Grande Railroad company, or any
other railroad company, but out of the
absolute necessity for relief.
| .lhe knowledge acquired by your
committee and the conditions shown
by the report, sufficiently disclose the
geographical conditions which make a
southern outlet the natural route oveI
which the greater part of the traffic
of this country should be carried, but
beyond these geographical and topo.
graphical features, other conditions
have made an outlet in that direction
imperative.
| The great copper mining country Ia
the south of us produces none of the
grains, grasses, vegetables and fruits
produced by US, and it needs, in vast
quantities, the superior Goals of this
basin, and the excellent coke, which il
is capable Of producing,
Aside from the fact that we must
necessarily cross three mountain
ranges to reach the markets of Denver
and that vicinity, there is the further
fact that, when those markets are
| reachad Ue are in direct comnetitior