Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-14
HERALD EDITOR AGREEABLY
SURPRISED WITH VISIT
TO THAT SECTION

holding of the county fair ut Cor
tez. We, in company with number
OF La Plata county people, motored
to Mancos, Cortez and Dolores and
had an opportunity to get a first class
view of large part of the county
about which we have heard so much in
recent years.
1t is only justice to state that we
have never seen more beautiful valleys
rich with the products of the farm
and the orchard. The harvested fields
and the loaded orchards gave evil
dence that nowhere in all this country
can land be found with greater op-
portunities for the agriculturalist and
the fruit grower.
AT Cortez the people of the county
had brought together one Of the finest
Of exhibits of grains, vegetables and
fruits. Not only the size of the prod
ucts of the field, garden and orchard
but the excellence of the quality was
something to attract the attention of
those who have not had the privilege
Of ascertaining the remarkable
growth produced in this land of sun
shine and fertile soil.
The people of that section are very
fortunate in having smooth roads. II
there are few hills to encounter in
passing from one part of the county
to another the difficulty is more than
offset by the smoothness Of the roads.
We found it no trouble to make good
time on any Of the roads from Man,
cos to Cortez and from Cortez to Do
lores.
As we passed along through this
beautiful country with soil that ip-
peared to be in richness unsurpassed
we were prompted to inquire why
there was all along the way acres
and acres of land not yet under cul-
tivation and so far as we could discern
just as rich as the land where we
evidence fine fields Of wheat and oats,
fruits and vegetables.
We were reliably informed that the
country is yet new, that big canals
are now under process of construc-
ton, one of the largest of which ir-
rigation projects is being planned by
West and Morgan of Durango, and
that many are waiting for better rail-
road facilities before opening up all
their tillable land for cultivation.
1t was then and there that we could
realize the great benefit of railroad
to the south. 1t is our opinion that
no part of Colorado would be bene-
fitted more by this proposed railroad
connecting the San Juan country with
the western coast cities than would
Montezuma county. Certainly these
people have right to become inter
ested in this proposed railroad. 1t
would mean the completion of one Of
the most fertile and rapidly growing
sections of the state.
1t is certainly an opportune time
for the concentration of effort in the
way of constructing reservoirs, ca
mails and railroads in that region so
well advertised not only in Colorado
but in the central and eastern part
Of the United States.
We were informed that Senator
West and Mr.. Morgan are financing
big irrigation project which is located
in the western part Of Montezuma
county and extending into San Miguel
county, that the cost of surveying will
be right at $4,000. Senator West
has real estate holdings in that coun-
ty and has great faith in It's future.
He is willing to back his faith with
his money, time and energy.
We can readily understand now why
those people are willing to put forth
unusual efforts to accomplish what all
the San Juan people desire to accom-
plish, and that is the construction of
railroad to the south, connecting
US with the populous western coast.
They realize that it is but fifty miles
from Cortez to Shiprock and that they,
when the road is built, will have ac-
cess to the worlds best fruit market.
They realize that what we produce
here in the San Juan is not produced
on the western coast and that what
they produce in the way of tropical
fruits is not produced here. They
well understand the value of the mu-
tual exchange of products and say
that the road must be built.