Semi-weekly herald., 1913-07-24
THE FARM|NGT0N- GALLUP
AUTO AND MAIL ROUTE
Durango will Have -Four Auto Road Outlets and will be the Central Point
Juan Basin-(os Of Trips to Denver will be Greatly Reduced

While much has been said about the
benefits of connecting links between
Durango, Silverton and Grand Junc-
tion, also between Durango, Pagosa
Springs and the San Luis valley, our
people are greatly impressed with the
movement under way for an auto line
between Pennington, Shiprock and
Gallup as fully outlined in our col
umns last weeks. The secretary of
the board of trade is also in receipt If
communication regarding the road.
The S16,500 appropriated by the gov
ernment for bridge across the San
Juan river solves the problem to d
large extent, but much devolves cn the
public-spirited citizens of San Juan
county, not only of Pennington, but
Aztec and the farming sections which
should be as much interested as the
people of the towns. With the Farm
ington people putting the road in
shape to what is known as the Hog
back it is safe to state that Mr.. Shell
ton will carry out his part of the
agreement and place the road in con-
dition to Shiprock. From Shiprock
to Gallup the road is in fair shape
with one or two exceptions and with
proper influence brought to bear the
government will no doubt appropriate
for the work across the Navajo res
eryation. In this connection it will
be the duty of this county to see that
the road to the New Mexico line is
placed in good condition.
The Herald can hardly estimate the
value of the good road movement to
Durango and La Plata county. 1t is
sure that the work now under way will
connect Durango with Pagosa Springs
and across the divide to the San Luis
valley and thence to the Arkansas
valley and Denver. 1t is believed work
will have progressed sufficiently by
the last of August to permit the pas
sage of autos, but we cannot look for
much travel before another year. The
same is true regarding the road via
Silverton, Ouray and Grand juno
tion, although large force of men
are at work both ways from Silverton
and Road Superintendent Roy Good
man is surveying for an easier grade
between Hermosa and lockwood, it
being the intention of the county COM
missioners to build an entirely new
road, starting at a point between the
Hopkins and Raymond ranches and
skirting close to the railroad, passing
along side of the Hermosa forest
ranger station, thence close to the Bell
residence and lime quarry, following
the draw to the west of the railroad
and connecting with the present road
about mile above lockwood, thus
reducing the distance mile or more
and escaping the steep hills from Ba-
kers bridge to lockwood. We are
not informed if any of this new link
will be constructed this fall, but Mr..
Goodman is surveying between the
Bell place and the point mentioned
above lockwood, the proposed road
leaving lockwood about a mile to the
east, passing to the west and south
of the lake and marshy grounds. The
new road will also cut out the long,
steep and rocky hill short distance
from lockwood on the way to Silver
ton. If this new connection is not con-
structed this fall it is not the intention
to spend much money on the old road
more than to throw the rocks out of
the road bed, making it passable for
autos and vehicles even if the grade
is bad at several points. In not trying
to improve the old road bed the COM
missioners will save the money for
the new line which is proper.
Then to the west of us Mr.. Goodman
has force of men placing the road in
good shape to the Montezuma county
line, and the Montezuma county COM
missioners are working west from the
La Plata county line. This will give
our people a good road to Mancos,
Cortez and on through to Bluff City.
Now, to sum up, as the attorneys
say when addressing a jury, Durango
will be the pivotal point. 1t is GER
tain there will be large tourist travel
to this portion of Colorado. The see
mic attractions will be the finest in the
state. The fishing, hunting and camp
ing will be the best, sportsmen hav-
ing their choice of the Rio Grande and
the famous Wagon Wheel Gap resort,
the picturesque San Juan and its trib-
utaries, the world renowned hot
springs at Pagosa, then continuing
this way the unexcelled fishing wa
ters of the Pine and Vallecito and
on to Durango. On reaching Durango
tourists and pleasure seekers will have
the choice of three routes, one via Sill
verton and Ouray where the grandest
scenery in the world will be encoun-
tered; another through to the coast by
way of Aztec, Pennington, Shiprock
ed Gallup; third west to Monte