Semi-weekly herald., 1916-05-18
TRIP AROUND THE CIRCLE.


portunities for the motorist who wants
good trip and it offers the best
opportunity for seeing what there is
in the San Juan basin.
A party of Durangoites made the
trip and report it one of the finest
ever. Leaving Durango, going west
over the Kline mesa and down the La
Plata to Pennington they have diver
sified scenery all the way. Beginning
their trip right in the mountains then
crossing over the beautiful Kline mesa
country where the farmers are busy
making ready for a prosperous year
they pass down the La Plata river
alongside the beautiful alfalfa fields
and orchards, until they reach the
magnificent orchards of the Farming
ton country. Stopping here long
enough to recruit and supply them
selves with gasoline and othes neces-
Saries of the motorist they are ready
to proceed on their journey.
Down 10 Shiprock.
Across the hills and the valleys
over splendid roads they pass the
beautiful fields of grain and grass
and the promising orchards. They
ioon pass the Fruitland section and
are drifting down the San Juan with
,he Shiprock in the distance. The
notorist does enjoy the good roads
not so much because it gives him q
lleasant ride but particularly be-
cause he realizes that the trip is not
osting him so much in tire wear, the
Sc of gasoline and the general wear
IN his whole car. The party passes
m to Shiprock where they stay ali
light. AT Shiprock are plenty of
tonveniences for the tourist.
Then Montezuma County.
Then, swinging around, they make
The return trip by way of Navajo
springs and Cortez. They report the
roads fine and the trip from all view
points a most pleasant one. At Cor
ez another stop is made and the
necessary supplies are taken, when
hey again proceed on their journey to
lancos. In the vicinity of Corte2
he roads are in good condition. a.
S the fruit and other crops. In fact
he people at Cortez report everythinr
that vicinity in tip top shape. Tho
nly loss to peaches reported was
hat down in the McElmo canon whert
ONE of the peaches were killed.
hey report everything in tip toy
0ndition over in the Lebanon and Ar
lola neighborhoods. The fruit has
not been hurt by frosts and big
rop is expected.
Midway between Cortez and Man
-oa are some rough places in the
Dad that little work would make
is smooth as are the roads general
Y. This part of the trip is as in
ieresting as any other part. One is
n sight of the road winding vi
;oward the Mesa Verde national par
that has now become famous the
country over for its picturesque seen
cry and the ancient ruins of a people
who have long since passed away.
Reaching Mancos one is convinced
that here is thriving town, and
vicinity in which the people are tax
ing unusual interest in their high.
ways. There are good roads on both
sides of Mancos and all the way east
TO the Montezuma county line.
Thompson's Park.
The party lnotored along over the
mountains and down into Thompson
mark, one of the most beautiful and
valuable of alt spots on the whole
triy. Here some of the most indus
tiious farmers in the San Juan and
their houses, barns and fields give
evidence of prosperity.
The roads are in good condition
practically all the day down thru Hes
pelus and into Durango. The fact
that they are in good condition does
not mean that our county commits
sioners are doing no work along this
road. The stretch between here and
Hosperus is receiving valuable atten-
tion and before long the new tourist
will never know what a difficult sand
stretch we formerly had to pull thru
this side of the Hesperus hill. The
work along this stretch includes the
building up of roads, the cutting down
Of grades and general improve
ment that will make this one of the
best streaches of road for motorists
in the San Juan country.
This trip can be recommended to
all who enjoy good long ride over
good roads with plenty of diversified
scenery. 1t is expected that many
viii care to make this trip.
1t is reported from Aztec that they
are going to improve the roads in
that vicinity and that no doubt viii
take many tourists down the Animas