Semi-weekly herald., 1916-04-20
Valuable Work of The
Durango Exchange

is no doubt However, it will be of
interest to many to review in brief
manner the chief things actually ac-
complished which from time to time
have been mentioned by the secre-
tary.
Place Where All Meet.
1t has established a successful
together club or headquarters,
such as has never been maintained
before in the San Juan The attend
ance, several hundred every day, in
dicates that strangers and members
alike appreciate the club as meet
ing place.
1t is substituting for the hereto
fore prevailing spirit of apathy and
hopelessness a spirit Of cooperation,
not only between the people of Du-
range but between the people of the
whole basin Men from Denver and
other outside points pronounce the
Exchange to be one of the greatest
cooperative enterprises in the state.
Rates to the San Juan.
Early last year the Exchange took
up the matter of railway rates, look
ing forward to the family mileage
book, exposition tourist rates, special
rates to the Mesa Verde park, and
better railway service.
Along this line much has already
been accomplished and more will be
without doubt. 1t made a strong
presentation along these several lines
as to the needs of the San Juan peo
pie and in the way of results it will
suffice to say that the Rio Grande
officials are doing more to advertise
this country and induce travel into
Public Highways.
1t has aided substantially toward
procuring the Federal appropriation
for constructing the Indian highway
to connect this country with Gallup
and eventually with the Los Angeles
Grand Canon highway, Many letters
and statements were sent out in the
interests of this Legislation and it is
almost ac ertainty that the bill which
has already passed one branch of
congress will become law.
1t has taken very active part in
the country in such n way that PR
vate capital will take hold of the
matter and build the road. 1t is
claimed that there is no other place
in this whole country where so small
AN amount of capital can accomplish
such wonderful results by the con-
struction of such short line. The
Statement of Facts" is being placed
by the Exchange with the leading in
vestors and principal chambers of
commerce of the United States. 1t
is unquestionably the soundest adver-
tising this basin has ever had, and
every fact in it points right to the
railway opportunities.
Other improvements.
The Exchange has also given its
active aid in the matters of opening
the Ignacio lands for settlement; the
experiment station for Silverton; the
postal route from Dolores to Monti-
cello, Utah. It has a number Of
other matters under consideration foi
the benefit of the farming and min
ing industries.
While the above list does not in
clude many things accomplished by
Fastening the completion of the SaI
Juan highway over the continental
divide and in the logging of the roac
and its publication in the Blue Bool
for the benefit of all travellers who
will want to visit the basin.
1t took an active part in bringing
about favorable conditions for early
completion of the Durango Silverton
Ouray scenic highway by state anC
perhaps federal assistance from the
forestry funds.
San Juan Railway.
1t has caused the introduction il
congress of the San Juan railway bill
and is placing in the hands Of con
gress, also in the hands of the public
printed statement, setting forth il
convincing form tne actual lact'
about the San Juan. The campaign
for the passage of this bill is intend
ed to serve two purposes. First
to secure the passage of the bill AM
the early construction of the road
Second, if the bill shall fail of pass
age, then the placing of the resource
of the San Juan before the people o
the Exchange, it is enough to &c
an idea of the nature of the worl
being undertaken and accomplished
considering the fact that the Elk
change has been organized by shor
time. Many of these things the Sal
Juan people have been working an
waiting for the last 20 or 30 years