Semi-weekly herald., 1917-11-15

the attentive audience, and cheerfully
waived his time to Secretary Of the
Exchange L. P. Wilson, that enthu-
siastic, hard working and never firing
genial, optimistic soul, who has his
heart SET upon seeing the basin de-
veloped more fully.
Mr.. Wilson:
Last summer he and party made
trip as far as Cheyenne in the in
terest of this section. All along the
way they heard the anxious inquir-
les as to the conditions of the roads
leading into the basin. Many had
heard that the Wolf Creek pass road
was very narrow. (Mr. Hereby said
that in going over it, seated on the
outside, that it was fully 10000 feet
to the bottom of the canon) And the
Exchange party did not deceive them
in the matter. They found also that
great drawing card to secure tour
ist travel was the very liberal use
Of sign boards along the road. The
party passed over some poor dirt
roads, roads that were good in wet
weather and good in dry weather. He
outlined the plan of the Exchange
in lining up with the National Old
Trails association, which is working
on road that win cross the con
tinent and be hard surfaced all the
way, to extend from Washington to
Los Angeles. Thru their pledge Of
support of the Exchange, the asso-
| citation mapped n divergiug route
from Pueblo, which will extend over
the Wolf Creek Pass to Durango
thru to Pennington and over to Gal
lup to the Spanish Trail highway.
He went on to say that the F,x-
change was represented at the reor-
ganization of the Spanish Trails as
/ sociation at Alamosa last summer,
and obtained assistance in the road
work. The Durango Motor club ia
going to expend a sum of money in
marking the Trails road from Trini-
dad to Durango this coming season.
The Motor club has received much
praise for the signs it has already
E, placed along the roads in limited
numbers. Mr. Wilson said that we
have the attractions here to bring
in tourists when we get the roads
m good shape and profusely marked
by the much sought signs of direc-
lion. Mr.. Wilson presented the fol-
lowing resolution for the coDsidera-
tion of the meeting, and upon being
put to a vote, was adopted unanim-
ously:
Whereas, The matter of permanent
road construction marks the progress
of all communities, and,
Whereas, The value Of land, town
property and all kinds of farm crops,
| depend upon the roads, and,
Whereas, The first cost of perman-
ent roads is returned in u few years
| by reason of
| Diminished maintenance, costs,
Decreased wear on vehicles,
Increased business,
Greater comfort, and,
Whereas, The march of progress
! demands all-season roads, and the
material for such lies on every hand
in the San Juan basin; be it
Resolved, That it is the sense Of
the Durango Exchange, in member
ship meeting assembled, that a start
be made toward such permanent road
building; be it further,
Resolved, That the boards of coun-
ty commissioners in the basin be re-
spectfully requested to take such
steps as will bring about hard-sur-
faced roads at the very earliest mo-
ment, in order that our section get
in line with those parts Of Colorado
that are connected with US and which
are building good roads now.
During the meeting much criticism
Of the roads in La Plata county had |
been made, so Toastmaster jackson
called upon County Commissioner Ja-
cob Fritz to say a word in behalf
Of that body.
MIR. Fritz:
In a concise statement, Mr.. Fritz
pointed out the fact that La Plata !
county commissioners had 400 !
miles Of road to maintain, all of
which are common dirt roads and
difficult to keep in condition The
board has just purchased two trac-
tors and large truck to facilitate
road work and will be able to make
better showing next year. He hit
the nail right on top of the head
when he said, in semi-humorous
vein, that the commissioners had re-
...i..ol !.