Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-02
WONDER LAND Of THE SOUTHWEST
FOR FARMING and INDUSTRIES
Cradle Of the Original American Life and the Con-
tinent's Garden Of Eden-Probable Near
Opening and Extension in the West

, the value of the land and hasten its
| settlement and cultivation.
This alone would make a long story
| If spun out with even the simple out
lines. 1t fills half-columns and col
umns almost daily in the Durango
| papers,
| Another story would be that of tho
seasons fruit traffic. Positive denial
is published of tho assertions OF fruit
loss in the Pennington district. A fine
seasons crop is promised. That val
| ley has least damage from bugs and
can send out whole trainloads of ap-
pies without a worm in them. But
for lack of transportation the apples
lie on tho ground and rot.
Irrigation projects" along the San
Juan and Animas rivers are much
like those elsewhere, but there is
large area west OF Durango whore
| farming without irrigation is more re-
liable than anywhere else in the arid
west.
But the greatest irrigation project
! of all, of course, is that which pro-
| poses to dam the Colorado river, and
| this colossal enterprise touches the in
| tcrests of six states. A notable con-
vention for the consideration OF this
big dream was held few months
| ago. 1t served to rouse the jealousy
of Colorado as original owner of tho
water that runs from the Centennial
state in half dozen Of the most
important rivers of America.
Other Considerations
This topic. the settling of the South
west (meaninE not tho geography of
several states but the region of a few
hundred miles directly southwest OF
Colorado) is the leading one at this
time. 1t involves dozen picturesque
sub-titles. and when that Gallup rail-
road fs built It will open a dozen
more. Among them may be put down
these, reduced to simplest possible
mention tho each would afford a good
two-column story;
Down in that country is located the
original Garden OF Eden OF tho pres
ent United States, the place whcrc
human habitation began. Traces OF
io-mile irrigation ditchcs remain.
where dwelt farmers who antedated
tho cliff dwelers: people who raised
acres of grain and ground and baked
1t before the puehlos of New Mexico
were built: people whose Industrial
success attracted the cars OF coro-
nado.
From Albuquerque far into Arizona
stretches tho greatest Pine forest out
side of Oregon Washington. For
years it has sent logs to the big saw
mills at Albuquerque.
The mineral treasures have hardly
been touched. There is placer gold
everywhere. and 1t must have como
from some SPOT within sight of the
La Plata county mountains OF Colo
rado. In Arizona arc miles OF rich
placer ground utterly dry of water.
AS to Indians, Oklahoma and west
ern Colorado arc only two OF n hum
drcd Instances where Caucasian cove
tousncss moved all obstacles out of
It's way when worked up to the boil
ing point.
But this Gallup Herald's boom edl-
ton, above referred to. points to tho
Indians not as an obstacle but as an
assct-,O, 900 able bodied fellows Of
ready vaiuo in tho supply of useful
labor.
ANY kind OF climate YOU wnnt. Tenn
peraturc OF ieo only little way from
tho i0-foot SHOWS OF .Silverton. \
thousand delightful valleys, mild and
sunny and sheltered, literally within
sight OF tho towering arctic Needles
whose points slis,cn with perpetual
snow.
Forty-foot beds OF coal. Coal in dc
posits so enormous that tho southern
Pacific railroad has bought up hun
drcds OF acres and is simply holding
n. without oven any kind OF chance
OF reaching II.
Americas greatest sheep and wool
region!
The ono ticklcss portion of the South.
where cattle by thousands can cat
and froiic for twclv. months without
fighting bugs or burrowins in snow
drifts.
scenic resources of which tho Bright
Angel cliff is only one tiny point in
SEQ miles OF unmatched grandeur.
"Dixio''-h considerable region OF
Mormon prosperity we'll known to
Utah people but practically never
heard OF in Colorado. a first-class
heelIne road runs to 1t due south from
salt Lake city.
still further south. the new long
staple cotton fields, where farmers had
built up model dairy industry with
hight grade Holsteins from Wisconsin,
then went crazy over cotton. plowcd
up their alfalfa. sold tho cows for
song, raised cotton and now cannot
sell tho cotton.
Oil exploration Just now beginning.
With every effort to hold in" this
story is already too long for the Farm
page, yet has touched only tho edge
of the subject. Conclusion is. in u
general way: This town OF Pueblo is
the real gateway to and from tho
so called empire of northwestern Colo
RADIO which Denver is trying in vain
to absorb. Pueblo is the only gate
way to the rich but deceptive region
Of east Utah and west Colorado with
their oil. shale, fruit and fuel. Pueblo
lis the gateway TO a dozen of the FIN |
est Colorado valleys. But beyond all
these. Pueblo is directly in tho air
line streak from civilization and COM |
merrc 10 that future wonder-the ti-
tanic tumble OF tho southwest.
Nj G.