Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1922-10-13
Fswler E6ter Gives
Nice Write-w Of
San Lais Valley

". W. BUCK, eOltOr OF the Ifl-
bune, . live and newsy newspaper
of Fowler. Colo. recently made .
trip into the San Luis valley. His
impressions of this part OF the state
are given in part as follows, taken
from the Tribune:
II you are lover OF the works Of
nature. there Is no finer time of year
than right now to take = motor trip
into the mountains. The hill sides
form q panorama of beauty. The
light and dark green cedars and
pines. interpreted with bright yell
low Quaking Asp and the red Kinni-
kinnick. make picture such as only
the hand Of nature can paint. The
publisher Of this paper few days
ago enjoyed several days OF vaca-
tion In the mountains of the San
Luis valley. Incidentally 1t was the
writer's initial visit into that part
of the state. The first thing that
impressed US was the well-built road
beds from Pueblo to La veta. Ger
tainly there are none in this valley
that will compare favorably with
that rock-bed road. The La veta
pass has been made safe even for
the amateur driver. the grades be-
ing gradual and the road sufficiently
wide to allow Of cars passing At
practically all points. Walsenburg.
that busy mining town. IL paving its
streets In the downtown section.
Just now the town presents any
thing but an inviting appearance.
and in driving over the torn-up
streets one gets anything but COM
fort and Joy. WalsenburE has q
fine high school building, which
looks sufficiently large to take care
of the needs Of the town for a
number Of years. II is the most
attractive thing In the town. the
pride OF Its people and the source
OF good citizenship. Blanca is a
much better town than We expected
to find. Alamosa is the next town
of note on the trail to Creede. Ala
mosa Is wide-awake. The show win
dows of the stores give one that
Impression. You see II is the civic
beauty OF the town. The streets are
weli-kept. sprinkled two and three
times daily. and the white-way
lighting system adds the finishing
touches. Alamosa uses the single
light poles. placed In the center OF
the street. Monte Vista is = fine
little city. and here. too. the streets
are weil-kept. Going into a strange
town the streets and school build.
inEs seem to attract ones attention
first. They seem to take first place
in importance. Monte Vista Ii sur
rounded by fine farm lands. The
potato crop predominates. Right now
the spud harvest Is at It's height.
The crop this year is good. Market
ing crops across the mountain
seems to be the biggest problem
that confronts Monte Vista, Ala
mosa. Del Norte. and other COM
munities on the other side Of La
veta Pass. That part OF the state
hopes for relief along this line
through big appropriation set
aside for improvement Of railroad
facilities. The writer saw . truck
load Of Fowler watermelons on the
streets OF Alamosa. Two or three
miles north Of Monte Vista. on the
famous. hard-surfaced Gunbarrei
road J. z. stubba. Of this city. owns
q ranch. Il 10 one Of the best In that
thriving community. and nicely Inn
proved. A. We passed his place
trucks were busy hauling fine pota-
toes out Of the field.
Up the Rio 0rande river At
point some twenty-five or thirty
miies out Of Monte Vista the
Masonic lodges Of the Ban Luis val
ley have q park. for use Of Masons
and their families. We enjoyed .
splendid band concert given there
Sunday afternoon. Approximately
fisty car loads Of guests were pres-
ent. The scenery IL picturesque
nothing could be more inviting. and
the Masons OF the San Luis valley
surely picked one Of the choicest
spots In the mountain regions Tor
their park. A number Of summer
cottages have been erected there.
Del Noris. much less attractive and
inviting that either Alamosa or
Monte Vista. put on . fair and aGri-
cultural display. Il was good. From
Del Norta the trail leads 10 South
Fork. Wagon Wheel Gap. and on
20 Creede. Il was = wonderful trip.
To anyone who never has been In
the san Luis valley Il 10 very invit-
ing.