For decades in the 20th century, the region from Silverton to Durango to Bayfield liked to be referred to as the San Juan Basin. Despite great efforts, however, it usually failed to develop policies that received enthusiastic support from every community:
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Bayfield Blade Jan. 29, 1915
On Monday night of this week the Durango Exchange was organized at Durango. The new organization replaces the old Durango Board of trade and the Durango Club.
This new organization starts out well by leaving out the tightwads from being a part of its directorate. ... This beats the old gang of tightwads that used to control both of the old organizations. In a great measure the new organization was brought about through the personal efforts of District Judge W.N. Searcy, and give him the credit that is due.
But to the point. This exchange invites every reputable citizen of the San Juan basin to join the organization, the dues are six dollars per annum. And our personal advice is that those who are eligible to join, if it will come up to the expectations of the people, should do so.
Meanwhile, Durangoans were promoting Doan’s Kidney Pills in local newspaper advertising:
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Mrs. Charles Knight, 551 E. Third St. says: “A dragging-down pain the morning when I first got up. I knew that the trouble was caused by disordered kidneys and the complaint was hereditary. Less than one box of Doan’s Kidney Pills relieved me and I haven’t needed a kidney medicine since.”
Durangoans, for a few months in 1924, became oil speculators, as the Plateau Voice (Collbran, Colorado) reported in its April 18 issue:
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Oil activity is at fever heat in southwestern Colorado and a wild scramble was made for leases following the announcement of the bringing in of the Leidecker well, twenty seven miles southwest of Durango ... with a flow of 500 to 600 barrels daily.
Then there was the bug problem:
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Bayfield Blade June 6, 1913
Millions of Bugs Alight in Durango
Millions upon millions of a species of flying bug have settled in Durango. They are gray in color with wings bordered in pink. Merchants have been compelled to sweep their stores several times and the insects are crawling into every nook and corner of the buildings. The bug gives off a sickening odor when crushed and causes an itching, burning sensation to the human body after it has lit and started to crawl. Many places were fumigated in an effort to eradicate the pest. The insects followed in the wake of an electrical storm coming from the southwest.
Ice skating also presented problems:
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Silverton Standard, Jan. 14, 1922
Miss Olga Dillon, ... was a member of a skating party in Durango last Sunday when two members of the party narrowly escaped losing their lives by drowning.
They had been skating several hours and had passed over the spot where the ice gave way several times during the morning. Miss Helen Gario and Glenwood Reed were in the water and were assisted to a safe landing by Miss Dillon and Walter Jakway. No ill effects were suffered by the young people.
Duane Smith is a Fort Lewis College history professor. Reach him at 247-2589.
