100 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
July 30, 1926
A deposit of concentrated lime, three-quarters of a mile from Dyke, about forty miles to the east of Durango, is being developed by Frank Glenn and associates, says the Durango Herald. This lime, when ground up, makes an excellent outside and inside finish for buildings. It adds luster, reflecting natural and artificial light in most pleasing manner. Another valuable element of this lime treatment, especially to wooden buildings, is in making them practically fire-proof.
The lime in its beds is in the form of quartz-like boulders, almost pure white in color. The Dyke deposit covers more than 160 acres of land.
For outside, stucco boulders of the concentrated lime are broken up into small pebbles, about the size of a pea. For inside finish, it is ground in a powdery substance.
So far as known the Dyke deposit is the only one in the state where great tonnage of this concentrated lime may be secured. Being only a short distance from the railroad, facilities for shipping the product are excellent.
75 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
July 27, 1951
At a special meeting in Durango the 12th of July the San Juan Basin Health Unit adopted an ordinance dealing with the removal of garbage, rubbish and other waste material. The ordiance is similar to that adopted by the town of Pagosa Springs a short time ago, but provides that any place where people reside or eat must provide sanitary garbage cans and must have them emptied when needed. It also provides for a $50 fine for anyone dumping trash or garbage in unapproved places and for anyone allowing garbage, trash or refuse to accumulate or to pile it in vacant lots.
The Buckman Lumber Company sawmill in the Blanco Basin area is a new one in this section and employs about thirty men. It will be cutting for the next four or five years on an estimated 9 million feet of timber.
A recent news release from the Forest Service emphasizes the importance of the timber industry to the economy of this region.
50 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
July 29, 1976
The new county ambulance, purchased for the county, arrived this week and is now available for service.
The vehicle is equipped to handle all types of emergencies where an ambulance is called for. It has oxygen, respirator apparatus, splints, first aid supplies, plus room for attendants. It is also equipped with the necessary warning devices.
It will be housed at the Mounted Ranger ambulance building and will be operated by the Mounted Rangers and manned by EMTs.
The new ambulance was purchased as a result of a grant to the county. Under the terms of the grant, the ambulance had to meet state and federal specifications, as did the equipment. It also has to be maintained according to these standards and an EMT is required to ride it in emergencies.
The vechicle and equipment cost $15,480. The federal grant was in the amount of $8,000 and the Archuleta County commissioners budgeted $4,000. These leaves the ambulance committee about $3,500 short of funds to complete payment.
25 years ago
Taken from SUN files of
July 26, 2001
“The most important thing I can tell you is, it is critical for the financial health of the county that you continue the sales tax as it has been,” Tom Breed, Archuleta County’s independent auditor, said Tuesday night at the regular meeting of the board of county commissioners.
Breed was delivering his “state of county finance report” following the annual audit of county financial practices by Haley, Breed & Crom, LLP, a Durango accounting firm.
The sales tax cited by Breed was approved by voters during 1994, implemented during 1996, and expires Jan. 1, 2003. The levy amounts to 2 percent of most retail sales in the county, including sales by businesses within the town. The county retains 1 percent of that amount, the town the other 1 percent.
“That tax generates about $1 million, 21 percent of the county tax revenue,” Breed said. “If you lose it you will have to radically change the scope of county services.”
The financial condition of the county improved during the year 2000, Breed continued.
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