THE MOSCA TOWN COMPANY is composed of men of well-known business sagacity, who, recognizing the fact that there must be a town of importance in this region, determined to secure the right location and establish the town on the right principles. That the best location was selected no one familiar with Mosca’s surroundings can deny, situated as it is in the center of the best agricultural district in the Valley, if not in the State, being near to, and having direct railroad communication with great mining districts, both north and south; located by which route the coming railroad will enter the Valley, we predict that Mosca is to be the metropolis of the Valley.

The local management of the Company’s affairs has been from the start in charge of Messrs. Terry & Oviatt, and to them is due much credit for the admirable manner in which its affairs have been conducted.

Lots are sold at a low price and on easy terms, and any one seeking a new home or desirous of establishing a business in a growing town, will make no mistake in locating at Mosca.

EDUCATION. - Last spring a commodious school-house was erected, which was supposed to be sufficiently large to accommodate all the pupils of the district for several years, but owing to the rapid growth of the town and vicinity, increased accommodations will soon be required. The school population has more than quadrupled during the last year, which is a greater increase than the most sanguine expected. The school board is composed of persons who are wide awake, intelligent and progressive. Their watchword seems to be “Excelsior!” They have verified this by supplying modern conveniences and appliances, by selecting teachers specially adapted to school work, and by adopting a thorough and practical course of study, including an excellent High School course. There are already classes in all the grades, including the High School; the pupils are doing excellent work, and the schools are considered pre-eminently the best in the county. A musical graduate drills the pupils in the theory and practice of singing.

A literary society meets every week. It is composed of a goodly number of old and young people, who are using this opportunity of self-improvement. This society is wielding a good influence on the community.

RELIGION. - A deep religious sentiment prevails in this community. Church services are held regularly twice every Sunday, and they are well attended.

A Sunday-school is kept up in a flourishing condition. It is well attended by children, by young ladies and young gentlemen and by elderly persons.

The young people consider their Society of Christian Endeavor the best, and invaluable as a means of spiritual growth. Their social needs are not neglected, as a series of monthly sociables are held in which interesting and profitable literary and musical programs are carried out.

SOCIETY. - The best class of American citizens are found here. They are capable, industrious and prosperous; are intelligent, cultured and refined. No better society can be found anywhere than here, not even in the most conservative circles of the East.

There are no influences here to lead the unwary astray, to destroy character or blight the happiness of home. This is a prohibition town. No saloons will ever sap and destroy the life-giving qualities of good society and happy homes.

Healthful climate. - This vicinity is noted for its extreme healthfulness and its invigorating atmosphere. It is a good place to recover health and to keep it.

Picturesque scenery. - Man can not help being elevated in his appreciation of the true and beautiful by beholding the grand, the inspiring and the sublime mountain scenery which surrounds us. To the east for a distance of over a hundred miles, the serried and snow-capped Sangre de Christo range looms up above the clouds, culminating in Mount Blanca, the highest point in Colorado. To the south, dome after dome lifts its lofty head into view. Westward is the main axis of the Rockies with its wonderful and magnificent scenery. In this beautiful background appears Mount Lookout, standing out in full view, crowned by a fine Observatory of the Presbyterian College of the Southwest. North, we see towers, domes, arches, lofty monuments and scenery too beautiful to be described by man.

The San Luis Lakes. - The largest lakes in Colorado are found within six miles of Mosca. This is a paradise for the hunter. Ducks, geese and other birds are found here by the millions. There is a plan on foot to make these lakes a summer resort with rapid transit from Mosca, the nearest town. In case such is done, parks, hotels and all things needed to make this a first-class summer resort will be provided.

Cheap homes. - While this part of the Valley has settled up well, yet land is cheap, comparatively, and the terms of purchase are easy. Good land, with perpetual water by irrigation, can be obtained at $10 to $15 per acre. This land will doubtless be worth from $25 to $50 per acre in a short time.

Abundance of water. - There is an abundant supply of water to this vicinity for all agricultural and other purposes. There are three large irrigating canals within three miles of Mosca, two of these being within a half-mile of town, and numerous artesian wells in and about Mosca. The construction of these wells is cheap, as the soil is soft and the water is shallow, the flow is strong and permanent, and the quality of the water is excellent for all purposes.

Cheap water. - Perpetual water-rights are much cheaper here than at most other places. These can be obtained at from $200 to $800 per 160 acres for perpetual use, on reasonable terms.

Easy irrigation. - The relief of the land is such that it can be irrigated by little labor. The land slopes slightly and uniformly to the east, just enough to be best fitted to irrigation.

Sub-irrigation. - Owing to the peculiar structure and composition of the soil, the land fills with water readily, and after a few years’ artificial watering, little or no water is needed. The water can then be transferred to other land or sold.

Amount of land handled successfully. - Any person can handle more land here successfully than at most other places, owing to the condition of the soil, and lay of the land and the improved machinery used. It is a good place to make a living easily.

The soil is a rich, sandy loam and is very productive.

Crops are sure. - The abundance of water, no drought or hot winds, no hailstorms or cyclones, make this a place where people are not uneasy on account of failure of crops. No failure has ever been known in the Valley in the oldest settlements where water has been supplied sufficiently. There are always good crops.

The markets are good and convenient. - The numerous mining camps and lumbering mills in the mountains near us, and the large hay ranches in the foothills, supply a good demand for our productions, and the railroad connections with all parts give us foreign markets.

Mosca is a growing town with almost all lines of business represented. Where can another town be found, of Mosca’s size and age, where there is not a single unoccupied residence house, and where every tenement house and public building is owned by the one who occupies it?

A home. - Who would not enjoy living in this land of health, beautiful scenery, cheap lands, easy irrigation, sure crops, and every desirable social, educational and religious advantage?

MOSCA BUSINESS HOUSES. - Mosca has a good business representation, and it is a noteworthy fact that every man who is engaged in business here id doing well and making money. Chief among the business enterprises is the

MOSCA ROLLER MILLS. - This mill is the largest in the San Luis Valley, if not the southern part of Colorado. Built for a 750 barrel capacity, it has at this time only machinery for manufacturing 150 barrels per day. All the modern and improved milling machinery may be found in this magnificent structure. It was built by one of the best millwrights in the United States, and from the first, commenced manufacturing the finest grade of flour in the country. It has but few equals and no superiors. G. W. E. Griffith, of Denver, a gentleman of wealth and financial standing, is the chief stockholder in this enterprise. Foreseeing the future of this section as a grain producing country, he built his mill with a view of adding additional machinery as the supply of grain increased. In a few years a half-dozen such mills will hardly be able to handle the immense yield of grain. This year, within a radius of eight miles of Mosca and tributary to it, over one million bushels of wheat, oats and barley were grown, and this amount will increase 30 per cent each year for the next ten years.

HATHAWAY & DE ARMOND, dealers in general merchandise, conduct one of the largest mercantile establishments in the San Luis Valley. The firm is composed of Hon. S. W. Hathaway, member of the State Legislature, and J. C. De Armond, both of whom are old and staunch citizens of this section. Their business for the past year will amount to more than $75,000, and increases rapidly with the growth of the country. Their stock is complete and has been selected with great care as to the demands of the people.

LIGGITT & CO. have the largest drug establishment in the county, and are doing a most excellent business. In connection with a full line of drugs and medicines, this firm also carries a good stock of fancy and toilet articles, books, stationery, notions, etc. Dr. R. L. Liggett, a skilled physician and surgeon, is a member of the firm, and has a practice that reaches to all sections of the surrounding country. He came here from Berthoud, this State, and is recommended highly as a physician.

CHRITTON & GOODNER, proprietors of the Mosca Lumber Yard, were the first business men to locate at Mosca. The firm is composed of Major J. W. Chritton and James A. Goodner. They are among the most enterprising firms in the county, and by their square dealing, have sold over 150 cars of lumber and coal in less than a year. Major Chritton is owner of the famous Chritton ranch. which has become quite celebrated by reason of the enormous yield of grain which has been grown upon it.

W. H. TERRY conducts the largest livery and feed barn in the county. He has his barn well stocked with good horses and turnouts, and does a good business.

MOSCA'S NEWSPAPER. - The Herald, edited and published by John H. Bloom, is a live, progressive newspaper, and is recognized as one of the leading journals of the Valley. It is the official organ of the county, and has a large circulation. It is a five column quarto, and is published on Fridays. The subscription price is $1.50 per year, and persons desirous of obtaining more complete information of Mosca and the Valley, can avail themselves of no better way than by subscribing for it.

HARDWARE. - Mosca has a hardware store which does a fair business.

HOTELS. - Mosca has two hotels, the Vendome, conducted by Mrs. Lulu Small, and the Stewart House. Both of these public hostelries do a good business and are equal to the best hotels on the line of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway between Alamosa and Salida.

TERRY & OVIATT, agents for the Mosca Loan Company, also deal extensively in real estate and insurance. They have a good list of lands which it will be safe for the land hunter to consult before purchasing.

D. E. REPSHER is a live, rustling real estate dealer who has a list of choice lands, relinquishments, etc., and is at all times pleased to show the home-seeker and land hunter over the country.

ASAY & CRANDWELL, Real Estate agents, also do a good business, and have one of the largest lists of any real estate firm in the Valley.

JOHN B. WOODWORTH, Real Estate dealer and Notary Public, does a good business in his line. He also does conveyancing.

H. M. MCCLURE maintains in Mosca the finest tonsorial parlors to be found between Alamosa and Salida. He is a thorough artist and makes it a business to please his customers.

BOOTS AND SHOES. - Mosca has a boot and shoe shop which manufactures boots and shoes and does all kinds of repairing.

EVAN MOORE, proprietor of the Mosca Blacksmith and Wagon Shop, carries in addition to this business, a complete line of agricultural implements. Repairing of all kinds receives prompt and special attention at this establishment.

FURNITURE. - Silas Hockett has just opened a large and complete stock of furniture, etc. This is the only exclusive furniture establishment in the county.

CARPENTERS. - Mosca is well represented with first-class carpenters and mechanics, among whom are J. M. Pulliam, and W. L. Harrison, Sam Southworth and S. McLin.