1899 Map of La Plata

About this map

Mining operations and early railroad engineering define this 1895 survey of the high-altitude terrain where the La Plata River and various forks of the West Mancos River originate. The presence of the Rio Grande Southern R. R. winding through the southern half of the quadrangle illustrates the critical infrastructure needed to support local extraction. Significant industrial sites like the Little Kate Mill and Columbus Mine are situated near high peaks such as Diorite Peak and Hesperus Peak. Small settlements and transit points including Hesperus, Dix, and Parrott provide a look at the late nineteenth-century community structure of La Plata and Montezuma counties. The map also records early land usage at Menefee Ranch and the industrial activity at the Ute Coal Mine near Ute Junction.