OCR Text |
Show Record Utah. Prior to 2 1/ 2 years ago I had occasion at different times 507 to go into the vicinity of the San Juan River in Utah and New Mexico. I don't know how many times I had occasion to go near the San Juan River in Utah prior to making my residence at Goodrich 2 1/ 2 years ago. I would ride the range at different times in the year. I would have occasion to do down around the San Juan River probably once a year. During all the years I crossed the river I think I have been over it, on the Navajo Reservation, three different times. Each time I crossed going and coming on 508 horse back. Aside from those three occasions. I have been at Bluff a number of times. I followed right along the side of the river on the old road for 25 miles from the mouth of McElmo to Bluff, going from Cortez to Bluff, the old road. The old road runs close to the river at intervals and then will go over a little mesa and back to the river again. It runs right along the river in places, within a mile of the river at all times, and right up to the river in places. The last 5 or 6 miles is right 509 near the river. I have been over that road at least twenty times. The road was clearly discernable and I had no trouble following along the ruts made by the wagon tracks. I was freighting when I did that. I did not get out in the river at all during those occasions. I did not cross the river at all. Aside from the three times I went over the San Juan River to the Navajo Reservation and the 20 freighting trips along the road, that was sometimes close to the river. I have had no other experience with the 510 river until 2 1/ 2 years ago when I came to Goodrich and started this trading post. During that time I have not crossed the river at any place except Mexican Hat and Goodrich. There are two fords there right near the store. My house is on the upland at Goodrich. There are a few people at Mexican Hat but not at Goodrich. The land around there on the uplands is river bed gravel. I do not think it would be productive if irrigated. John Bell testified for complainant on direct examination as follows: |