The Delta independent., 1886-12-14

perience, Mr.. Editor, how much nour-
ishrnent can be extracted from that
kind of diet. Like the old granger We
"kin eat crow. but we don't banker
arter it," Help yourself Bro. Downing.
like the itch it's perfectly free.
Judging from your Paonia CORES
po,,dents. All era of fraud, corruption
and unadulterated "cussedness" must
have dawned upon that unfortunate
baliwick. Voters, outsiders and spec
tators tampering with tho elections,
assisted by q hoard of "hoodlums,'
"lixrs" and "muddleheads." while the
judges and clerks act as accessories
thereto. These are some Of the charges
made by your correspondents. There
is not the slightest doubt but that
these charges are true. These "hood-
lums, liars. and muddleheads." have
worked that haplsss burg with the all
scratching harrow of rascality until
it is as barren as tombstone. as dry as
u contribution box and as lean as Jobs
turkey fed on gravel stones. As a
sample Of the rascality and corruption
practiced in that precinct we will cite
one incident that transpired quite re-
csntly. In the course of political
events 1t became necessary for one Of
the opposing parties to hold primary
for the purpose Of electing delegates to
the county convention. The great UNI
waslled" didn't turn out to any great
extent. In fact, but two men and dog
appeared at the designated spot. The
owners Of the house. beings little sus-
picious of the crowd. refused to give
them the key; 30 they adjourned to y
scrub oak thicket, near by. and held
their meeting. The dog was unani-
mausly elected as delegate. The own
or. fearing that the members Of the
county convention would steal the dog,
took away the poor CANNES
credentials. appointed himself as proxy,
and took an active part in the conven-
ton. The perpetrator Of that high
handed outrage. upon the right Of suit
frage. WAS one of your late correspon-
dents from Pxonia. We now crll upon
the gentleman to rise and erplain the
part he took in that sca,iidslUus trans
action.
Our Representative-elect. Mr.. Wade.
has u fine opening tO distinguish him
self and benefit the county this winter.
The people Of Colorado have only n
superficial knowledge Of Delta county,
many still regarding it Ms simply Il
frontier outpost. enhabitated by II few
squatters, cattlemen and Indians. They
know nothing Of our wonderful cli-
mate. our 6ne grazing and farming
lands. and our insxaustable supply Of
coal. The latter will eventually be
our greatest source OF wealth. and pros
perity. Being identified with all our
interests. and elected to represent
those interests hs will Hnd = wide Geld
Of usefulness opened bsfore him. and .
grand opportunity presented to correct
wrong Impressions. and to show up TO
the wSrld our magnificent recVurses.
Some decisive action should be taken
to protect our coal interests. By such
action the whole state would be bene-
tite,l. As matters now stand our coal
mines are virtually in the hands
Of the rail- loads. and they use
the advantage they have as public csr-
riers to freeze out individual compa-
nies and kill of competition. In this
connection the Denver Nttos aptly
says: "ln many parts Of Colorado
along the lines Of railroads there are
as good coal mines ~ any in the state.
that lave yet been opened, which must
lie idle and iinproductive because the
railroad will not give them reasOna-
ble rates Of transportation. This is
because in some way, or another. the
roads or their controlling officers have
direct pecunisry interest in the mines
now In operation and are bound to pre-
vent public competition, for private
gain. In the southern part Of the
state the Colorado Coal and Iron Co..
acting In conjunction with the Atchi-
son Topeka and Santa Fe. and the Dem
yer and Rio Grande railway companies.
controls the coal business a. complete
lp a. II 1t were the absolute owner of
every acre Of coal land In that vast re-
gion. This IL double wrong that
should be remeiied. 1t 10 wrong to
the private owner Of coal lands be.
cause 10 deprives him Of all means Of
sending his psfsdu:t to market. and It
10 . wrong 70 The public because. 1t kills
all compstition." We have countless
tssss of coai IN veins tweuty ~ thirty
feet In thickness. These minss are
idle for the reasOiis stated abOvS. Let
eur legislature pass q law prohibiting
ali railroads frOni having a pecunIxry
Interest III any product VI which they
....s.