The Lamar register., 1889-06-01

The other day representative OF
The Republican was on Rio Grande
tram when the brakeman yelled out
in stentorion tones, "Cleora." On
looking out of the window only two
houses could be seen.
What change time had wrought!
In June of 1879 this same town was
by far the largest place betpeen Can.
on City and Leadyi!le. Almost
every conceivable branch of business
was represented, and in most of them
there was active competition. Houses
were going up as If by magic, and
lumber commanded almost a fabu-
lous price. Saloons were found in
almost every block, and dance-halls
were scattered about in profusIon.
But month later the town conclud-
ed to move, and few weeks later
the majority of its residents had
taken up their permanent abode in
what is now the hourishing town of
Salida.
Colorado has many places with n
history something similar to that of
Cleora, which, by the way, was
named in honor of the belle of the
Arkansas valley, Miss Cleora Boyles.
4 BOOMING PLACE.
RollinsvIlle, near Caribou, was a
booming place in 1871, and town lots
were at premium. Hundreds of
people were proud to call it their
home. and it was thought to be
founded upon a rock. To-day the
rock is still there, but the population
has fled to the four winds.
"How is that town of Iona on the
Rio Grande river getting on?" said
a gentleman yesterday who left the
state in 1874. 81 visited it Just be
fore l left the territory aud thought
it would likely make a good place" :"
Jack-rabbits have been jumping
through the few remaining adobe
buildings for years.
Kit Carson had a population of
almost.2O, 900 people in 1863, and the
peculIarity about them was that the
great majority of them resided In
dug.outs. When the railroad pushed
on to Denver the following year, the
residents of Kit Carson headed the
procession.
Sunshine in 1875 had population
of several thousand while to-day there
is only handful of people there.
Buckskin Joe and Hall Valley IN
Park county were once fiourishing
places, but about all that is left of
them is their name. Weston tried
to put on airs in 1879, at which time
there were about 5000 people there.
The postoffice still remains, as 40
one or two stores.
A DESERTED VILLAGE.
Along the old stage road between
Leadyille and Aspen at what was
known as Independence in 1880, and
for a few years thereafter, not a sin
gle soul is now living. Hundreds OF
deserted houses are standing tenant
less, and some of them are quite pre-
tentions. A newspaper was once
published in the corporate limits OF
the city, and the arm of the WASH
Ington hand press on which 1t was
printed is now sticking out of the
office window. The proprietor was
too much dlsgusted to take it away
Colorado City was once the capita
of the territory. In the seventies L
was almost deserted, but with the
building of the Midland railroad |
took on new life, and is to-day more
prosperous than it ever was before
There was great excitement at DO
uanza, IN Saguacbe county, in 1857
A daily paper was published ther'
by W. r. Mckinney, now OF TIM
Pueblo Press, and it was good one
too. Everything doomed except th'
mines and the tenderfeet pronounced
it another Leadyille. -Four Thousand
neople almost broke their necks u
get there, and of all that number no
n hundred now remain.
IT WOULD NOT PAY TO REBUILD.
Poncha Springs was an enterpris
l..k hav 4