The state herald., 1891-10-16
THE WESTERN SLOPE.
Meeting Of the Western Colombo
Congress q Grand Junction.

Nesting OF the Western Cogesado
Congress st Grand Junction.
Fifty delegates to the first Western
Colorado Congress from seven Of the thir :
teen counties Of the western slope met In
Grand Junction on tho 7th. Beforv ssscss
was taken permanent organization was
effected with Lieutenant Governor Story
a. president and H. T. DcIong sscrstsry.
The convention worked quickly and gos
through with the prsliminariss and ready
fer solid work.
Upon the conyenin8 Of the conkrsss
Thursday morning. Chairman Story esins
compelled to be abssnt, B. Clark Whssier
was made chairman pro TEN.
The following committee o. rseoiauoas
was appointed: H. M. Hogs. A. B. sonn-
son, E. T. Taylor: w. B. Wiley, W. :.
Henry, Thomas J. Black, 8. Wade, D. y.
Adams, ]. H. Good.
Mr.. Ensign, forest commissioner Of tho
State, delivered an address upon tho sub
ject OF forest reservations. Mr.. J. H.
Parsons Of Colorado Springs followed with
q splendid paper on "Forests and IrrAss-
tion." Both papers were referred 70 tho
committee on resolutions, and tho speak,
ers thanked by tho congress Professor
Coudit offered . petition to the prssadens
Of the United States asking that tho laAds
contained in the Grand mesa bo withdrawn
from sale or entry and be declared 10Y
est reservation. The congress ordered u
signed by the president and secretary Of
the congress.
Chairman Story called the congress 70
order In the afternoon, and communities
tion from the Rio Grsnde express agent,
showing the fruit shipments from Grand
Junction for the season up to October 70
be 18S, $50 pounds, was read and referees
to the bureau Of statistics, - were also
communications ON the Keegan coal vein
and tho resources Of Crystal, Gunnison
county. o. f. Osterson read . paper On
"The Railroad Situation in Western Colo
rado,n in which he stated that the roads
now in Denver will push beyond and
branch out TO all parts Of western Colora-
do. He outlined line from Denver 70
Grand Junction, and thence on the Grand
and Colorado rivers to San Diego, Den
yer's nearest support The paper was re-
ceived with applause and referred 70 the
executive committee.
Senator F. Walworth Smith offered .
memorial to be presented from the hrst
Western Colorado Congress to the next
General Assembly for q mining bureaur
with adequately paid and efficient officers.
Tho memorial was adopted.
A resolution constituting bureau Of
statistics was adopted. 1t provides that
the bureau shall have for its objects the
collection Of statistics on mining, milling
and dressing of mctalliferous ores. the
collecting and distributing Of information
on tho resources of Western Colorado.
The management OF said bureau IL en-
trusted TO a general committee Of ono
representative from each Of the counties
OF Pitkin, Delta, Mesa, San Miguel, Mont
rose, Guunison, Ouray, Garfield and
Eagle; the president, vice president and
tho secretary Of the congress to be OK
ofticio members Of said committee and 70
constitute IN executive committee TO have
charge Of tho operations Of the bureau;
the counties on the western slope not rep.
resented 10 secure such upon application;
the funds required to be provided by the
several counties.
The following resolution relative TO
railroad discrimination was carried:
"WnEREAs, Tho question OF railroad
transportation being so intimately con-
nected with the material prosperity OF
Western Colorado, affecting every posi-
bio industry connected with the develop.
ment thereof; and
"WnEnEAs, The questions relative there.
to are so manifold, intricate and far
reaching, requiring careful consideration:
therefore, be II
..Rcsoiped, That the executive commit.
tees Of tho different counties hero repre-.
scented, rs well Us other localities that
may hereafter become members Of this
association, be requested TO make ~ caro-
full, fair and thorough investigation Of the
alleged Determinations made against tho
different localities west Of the continental
divide, and that said committees report at
the earliest possible moment 10 the per-
mancnt secretary OF this congress all OBJ
tainable facts relative thereto, and that
the central committee be authorized TO
lay the information so received before the
officers OF the different railroads operating
In said localities, and demand such relief
md justice rs Is due, from their location
and natural advantages. to the interest OF
such localities, and that snid central com
mittee make full and accurate report Of
their actions IN the premises to tho next
congress, to the end that such localities ~
may be found TO be uniustly discriuinated
against may receive such relief rs may be
within the power Of this congress TO 20.
cure"
Several members OF the convention
favored direct appeal to the Interstate
Commerce Commission, but their Views
were not sustained.
| The report Of the committee on resolu-
tions regarding arid lands WAS read and
adopted. The report stated II TO bo the
sense Of the congress that tho general
government, under proper restrictions,
ccdc to tho state the public lands within
Its boundaries, excepting such lands ~
are more valuable for mineral than for
agricultural purposes, for the purposes Of
developing irrigation, and tho congress
endorses the irrigation WORK Of tho agri-
cultural department Of the national gov
ernment.
The committee on resolutious presented
u resolution favoring tho FREQ and unllm.
itcd coinage OF silver.
Mr., Story having declined the honor.
Judge bell was declared permanent chair.
man by reclamation. Ii. Clark Wheeler Of
Aspen was elected vico president by ac.
clama,ion, and Samuel q. McAiullen Of
Grand Junction and q, q. Mcdonnell of