, 1891-09-20


In running a newspaper the colonel
adopted methods which were new to
Cheyenne journalism, but were marked
with temporary success. Realizing the
fact that the American public seldom
gives up something for nothing he sit
upon the expedIent of issuing stock. His
paper was incorporated under the
laws OF the state, and when be wished to
secure a business mans sympathy, his
name to back the enterprise or to pay a
printer or contributor he generally gave
them a jag of Commonwealth stock. Just
how much stock was issued nobody seemed
to know or care. For a time all they
seemed to want was stock. and so long as
their requirements in this respect were
gratifed nobody bothered his head
about the available assets upon which it
was alleged TO be based. After awhile the
paper temporarily shut down. The Stock
\ Journal apparently did not want stock in
payment Of typesetting and p~resswork.
1t was then announced that the Com
was W ktN n NpluDlttG auu
gorgeous outfit Of its own. Col. Coutant
temporarily disappeared. 1t afterward
transpired that he had gone to
the interior of Kansas. He returned
with a slender, genteel and non-assertive
young man who was paraded as the bust
ness manager of the ~reorganized concern.
This young gentleman owned a newspaper
plant in Kansas where he had been ekiDg
out an existence. In the belief that fame
and fortune here awaited him he moved
his ~erasshopper press and type to this
city accepting in Aleu- thereof-stock.
The young man seemed to enjoy his job
for several weeks but it was soon noticed
that caukering care had taken possession
of him. His movements became pre-
ceptibly less joyous and more droopy.
One fine evening he hied himself
hence 20 the Northwestern Pacific slope
leaving behind him his g~rasshopper press
aud printing material. For a time the
columns OF the Commonwealth fairly
bristled lat 20 much a bristle) with por-
traits of men prominently identified with
our local history. All of these we're ac-
companied with biographical sketches
written in a superlative strain of mingled
alteration and delight. About this time
the country was flooded with circulars Of
fering a years subscription to the Com
stock in a valuable jcrkwater silver mine
at Silver Crown. all for the modest sum OF
81. The prospectus was advertised in
many provincial towns throughout the
country and paid for in mining stock. We
understand the venture proved quite a
success although the subject is no longer
alluded to even in the advertising COL
umns of the local newspaper.
But all these schemes were not enough
to occupy the restless energy of Col, Cou-
tant. His paper was still the organ of
nothing and nobody. so he hit upon the
scheme of organizing a state board of
mines" and while making himself secre-
tary OF it he at the same time made his
paper the official organ. This provided
him and perhaps another of his hackers
with ample railroad transportation to
prosecute both their public and private
ENTERPRISES. The state board OF mines was
in itself a good idea, and the organization
included a number of reputable citizens
from all parts of tho state. but as manip
ulated by the interests and necessities of
Coutant it became in many respects a
singular institution. Its rules were ex-
banded or contracted as the occasion
seemed to demand. There appeared to
be no restrictions as to membership and
anyone who happened to pay IS was
given a certificate. As to what has be-
come OF this money even the official report
of the last session OF the board, as pub
lished in the Commonwealth, fails to give
any clue or hint, and the same is equally
true of whatever subscriptions have been
raised to defray the expenses of the ses-
sion. Col. Coutant, no doubt, has the
vouchers in his possession, but a sense of
extreme delicacy on his part may prevent
him from displaying them to the vulgar
public gaze.
The latest freak of the gallant colonel
without pauslug to consider his exchana-
ing checks scneme-anu the one which
has brought about the present unpleasant
notoriety has reference to a twice post
poned excursion of capitalists to Gold
Hill. Subscriptions to defray the ex-
penses Of the advertising and arranging
for the excursions were paid to Col. Cou-
tant by citizens of Rawlins and Saratoga.
The exact amount we nave not yet learned
but are informed by a prominent Citizen
of Rawlins that the people of that town
alone contributed between $3.50 and $500.
A long time after the first postponment
of the excursion the Rawlins Journal be-
gan to modestly inquire about the matter
1t was subsequently stated that the ex-
cursion was simply a Cheyenne scheme to
deirsud the confding people Of the west.
In this manner it became a reflection
upon the good name OF The people of this
community and the matter was mentioned
in the columns of THE LEADER so that
the blame might rest where it properly
belonged. 1t may be added parentheti-
cally that it still rests at the same old
stand.
Ia the foregoing we have feebly and in-