The Meeker herald., 1893-07-01
WESTERN SLOPE CONGRESS.
Regular semi-Annuai Meeting Opened At
Montrose on the 21st.

The Western Slope Congress met at Mont
rose on the 2lst. Mayor Mcclure welcomed
the delegates tn that city and President L. r
Browne of Aspen responded. He then pro-
ceeded to deliver the regular address
He congratulated the Congress on the sue
eess which had attended the organization anu
smoke of the benefits which had come 10 tne
western slope through the labors oil It's OH
GERS. reduction of railroad rates hau oeen
secured which saved to the people OF the slope
$500 OOO yearly. He denounced the miherai
display of Colorado at Chicago as Iarce'
and said IL was far excelled by the agricni-
tural display. The cultivation OF sugar peets
was urged Referring to the silver question:
he urged the Congress to demand the reHon-
etization OF silver
After the appointment OF the usual commit
tees on credentials and resolutions the Con-
gress adjourned until Th ursday morning.
Al that time letters and kilograms oil regret
were read from Hon. II. H. Eddy, Mr. James
IL. Platt of Denver and Ex-Governor AVA
Adams. The committee on credentials re-
ported showing delegates entitled to seats from
Delta, Dolores, Garfield, Gunnison' ouray La
| Plata, Pi:kin. Hlnsdale, Mesa, Montrose, san
Juan and San Miguel.
A paper by Thomas F. Walsh on pyritic
.meItlny was read, and then the secretary
read his report.
The report is a severe arraignment OF the
| hoard of Worlds Fair commissioners, and OF
| Chief Ward in particular, for the obstacles
thrown In his way in making a collection OF
ore from the Western Slope. 1t showed that
many specimens collected by him had been
rejected because they were too large, and
| ,-is he
he induced Mr. Ward to accept the little that
he did accept 1t charges Ward with inetii-
cheney and with unwillingncss to let the
miners OF the Western Slope make proper
exhibit OF their mineral resources
The report caused general discussion,
which showed the feeling of the congress to
be one of great dissatisfaction win 'he
Worlds Fair board on account of the eharac-
ter of the mineral exhibit. Resolutions were
adopted which strongly denounced Mr.. Ward
and demand published statement OF the ex-
pendltures OF the Colorado board.
A paper written by Mr.. Harry Lee of
Ouray, on mines and mining, was read by F.
D. Catlin. Mr.. II. W. Hsllctt of Garfield
county, then read paper on immigration to
the Western Slope. Mr.. Richard McCloud
of Durango, read paper on smelling on the
| Western Slope.
President f. T. JefIery of the Denver 4
Rio Grande railroad, was invited to address
the congress. His remarks were general in
their character, expressing his views as to
the course the people OF the Western Slope
should take to develop their part OF the state.
He said he thought they should not build
their hopes on silver alone. He was n bi
metallis,, but he thought tina, the people OF
Western Colorado should rely more upon the
development OF their Iron and coal resource;
| than they do. The prosperous nations are
the nations that depend upon and utilize Goa
and iron. They are the manufacturing ma
tion..
lie praised the quality and flavor OF th'
fruit grown in the Western counties and sai'
that he wanted the fruitgrowcrs OF the West
ern Slope to send carload Of fruit to Den
yer, and complained that full carload o
Western Colorado fruit had never been sen
| to Denver He offered to haul a carload FREE
at fast passenger time In order that Dcnve
| people might find out how good the Western
Slope fruit is.
In the evening Judge Bell addressed thu
| congress on the subject of silver. A straw
berry banquet was also INDUCED In.
Friday morning a paper by A C. Fisk OF
beet sugar was read, though Mr.. Fisk himsel
was absent 1t consisted of a review Of th'
beet sugar industry and suggestions as 10 1t
Introduction In this part of the Union.
The committee on resolutions then reportc,
| long resolution rcciting the facts pertninin.
to the silver question and calling upon Con
gross to provide for tthc free and unlimlte,
coinage of silver. The resolution, after SOM
little discussion, was adopted.
The railroad committee made It's report re
citing what had been accomplished in the ef
fort TO secure reductions In freight rates af
fectlng the Western slope. 1t showed tina
very important reductions had been made
amounting to from 80 to GO per cent. OF th'
rate. 1t was estimated that this would rcsul
In a saving of $500, 900 to the Western slope
All, however, had not been accomplished
which the committee hoped to accomplish
Adopted.
A resolution opposing the Battement mes,
reservation was adopted.
Mr. James Mcclure, the treasurer, made hi
report, showing the receipts and expenditure
OF the Congress, which was approved ant
adopted A resolution was then offered ant
adopted. calling upon the different count!c
OF the Western slope TO pay their share OF th'
expense of publishing 10000 copies OF
pamphlet on the resources OF the Western
slope.
1t was decided to meet In Glenwood Springs
November 18th to 18th next.
Mr.. W. E. Grove OF Hinsdalc county wa
elected president; Charles Newman Of Du
range, vice president; James Mcclure OF
Montro.e, treasurer, and A. B. johnson oi
Grand junction, secretary.
The thanks Of the Congress were voted tc
the people Of Montrose for their hosptablt
entertainment and to the officer Of the Con
grcss, after which the Congress adjoured.