La Junta tribune., 1898-01-01
a jusra.s saosaass N .ss,.
4 Tsis q Prosperity ueeawsissd IN
the Mistesy Of the Queen csty
os the Alliances Valley.

The year 1897 has passed and
its principal events are recorded in
the pages Of history; and upon this
bright and happy New Years
morning retrospective glance at
the improvements made in the
bright and fiourishing county seat
of Otero may not be amiss.
The beginning OF the year which
has just passed into oblivion,
marked period OF business and
industrial stagnation which was
felt from the Atlantic to the Paci-
fic, and from the northern bound
AIRY of these great states to the
Gulf OF Mexico; and while La
Jun,a may not have suffered from
the ebbing tide as did other cities,
it was not an exception to the gen
eral rule.
With the change in administra-
tions early in the year there also
came change OF policy, which has
not only proved beneficial to the
toilers OF La unta, but to the
country at large as well. This
change OF policy, together with
abundant crops in this fair land,
and shortage in some OF the Euro
pean and Asiatic countries, have
enabled the farmers and laborers
to enjoy season OF prosperity sell
do,ped equalled since the May
flowers PROV touched Plymouth
Rock. Railroad employees who a
year or two ago were satisfied If
their monthly checks reached Sioo,
have been drawing from $I6o to
S225 month, and the same pro-
portionate increase has been OBJ
served in the salaries of all men in
any way connected with the train
service. Shop hands have not
only had more hours OF work, but
their increase from overtime has
been no small amount. The re-
suit is everywhere apparent. Our
merchants have had their share OF
these increased earnings, and we
have as yet to hear OF business
man whose sales for the last half
OF the year just closed, did not ex-
ceed those OF any OF the three
years previous, by from IS to 10
per cent Prosperity may not have
struck La unta. but how do you
account for the enormous increase
in the deposits of the banks? The
statement made by the First Ma
tional Bank to the Comptroller of
Currency at the close of business
Dec. IS, 1895, showed the total
deposits to be s47,S73.s3, and the
last statement made Dec. IS, 1897,
shows deposits amounting to s92.-
sal. as, an increase of s44,647.45.
Comparisons may be odious, and
the TRIBUNE has no desire to rub
it in, but in these hard times when
there is no money in the country
we cannot refrain from going lit
tie further and showing what the
La Iunta State Bank has done
during the past two years At the
close of business January 2, 1896.
this popular institution had de-
posits within its vaults amounting
to $40, 342. 81. At the close Of
business December 80, 1897, their
deposits amounted to $IoS, ,6oI. so,
an increase in a little less than two
years Of $38, 90, and this, too.
in what since its organization has
been considered one Of the strong
est private banks of Southeastern
Colorado. But one conclusion can
be drawn from the above figures,
and that is, the laborers, the skilled
mechanic, the farmer and the mer-
chants OF this part Of the great
Arkansas Valley are richer by $Sa,-
oo6. 80 than they were two years
ago.
Prosperity may not have struck
La Junta, but how do you account
for the many new and handsome
residences that have been con-
structed in our thriving little city
d,r;nU the veav ;,,cf rJoSed7 II 10