La Junta tribune., 1899-02-15
TIVE ra,sums IN the LONG AGO.
An Interesting Retrospective Review.
Written BY One sf lts Early gd'.
tors, Geo. o. Phillips.

founded about the middle OF the
year 1851, by c. Denny, who
issued the first numbers from an
old Army press which he set up in
the Santa Fe freight depot. The
first copy was purchased by Judge
John T. Russell, who moved from
Rocky Ford to La Junta about the
same time, residing here continu-
ously since. The first copy has
been lost. About the only perma-
nent residents at that time were
Judge Russell and family, George
Spane and family and James Mon
roe Powell, familiarly known as
"Roe," the latter remaining in La
Tunta until his death. Frank
Nixon, we are informed, was in
Las Animas at that time, but he is
entitled to the claim, we believe,
OF being the Oldest resident OF La
Junta. The writer passed through
in 1877 or 1878 and got a drink OF
water from Frank Mixon's well.
After a few months Mr.. Denny
suspended, but in the fall OF 1882
the paper was revived a short
time by some party whose name
seems to have been forgotten On
September I3, 1889, Mr.. Nelson
Fl. Bowman took charge, as he
frankly informs us, at the instance
of T. ]. Hickman and J. c. Jones,
holders of the property by
mortgage, and for the purpose OF
boosting the former gentleman and
his friends into Office. This year
the first stone school house was
built. In March, 1854, Mr.. Bow
man purchased and added to what
then composed the TRIBUNE plant,
and continued its publication
through the years 1850. During
these years several additional com
pany houses were built, a railroad
library and reading room, Santa
Fe hospital and the La Jnnta and
Lamar canal from Point Of Rocks
to Horse Creek, following partly
the yonte of the old government
reservation canal.
Mr.. Bowman sold out to G. D.
Phillips about April 1, 1886, the
latter purchasing the paper, mater
ial and subscription list for $1,000
with money borrowed, temporarily,
from NJ. c. Stephens. The first
of the files accessible at the present
time begins with April IS. 1886.
This number records an attempted
assassination of Judge A. Russell
of Rocky Ford, and publishes
letter under date of April 18th,
from w. b. Mckinley, of Denver,
to A. Armentrout, relative to the
"Haskell ditch"
On April ~, G. D. Phillips pub
lished his salutatory and Mr.. N.
H. Bowman, his "Adios. (" Mr..
Bowman's private advice to his
successor was to "boom" the
bitches and the agricultural
resources of the valley. This ad-
vice was quite in accordance with
the views and inclinations of the
new proprietor and was faithfully
followed, as the files bear ample
testimony. In fact he never missed
an opportunity to set forth the
natural advantages Of the Arkansas
valley, its fertile soil. irrigation
resources, abundant sunshine and
pure air Conditions so favorable
to healthy and its comparative
freedom from destructive storms
and cyclones. The first issue with
Mr.. Phillips at the helm, acknowl-
edged call from Mr.. A. M. Hill,
formerly of Pittsburg, Pa, but
more recently of Colorado Springs,
who was looking up farm localities
for himself and friends. The same
issue, in commenting upon some
cyclone visitations in Nebraska,
which had necessitated the fre-
ouent using of storm caves, re-
marked that sat the present rate