Gilpin observer., 1899-06-01
NEWS FROM THE
WESTERN REGION.

james v. Dexter, the well-known
mining man, formerly of Leadville,
died on the 23rd.
The South Park line to Leadville was
opened on the 26th, after being block
AIDED by snow and ice since January.
OF the amount appropriated by Con-
gress for the survey of public lands
this year, Wyoming has been appOr-
tioucd $4,000.
William Jones, a one-legged tramp,
has been arrested for numbering a
companion at Basalt, Colorado. He
admits his guilt.
It has been determined to bore for oil
at Pennington, New Mexico. Every
indication of the presence of the valu-
able product is favorable.
The Albuquerque Guards are to be
reorganized under the law providing
for the regulation of the National
Guard. Many of the returned volun-
teers have signed the roll. The cap
tatncy will be offered to Lieutenant
Louis McRae, lately an officer in the
First territorial regiment.
A report comes from Moab, Utah,
for alleged participation in the destruc-
tion of the La Sal mine in Colorado,
six miles from the state line. Two hun
dred pounds of giant powder was eX-
ploded near the mouth of the mine.
The mine is owned by Michigan syn
dicate. The men had been working on
the mine but were recently discharged.
II. o. Miller has struck artesian wat
er in a well on one of Ex-Governor B.
III. Eaton's farms, six miles west of
Eaton. Water flows over the top at
the rate of about six barrels per hour
This Is the largest flow ever struck in
northern Colorado. The well is 4SO
feet deep. Mr.. Miller believes he has
found an artesian water basin in this
section.
The coal chutes of the Santa Fe
road at Las Vegas, with contents, were
entirely consumed by fire last week
The total loss will reach $4,000. More
than 500 tons of coal and 200 cords of
wood were destroyed. A very strong
wind was blowing and with the great
est difficulty the fire was prevented
from communicating to the ice house
and many freight cars near by.
Senator Warren who secured an ap-
$4,000 for additional buildings at
Fort Russell. and who has been urging
early commencement Of work upon
their construction, was to-day advised
by General Ludington, quartermaster
general of the army, that the papers
in the case are now before the secre-
tary of war for building a bachelor
officers quarters and two double sets
OF officers quarters, and it is hoped
the plans can be sent out shortly.
Sheep shearing in Wyoming for this
year has practically been completed,
and the result is generally satisfactory
to wool growers. The wool clip of the
state for 1898 was about 14,OOO,O 600
pounds. The clip for the present year
is estimated to be about 100000
pounds short of this amount, but the
wool Is much cleaner and the demand
consequently more active. In fact, on
account Of its freedom from burrs
Wyoming wool is becoming a favorite
among the so-called territorial woods.
Most of this years clip has been con-
tracted for.
Preliminaries were begun at Hills
bOro, New Mexico, n few days ago, in
the trial of the celebrated cases of
upon a charge of numbering Colonel A.
]. Fountain and his six-year-old son,
three and half years ago. The trial
is before Judge Parker. The attorneys
for the prosecution are United States
District Attorney Childers, Eon.
Thomas B. Catron and District Attor.
ney Il. p. Barnes. On the side of the
defense are Hon. A. b. Fall, Hon. II.
b. Ferguson and Attorney Dougherty.
The trial of William McNew, an al
legged accOmplice, was to have taken
place one month ago, but the charge
against him was dismissed Mt Silver
City, because the prosecution would
not go to trial on his case and disclose
evidence, when alleged principals were
to be tried later.
Reports from the neighborhood Of
the Indian reservations in and near
Wyoming cause considerable alarm.
The abandonment Of Fort Washakie
will not only leave the 1000 Indians
on the reservation free to settle their
hostile difficulties among themselves,
but to prey upon the defenseless set
tiers In the vicinity of the reservation.
The situation will be aggravated by
the fact that the Indians will be de-
prlved of the revenues they got from
trading with the post, and will be sure
to try and recoup their losses by steal
ing from the ranches and killing stock.
Again. the new game law Is very dis
tasteful to the Indians, and when re-
lieved Of military surveillance and con-
troll the wardens will meet with de-
fiance and armed resistance. Captain
Nickerson, the Shoshone agent, COM
menting on the situation, said: "The
treaty will soon expire and with no
treaty in existence and no soldiers to
overawe them. that the Indians will
make trouble Is n certainty"
The work being done Mt the present
time by the Union Pacific Railroad In
order to shorten Its route, decrease Its
grade and thereby mike uuicI,or timn