The Meeker herald., 1899-05-27

A18oc hO khiuDhhs - 'NPPSS@ ~
going on and even when the public
generally becomes aware that games
are running the police department de
mics emphatically that they know any
thing Of It. Then a short time after.
wards the owners of gambling estab-
lishments are formally summoned by
name to appear before the board and
are told that they must quit business
at once. As these officers are sent out
simultaneously and find no difficulty
III going directly to the gambling
houses and finding men playing all
kinds Of games Of chance, the average
citizen generally thinks that these per
formances are connected In some way
with the moves on the political chess
board. but he Is not always able to
trace the connection.
Coal Mine Inspector Simpson and
Deputy Inspector O. NJ. Hopkins have
Just returned from examinations nj
the scenes Of recent fatal accidents
and made their reports and added
comments to the effect that the negli-
gence Of the miners themselves Is al-
most invariably the cause of fatalities
Mr.. Hopkins returned from Crested
Butte, where Joe Dorsi, an Austrian of
twenty-three years of age. was killed
on May 18th. Mr.. Simpson came back
from Walsenburg. where Albert Rasp.
plia met death at the Victor Coal and
Coke Company on the same day. Mr.
Hopkins report sets forth that DOrsi
was working in the mine and had plen
ty Of timber supplied by the company
close at hand to prop the roof, but
failed to use 1t. The roof came down
and crushed him. The Walsenburg ac
cident was similarly unnecessary, be
IN q dIyn RI tho nc tiny, nj hn t,onu
to save time at great risk. "If you look
back over our reports you will find
this true In great many cases rang
Ing over several years." said Mr. Hop
kins. Some years are remarkably
free from fatalities, but these accidents
vary with the years. In 1886, for in
stance, there were only six fatalities,
while just ten years later, in 1896
there were sixty-eight-nearly a dozen
times as many. In 1893 there were
twenty-four. This year looks as If IT
was going to be bad one. That state.
ment is based on accidents which have
occurred so far. During three months
commencing January LIST. there were
seventeen fatalities, and already since
the end Of the first quarter of the year
there have been five fatalities. a bad
showing. But these accidents will
continue, despite all precautions takef
by this Office SO long as some of the
miners are negligent.
As a result of a meeting held here
the other night bill making the clifY
dwellings region in the southwestern
part Of Colorado a national park will
in all probability be introduced Mt the
next. convening of Congress. Congress
man John F. Shafroth, Judge George
7. Sumner, Booth Malone. Henry Van
Kleeck and DIR. Camden NJ. CObern
constituted the meeting. Congress.
man ShafrOth went over the details OF
passing such bill and the other gen
tlemen present, all of whom have
been on the ground. recapitulated all
they personally gathered concerning
the interesting ruins below Durango.
Granting that the people living in the
agricultural country contiguous to the
clin dwellings made no objections to
the setting aside of the land contain
had received almost an assurance that
they would not, Mr.. ShafrOth saw no
impediment in the way of passing the
bill. Maps and pictures of the ground
and ruins were carefully gone over and
studied. While the dimensions of the
nrea were not specified, it is thought
that fifteen miles running northeast
and southwest by four or five miles
wide will include the most important
ground without infringing on any pre-
cious mineral or agricultural land. Mr..
Shafroth made copious notes to take
with him to Washington and will work
for the passage of the bill. He advises
that no appropriation be asked for in
the first measure. 1t will be sought to
make some provision for the care-tak-
ing of the ruins. Excavations must
be made scientifically and will be re-
str1cted by license. Mr.. Shafroth will
try to enlist the interest of the Smith
sonian Institution. The matter will be
pushed with all possible speed. AT the
present time two large exploring par
ties of 100 members each are being or
ganized, one In San Francisco and one
in the Fast to visit the Mancos canon
and excavate In the ruins.
The State Board of Land Commits
sioners held meeting on the 10Th. at
which considerable business of import
ance was transacted. The decision of
Register Chipley to take immediate
steps to put stop to the wholesale
timber thieving throughout the state
was indorsed and the board agreed to
support him. 1t was decided to use
every possible means to see that only
those holding proper timber leases
should cut wood. In the regular order
Of business three timber leases were
agreed to as soon as the appraise-
ments are made. Because of the spite
shown by neighbors in the San Luis
valley. the right of way could not be
secured for ditch companies desiring to
improve state lands. Complaint was
made to the board and 1t did not dis
pose Of the matter yesterday. but by
the adoption Of resolution by Secre 4
tary of State Beckwith the evil was
prevented for the future The resolu-
tion set forth that hereafter when any
lease is given out by the board a pro-
vision will be inserted that the state
reserves the right to grant rights OF
way across the premises to ditch COM
panies, reservoir concerns, railways,