The Meeker herald., 1899-05-20

The antl-prize fight committee OF the
Civic Federation, a woman's organza-
tion, has begun an agitation against
prize fights in Denver. All the rellg-
ious and literary organizations nave
been invited to cooperate In opposing
the law.
The question of selecting Il site for
the proposed auditorium has resulted
In fight among conflicting real estate
interests, and, as was the case in the
postOfficc site fight seventeen years
ago, tendency Is apparent among ben
Gifted property holders to contribute
to reduce the cost of sites which they
favor.
The contemplated North park land
deal, whereby 5000 acres of rich min
ing land was TO be- turned over to the
North Park Cattle Company, backed
by the Swifts. is OF. The North park
people made n strong fight against this
proposed deal and when it was shown
tuat gold, silver. copper. coal and iron
was under every township-almost ev
cry acre-the board reccded from its
intention of leasing all these rich lands
for 8 cents m acre II year.
Judge Butler in the District Court
has rendered Il righteous decision in
favor of the depostors of the defunct
Peoples Savings Bank. When that
institution failed few years ago ow-
ing large sum to depositors, 1t was
discovered that much of the paper held
ms collateral security for loans was
worthless. 1t was also discovered that
much Of this worthless paper had been
transferred to the savings bank by the
Peoples National Bank, whose officers
managed both institutions. In other
words, the depositors of the savings
bank had been deliberately skinned by
the other bank This wrong now
seems in fair way to be righted.
Statements will have to be submit
ted at once to the State Board of
Equalization by the railroads of the
state in accordance with II resolution
adopted at Wednesdays meeting, as
follows: THE railroads of Colorado
shall without delay return to the Board
of Equalization an estimate OF the cost
of reproducing their said lines of rail
way in their condition on the 31st' of
December, 1893, basing such esti-
mates on the average cost for the year
preceding of rails. ties. labor and 9TH
err elements going into construction,
together with costs of right of way,
grading, real estate for station houses.
etc" The railroads protest that their
assessments are too high when COM
pared with those on real estate or any
other valuable property, the values of
which are fixed by the county ASSESS
ors. The board WILL however, not wait
upon the county assessors, but will
proceed to fix the valuations as soon
as the statements of the railroads are
received. The roads will also be re-
quired to make statement of their
earnings and expenses for 1898.
No private postOfflce box scheme can
be worked in Denver. The pOstoffice
authorities have declared that II such
an office were opened 1t would refuse
to deliver letters to the conductors. 1t
ia but q few weeks since a fight Oc-
Cured between the officials OF the
postoffice in New York and the private
letter box men and the postoffice won
In that city the custom has grown into
a gigantic evil. The boxes were in the
rear of drug stores, in stationery stores
and other places where many young
people wonld find their way. 1t was
charged that they were used as means
of debauching young people. The post
office inspectors We're detailed to watch
the boxes, and found all charges sub
stantiated. The postmaster then Sc
cured a list of all the places where
boxes were kept and instructed the
mail carriers not to deliver any mail nt
the places except for the proprietors
All the letters We're held at leadQuar-
ters and word sent that those claiming
them could get them by proving their
rights. An angry lot of people did call,
but the greater number of the letters
were left for the dead letter office. The
box proprietors appealed to the post
master general at Washington, and he
upheld the action of the postmaster
AS result the city was purified. The
Denver authorities saw an advertise
ment of someone who will attempt to
put in a set of boxes here. Steps were
at once taken to get the location of the
proposed boxes and stop the delivery
of letters.
The Colorado Fuel and Iron Com.
pany thinks 1t has found n way to
evade the new eighthour law. Its idea
is embodied in the following notice
just issued to its employees:
Il. On and after May 10. 1899. the
period of employment of all persons
heretofore employed and paid by the
day, will be by the hour.
80. Workingmen employed in under
ground mines or workings, or institu-
tions for the reduction of ores or met
ais will be ut liberty to work more
than eight hours per day, if they elect,
and will be paid for the number of
hours Of actual labor.
80 Except in cases of emergency,
where life or property may he in I'M
minent danger. no such workingmen
shall hc required to labor more than
eight hours per day. failure to work
more than such number Of hours shall
not be deemed cause justfying dis
charge from the service of the COM
pany.
~. This notice shall be the sole con-
tract of employment for all working.
men so far as relates to the period of
employment. No superintendent or
agent shall have authority to change