The state herald., 1899-04-21
NEWS FROM THE
WESTERN REGION.

eral days ago. 1t Is designed to reach
the various undeveloped coal and oil
fields of Wyoming as well as compete
for the great live stock shipping trade
of the state. which Is now held by the
Union Pacific and Northwestern sys-
tens.
With the acquicscence of the state
land board, the Great Plains Land and
Water Storage Company will take i'm
mediate steps to bring into Colorado n
colony of 1000 families. comprising
about 10000 people. For some weeks
the company has been negotiating with
the land board for the purchase of
1000 acres of school land in the Arkan-
sas valley near Lamar, but such deter
mined opposition to the project has ap-
peared that the completion of the
transaction has been delayed. Repre-.
sentativcs of the company have ap-
peared before Register Chipley and
laid bare the plans of the concern for
the colonization of that portion of the
Arkansas valley In which the school
land mentioned is located. 1t was de-
cided that the board shall make an ex-
animation of the land under discussion.
and to do that II trip to Lamar was ar
ranged. The members. accompanied
by Representatives of the company and
by committee representing the oppo-
sition, will make the journey In n few
days.
The Denver & Rio Grande hospital at
Salida was destroyed by fire on the
18th. The alarm was sounded at o
o'clock and when the fire apparatus
arrived the roof was burning The fire
originated from II fluc. starting In the
framework of the roof. An insufficient
pressure of water prevented effective
work by the firemen and citizens. who
volunteered. and 1t was soon evident
that the building. n fine three-story
structure. was doomed. About thirty
patients Were In the building. but all
were removed In safety and taken to
various houses for care and protection.
There being no wind the building
burned slowly. so that most of the val
liable furniture and fixtures were
saved. The iircmen kept streams of
water playing on the upper floors. so
that the first floor Is not entirely de-
stroyed. The hospital was one OF the
finest buildings In this section of the
state. and is the property of the En-
ployes' Relief Association of the Rio
Grande system. II is amply insured
and will be at once rebuilt. 1t is
thought that none of the patients will
suffer In consequence of hasty removal
w. $. Stratton has sold his Indcpend-
ence mine at Cripple Creek to the Ven
turc corporation OF London. This Is
the largest mining deal made In this
state for many years. The price OF the
property is not stated. hut II Is intimate
ed that Mr.. Stratton will get several
million dollars for the mine. The
story of the Independence mine is one
of the romances Of Cripple Creek. and
Is familiar to most Of the people of
Colorado. The discovery was made In
1880. and from that day to this there
has not been n day when Mr.. Stratton
has not been active In Its development.
In spite of dlscouragemcnts. including
that most grievous of all discourage
persisted In work
Ing the claim. sometimes single-hand.
ed. until after two years he was en-.
abled TO make his first important ship
mcnt In 1893 the net profits OF the
mine amounted to 100000. In the next
three years the mine has put into cir.
culntion more than Sl.OO0.OOO In gold.
OF which fully onc-half was net profit,
Very rich ore bodies remain nm.
touched In the mine. valued at several
million dollars.
The Rocky Mountain News on the
18th said: II was reliably learned last
evening that II deal was closed In New
York ON last saturday whereby the
Midland Terminal Railway Company.
the Florence X Cripple Creek railway
ard the Florence Reduction Works n
Florence had been sold to Il London
syndicate FOR SS.0OO.u0O. The deal has
been on foot for the last six months
and WAS consumnlated In New York
on Saturday 10y Mcssrs. u. II. Moifat
and Eben Smith. Details of the deal
are mcager. hut II Is intlmatcd that It
means n great deal for Denver. as It Ia
thought the syndicate will build the
long-contemplatcd air llnc 10 Denver.
with the Midland Terminal
near Divide aud Colorado Springs Will
thereby he cut out of n large amount of
business from the Cripple Creek dis.
trici. The Florence y Cripple Creek
rGah extends from Florence 10 Cripple
Greek. II has paid large profits Since
the day II was built. Mr.. Mufrnt and
his associates are rcputci TO have taken
ont Of II about all that II cost them.
The Midland Terminal extends from
Cripple Creek north to Divide and IL
about twenty-five miles long. To con
meet II with the South Park line. In the
vicinity OF Symcs or Dcnnsbury, abon,
forty miles Of new rails must be- laid.
Except for the windings neccssliated
by passing through the mountains,
iher" VIII then he an mir line from Den.
yer TO Florence, passing through III.
cripple Greek district. The distance
from Denver 10 Cripple Creek win be
about ninety miles. or little more than
the distance from Denver 10 Colorado
Springs. rhcrc VIII hc created n new
north aud south line OF railway run.
Ming behind the front range OF the