The state herald., 1900-06-29
COLORADO NOTES.

Florence will have balloon ascen-
sion on the Fourth.
The Colorado Telephone Company
has now four gangs of workmen on It's
new line construction. One is at Fort
Morgan, another at Silverton, another
between Denver and Colorado Springs,
and another at Sterling. The super
intendent has put in orders for 2oooo
spruce poles and for 100000 pounds OF
copper.
| The power house of the Buena vista
smelter was destroyed by fire on the
Goth, the blaze originating In resist
ance box, which had become overheat-
ed. The building and contents are
nearly total loss, the damage amount
ing to about 5000, the insurance be-
ing $500. Preparations for rebuild
ing and replacing the machinery are
already under way and 1t Is not likely
that the smelter will remain idle longer
than three weeks.
The following named state agents OF
the Colorado Humane Society have
been appointed since May Goth and
prior to June 10Th: Charles Wheeler,
I Elizabeth; +. b. Bowles, Gilpin; ]. NJ.
Handy, Nederland; Paul Hahnawald,
Leadville; Thomas Scott, Leadville;
Charles II. Berger Rico; w. G. Fay,
Fondis; Victor j. Kersten, Alcott, and
A. NJ. Boyd, George Green. George l..
Greer, John NJ. Essington, John L. Lee
and John NJ. Berkey, all of Denver.
A hail storm that passed near Ber-
thOud on the 10th did considerable
damage to the crops west and south
Of there. Barley and winter wheat
were damaged the most, as 1t was all
headed out. The same strip Of land
west of this place was visited by vlo-
lent hail storm last year. 1t Is report
ed that the hail near Highland Switch
was so large that heavy stones of con-
siderable size were on the ground the
next morning. The storm also dam
| aged the orchards.
William Mackin, prOspector, was
killed by bolt of lightning in East
Mancos on Friday afternoon, and 1t
was not until last Saturday evening
that the body was found. He went
from his cabin to stake out his horse,
and the back Of his head received the
stroke. He was about 20 years of age.
The Colorado Midland has aban-
doned for good the old Hagermann
tunnel and pass west Of Leadville, and
the picturesque seven miles of road is
being demolished. The big trestle over
which the trains approached the tun-
mel Is being torn down and the timbers
carried away and stacked at Colorado
City. The rails will be torn up, and
soon only n hole in the mountain will
mark the most wonderful piece of rail-
road engineering in the state.
The water question at Leadville
which has been disturbing factor in
politics for nearly two years has been
settled and the result is n substantial
victory for the city. About two weeks
ago the city submitted final PROPOSE
tion to the water company insisting on
Il large increase In the service, to ex-
tend over the entire city, together with
n material reduction OF rates to con-
sumers. Should this proposition he re-
fused the city intended to build new
water plant. The president of the wa
ter company. Henry Il. Cleaves OF
Maine, with other water company Off
cials, have been In the city several
days negotiating and the result is that
the water company agrees to accept
the proposition OF the city in It's entire
ty. A contract has been signed run
ming for fifteen years. The city also
obtained the reduction of about thirty
per cent. In the cost of fire plugs.
A La Junta dispatch says: Rev. DIR.
Weaver. pastor of the First Prcsby-
terian church of Pueblo: Rev. DIR.
Patched. pastor of the First Congre
gational church at Pueblo. and Rev.
Dr. Farley of the Central Christian
church of Pueblo, came down Monday
morning and n meeting was held nt
the NJ. +. church regarding the re.
establishment of the Fries Orphans
home Mt this place. These gentlemen
contradicted the statements made In
the papers ms to Mr.. Fries neglect OF
the home. They say that under the ex.
element of the hour neither the people
nor the daily papers gave Mr.. Fries
chance to be heard and that he has
been basely misreprescnted. Mr.. Fries
said that there was no doubt but that
the home would be located here: that
he was daily receiving letters from
various parts OF the state assuring him
Of financial assistance. A tract OF land
will he purchased shortly. and It Is Mr..
Fries plan to raise money In the East
to erect suitable buildings. He also
stated that his goods formerly used
In Pueblo are here and will be stored
until definite arrangements are made.
The needs OF the Wet Mountain val
ley. In which lie Silver Cliff and West
cliff, are about 10 be- recognized by
the Rio Grandc. A corps OF survey
ors has been at work for some time In
the Texas Creek valley, finishing thc
survey for road begun In 1898 and
stopped because OF the panic. The
route VIII he about twenty-five miles
from Silver CHI. TO point ON the ID.
a. X. q. west of Canon City. where II
will join the main line. About ten
miles Of the survey were left incom-
plctc. and upon that portion the sur.
veyors ARE now nt work. The valley
had transportation facilities nj one
time furnished by n nnrrow-guage line
run from the Rio Grandc up Grape
creek. This was repeatedly washed
away by Hoods, and finally WIS dis
continued During the last year the
valley has come 10 the front rapidly,
! In It's agricultural and mineral produc.
ilon. The legal controversy over the
Bassick mine has ended and the mine
Is now n heavy producer. The Geyser
mine Mt silver Cilff nlso hns large
output. while recent discoveries OF
large deposits OF low.grndc copper. In
the Snngrc de crisio rnngc promise 70
good tonnage. Definite orders for
construction ON the rond ARE expected
ns soon nr the new fiscal year begins,
lf not. Immediately upon the return OF
President Jcifcry from the East.