Gilpin observer., 1900-06-28
COLORADO NOTES.

| 24th.
The Colorado Telephone Company
| has now four gangs of wOrkmen on Its
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 25,OOO
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 a total loss, the damage amount
| ing to about $1,000, the insurance be-
ing $4,000. Preparations for rebuild
ing and replacing the machinery are
| already under way and it 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 18th: Charles Wheeler,
Elizabeth; E. b. Bowles, Gilpin; ]. M.
Handy, Nederland; Paul Hahnawald,
Leadville; Thomas Scott, Leadville;
Charles Il. Berger, Rico; w. @. Fay,
Fondis; Victor j. Kersten, Alcott, and
"A. M DOyu, ScOISe GeOESc II.
Greer, John M. 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 it was all
headed out. The same strip of land
west of this place was visited by vio-
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 We're on the ground the
next morning. The storm also dam
aged the orchards.
William Mackin, a prospector, was
killed by bolt of lightning in East
Mancos on Friday afternoon, and it
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 60 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 a hole in the mountain will
mark the most wonderful piece of rail-
road engineering in the state.
A La Junta dispatch says: Rev Dr..
Weaver, pastor of the First Presby-
terian church of Pueblo; Rev. Dr..
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 meeting was held at
the M. E. church regarding the re-
establishment of the Fries Orphans
home at this place. These gentlemen
cOntradicted the statements made in
the papers as to Mr.. Fries neglect of
the home. They say that under the ex-
citement of the hour neither the people
nor the daily papers gave Mr.. Fries
chance to be heard and that he has
been basely misrepresented. 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 be 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 to be recognized by
the Rio Grande. A corps of survey
ors has been at work for some time in
the Texas Creek valley, finishing the
survey for road begun in 1893 and
stopped because of the panic. The
route will be about twenty-five miles
from Silver Cliff, to n point on the ID.
4 r. G. west of Canon City, where it
will join the main line. About ten
miles of the survey We're left incom-
plete, and upon that portion the sur
veyors are now at work. The valley
had transportation facilities at one
time furnished by n narrow -guage line
run from the Rio Grande up Grape
creek. This was repeatedly washed
away by floods, and finally was dis
continued. During the last year the
valley has come to the front rapidly,
In Its agricultural and mineral Droduc-
tion. The legal controversy over the
Bassick mine has ended and the mine
is now heavy producer. The Geyser
mine ut Silver Cliff also has n large
output, while recent discoveries of
large deposits of low-grade copper. in
the Sangre de CristO range promise n
good tonnage. Definite orders for
construction on the road are expected
as socN as the new fiscal year begins,
If not. Immediately upon the return of
President Jeffery from the East.
The Gunnlson river bridge on the
Baldwin branch of the Colorado 4
Southern railway, about two miles
North of Gunnison, was blown up with
dynamite about 3 o'clock Thursday
morning. The concussion was SO
great as to awaken many sleeping res
dcnts and TO hrenk MindoMs In houses