Gilpin observer., 1904-08-11
STATE CAPITAL NOTES

lbu ana tame commissioner WOOQ-
ard has returned from visit to the
fish hatchery at Emerald lake, forty
miles northwest of Durango. He says
about 100000 trout will be taken out OF
this hatchery and transferred into Ute,
Trout and Red Mountain creek and the
Lake Fork OF Pine river and the Val
lecito river.
State roads and bridges are now re-
ceiving great deal of attention from
the state engineer. Many of the roads
in various counties in the state are
now being constructed, but work on
others has been delayed by reason of
the fact that contract bids have So
greatly exceeded the amounts appropri-
ated by the Legislature. In such cases
1t will be impossible to go ahead with
the work unless the counties interested
are able and willing to make up the
deficienty.
At Telluride road was provided for
by the last Legislature, to run up
Bridal Veil basin. The act calls for
road, but does not require it to be
wagon road. which would cost several
times the amount of the appropriation.
The people of that vicinity advise the
state engineers Office that a wagon
road is not essential, and are urging
the construction of trail. They con-
tend that trail was in mind when the
bill was passed and that 1t will amply
meet the needs Of the locality.
Nine new gauging stations have re-
Gently been established in the vicinity
of Middle park to determine the flow
of water available in the Grand river
and its tributaries for irrigation and
power purposes. These stations are in
that part Of the country to be tapped
by the new Moffat road. Chief Engineer
M. G. Hinderlider of the reclamation
service left Denver about three weeks
ago over the Colorado & Southern to
Dillon, where he was Joined by party
Of government surveyors. From there
the party went by wagon to Kremm-
ling. and surveys were made along the
Grand river past Hot Sulphur Springs
to the outlet of Grand lake. Three days
were spent in the vicinity of Grand
lake. and two gauging stations wers es-
tablished here, one at the outlet and
one on the north fork of the Grand.
Believing that the crime for which
Patrick l.. Johnston has already served
four years in the penitentiary was COM
mitted by the notorious outlaw, Harry
Tracy. the Board of Pardons at its
meeting August 5th commuted John
sons sentence to from six to fifteen
years. His original sentence was from
ten to fifteen years. II he maintains
good behavior Johnson Will undoubted-
ly be a free man soon. This was the
only case in the six which were taken
ap where clemency was extended. john
ston was with Harry Tracy and David
Liant in northwestern Colorado when
they were chased by posse, one OF
whom was valentine s. Hay, who was
shot. Johnston was convicted OF his
murder. Before this Johnston had been
convicted of killing William Strang in
Wyoming. but secured a new trial and
was released to be tried in Colorado.
In the United States Court at Denver
Judge Hallett has just closed q case
which is of much Importance to farm
ers in some sections of the state. Sew
Bral years ago some parties from Mis-
souri, tried to collect a royalty from ev-
cry farmer who had manufactured and
used a certain style of hay derrick. on
the ground that the making and using
was an infringement of United States
patent. William H. Dickens, a wealthy
farmer living near Longmont, refused
to pay and was sued. The case has
dragged along for over year, but proof
was eventually made that the patent
held by the plaintiffs, Gerry brothers OF
Missouri, was not good, as the machine
had been used in Colorado before the
time of application for the patent. This
particular kind of derrick is said to be
more used than any other kind for hay
stacking apparatus among the farmers
near Longmont.
When Colorado Day is celebrated at
the Worlds Fair in September there
probably will be no one in the grounds
who will not remember the name of the
state if the plans Of the Rocky Ford
Fair committee are successfully carried
out. The crop of melons in the Ar
kansas River district will this year sur
pass by wide margin any which has
ever been harvested. and as a result
when the season is waning in Septem-
ber thousands of cantaloupes will go to
waste on the vines. Negotiations are
now in progress with the Worlds Fair
commissioners to set the date of Colo
RADIO Day at about that time. when the
committee of the Rocky Ford Associa
ton will ship ten cars OF iced canta-
loupes for free distribution at all points
on the grounds. This would make an
aggregate of 2S0.000 melons and would
be most effectual advertisement of the
Arkansas valley. In addition to these
ten cars of cantaloupes there will be
several cars of watermelons. The
farmers have agreed to contribute the
melons and crates and the committee
has collected the money for the distri-
bution.-Denver Republican.
Secretary OF State Cowie addres1d a
letter to Secretary of the Interior
Hitchcock at Washington. recently,
asking if the boundary line between
the state of Colorado and the territory
of New Mexico had been established
The Thirteenth General Assembly pro-
vided for q commission to survey the
boundary. since a conflict had arisen
in some of the counties along the south
ern line of the state over boundary