The Glenwood post., 1912-08-17
Empire Builder and Friend Of
the West Jumps From Mo.
tor Car and Receives
Fatal Injuries
ALL MARBLE MOuRNS

Glcnwood was shocked last Wednes-
dav afternoon to lear that Col. Chan
ming f. Meek had just passed away at
his home at Marble as result of an
accident he received last Saturday
while returning to Marble from the
marble qunrries of theColorado- Yule
company of which he was general man
ager ana in which property he was a
heavy stakeholder.
With party of friends he was re
turning to Marble in a motor ear when
the car while going at RAPID speed
became manageable. Knowing that
a sharp curve was just ahead and that
the ear would almost certainly leave
the track, the passengers jumped and
while badly shaken up only Col Meek
was seriously injured. In fact, it was
not at first thought that Col Meek 5
injuries were serious as no bones Were
broken, but it soon became evident
that he had suffered ser Gus internal
injuries.
Two special physicians were rushed
to Marble from Denver and DIR. f. f.
j. Schmitz of this city was hastily
summoned. All attention was given
the injured man which medical skill
could suggest and it was thought that
lie would recover, but about noon Wed
nesday the heart action became
uncertain and the patient sank rapidly
until the end.
T. Mortieian Farnum of this city went
to Marble and prepared the body for
shipment. A special was sent from
Denver to carry the body from Marble
The family and all that was mortal of
the great builder and friend of the
western slope passed through Glenwood
Thursday evening. Funeral services,
Were held in Denver Friday morning
and the body was then taken to Wash
ington, d. G., for burial.
Col. Meek was born at Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa, Sept. 26, 1855. At the age of -
from that time. With the Rock Island
railroad he learned telegraphy, and
through this he became interested in
railroading. After a trip through Cali
fornia, he accepted position with the
Rock Island as chief dispatcher, and IN
1882 he was appointed general super
intendent of the st. Louis ,Des Moines
x Northern railroad and two subsidiary
lines. In this position he acquired a
wide reputation for ability. When the
Denver, Texas & Fort Worth railroad
" Southern) he was ohered the position
of general manager, and accepted. His
first official act as manager of this
line was to cut all the rates, passenger
and freight, 80 per cent. This began
war with the officers of the transcon-
tinental lines running into Colorado
that lasted several years. During this
fight he was successful at every turn
and eventually formed an alliance with |
the Union Pacific
Shortly after 1900 he became inter
osted in Colorado marble and began
plans for the formation of company
to market marble found in the central |
part of the state. In 1894 the company |
was fairly launched and since tha. |
time, when he was made president OF |
the Colorado Yule Marble company, he |
has devoted his time almost exclusively |
to that work.
Through his efforts the company was
financed and began work near the |
present town of Marble The marble |
produced by his company has become
well known and is in demand in al |
parts of the country. Recently a large
order for finishing the interior of u |
25-story municipal building in New
York City was received. The marble
has also been used for the new federal
building in Denver.
Col. Meek was well known through |
out the country and was considered one
of the most popular of Colorado men, |
1T is stated by o. d. Cass, president Of
the Denver Real Estate exchange, that
he was to large extent instrumental
in getting the original appropriation |
for the federal building.
Governor Shafroth, personal friend |
of Col Meek, stated he was one of the |
greatest of the empire builders of this |
western country. He was the head of
an industry which promised enormous
growth and development in this state |
"He had begun to furnish marble to |
every part of the country. The marble |
from Colorado was specified for the |
hnil5ino nf tho EI,lfor mamnr;ol ub;.b