United labor bulletin., 1914-12-19
The Optimistic
Philosopher

~ HRISTMAS shopping in Denver
this year began early and va.
~ apparently at its zenith I'M,
week when the o. r. started
out to play Santa Claus Tor httie giIi
down in Atlanta, Ga. Whiie some Pee
nile whose children have all married OIL
sre wearing .Spug' badges tSociety for
nprou.otion of Useful Givingl, visit to
vtbe biz department stores along Six
teenth street was proof that toy de-
partmenta had not lost any Of their al
furinp charms. Santa Claus frowns
whenever he sees one of the Spue
badges, for this jolly friend OF the lit
tie ones looks upon it as movement
to put him in the discard. There would
be no Christmas to the little girl with
out a new doll or to the boy that did
not receive u drum Some OF these
Spug advocates think giving the kid a
si0 gold piece the proper thing, but to
the average little girl rag doll brings
ten times more pleasure. Christmas
without toys and candy would soon lose
its significance to the little ones In
big department stores the toy counters
were thronged with purchasers and there
seemed to be no intention on the part On
most people to sacrifice the JOY of the
kids. It's great fun to mingle with the
crowds of shoppers and listen TO the
good natured banter as all struggle to
get in n position where they can spend
money. Doesn't look like hard times in
Denver, notwithstanding the desperate
fight made by the Taxpayers League
on the city budget. Store managements
say holiday business is much better this
year than last, and that some stocks
are almost depleted week before
Christmas. And don't forget to help
the Federated Charities with their big
municipal Christmas tree in the Audi
torium. II is intended that not sin
Gle child in Denver shall be overlooked
Give Jack Reardon, or his co-workers.
a piece of money and they will do the
rest.
Cripple Creek is sure doing its best
to help Colorado out OF any depression
that pessimists may have discovered.
Reports from there are that the rich
est gold strike in the camps history
has lust been made and a new high rec
ord for ore shipments IL announced,
some accounts placing the value at
million dollars for a carload II true,
il breaks the worlds record. At any
rate the new opening 1900 feet below
surface in the Crcsson mine has been
pronounced a wonder by ore experts,
who say a new crop Of Colorado mil
Honaircs is about TO be produced. One
mining expert, who returned To Denver
this week after inspecting the Cresson
strike. declared that in single cham
Der of the mine he saw almost pure
gold worth from ss,000ooo to $4,000
600 Here is the picture as he paints IL;
The strike il all that have seen writ
ten about il and | have no word ade-
quate TO describe IL. As ! stood In this
wonderful chamber ! was trying rnther
70 figure out how such n creation OF
nature could have been brought about,
rather than think Of the intrinsic value
of the ore in sight. Imagine circular
chamber not less than 20 feet in height
and from Is TO 25 feet in diameter lit
orally piastercd with crystals of gold.
shining with the brillianoc of n jewclry
shop. no matter into what corner you
throw your light. II Is useless to try
10 figure the amount of gold represent
ed in that chamber because il is i'm
possible TO tell how hick the walls arr,
or. rather. how far into the wall these
wonderful values extend. ! have seen
many wonderful 'vug holes OF pockets
Of small dimensions that glittcrcd with
gold. but never even conceived that
'vug hole of such great dimensions could
exist However these ''vug holes" are
nearly 1000 feet deep, and this may dis
courage most people from starting TO
dig until the approach Of warm weather
next spring.
Last Sunday afternoon. between the
hours Of l2 and LAS, thousands of Den
vcr's citizens, all kinds and conditions
of men. women and children, visited the
Auditorium to pay a last tribute to
man who in life had turned the 'art OF
being kind into n radiant virtue" There
rested for a brief season the remains
of Frank NJ. Craig founder Of Craig
colony, a home for tubcrculars who come
20 Colorado in an effort TO combat the
white plague and find themselves with
out friends or money. In 1907 Craig
came here from Ohio in the search of
health. Like many another sick per
son coming stranger TO this state he
counted his small store. and in order to
stretch Il out TO the uttcrmost buying
capacity he erected small tent ON the
prairie near Edgcwater. Soon another
IN like circumstances came to keep him
company. II was then Craig conceived
the idea OF assisting others in their
battle for n renewed lease on life, and
other tents were erected. This aroused
opposition from many nearby residents,
and the Denver daily papers published
appeals for financial assistance in or
der that Craig might maintain his little
colony. Sufficient funds were raiscd
through his untiring energy and pub
licity of the press 20 purchase the tract
of ground on which the tents had been
erected, and from that day TO this Craig
colony has been recognized as one OF