Semi-weekly herald., 1914-09-21

Hen W. Ritter, In his inimttable Style,
carried on the story Of arranging IDS
affair. and then proceeded 70 rssats
to his hearers m enectDts bearing
upon the subject. This, - . natuxnt
consequence, set everyone In ~ vssy
best Of humor, toward which eouds-
tion they had been steadily progress
I sing with the help Of the excellent
viands set before them previously BY
Landlord Stilwcll.
The guest Of honor, Mr.. Clay, was
then called upon for few remarks
and 1t was very evident from TIE
tones used by Mr.. Moody that he did
not relish the idea Of calling upon
Mr.. Clay for any sort Of farewell
talk. The rather teary effect was
dispelled In short order by Mr.. Clay
when he arose. He stated In no un-
certain terms that his hearers nor
the general public should get the idsa
that the light company was "noving"
away. The interests Of Durango
would always be the interests Of The
Western Colorado Power company,
and although it was true that the
headquarters were being moved, he
wished it to be distinctly understood
that when any movement arose for
the developing Of Durango and It's
territory, that speaking for hiInssas
personally and the company, he al
ways would be found In the ranks Of
these working for DuraBso's good.
Concluding, Mr.. Clay stated that he
had lived in quite a number Of towns
on the Pacific and Western slopes Of
the United States during his wan
dering career as an electrical engineer
and manager Of electrical power
plants, but. without any flattery 1t
all, he wished to inform the assem-
bled company that he had never left
any Of them with the sincere and deep
regret with which he had transferred
his headquarters from Durango. He,
however, assured his listeners that he
would frequently be over here in the
course of his business and. it would
be always with feeling Of pleas
ure he would arrive in Durango. Mr..
Clays talk evoked much applause.
Little talks Of regret at leaving
we're made in turn, at the toastmas-
ter's gentle suggestions. by Phil F.
Parkinson, H. G. Baker and w. A.
Fallon, also Employees Of the power
company. Matt Harrington, with his
usual flow Of Irish wit and happiness,
responded to call for little talk
on what he thought about it, and
the company gathered that he did not
like the moving stunt at all.
District Judge W. N. Searcv re-
lated at some little length and ex-
cellent quality Of the work that had
been done by Mr.. Clay while at the
head of the Durango board Of trade
and the San Juan congress. He also
related how, when the proposed con-
solidation Of the board Of trade and
the Durango club had been first
broached, Mr.. Clay had made the first
contribution to the necessary funds.
Judge Searcy made = strong talk for
the unity Of action among businsss
men which had been Mr.. Clay's aim
while at the head Of the boosting or
ganizations, and made the prediction
that with such unified action by the
business interests Of the city It would
be quite possible to secure far bst-
ter transportation facilities than ws
now have. In order to secure the
unity of action wanted the Judge
stated that he felt 1t was only by So
cial intercourse could the business
men get to know each other SO that
they could really work with each 9TH
er.
Shortly before II O'Clock the diners
adjourned and held short overflow
meeting in the Office Of the hotel,
where many firm handclasps and kind
greetings were exchanged In good
byes, that word which We all hate
to use.
This banquet certainly illustrstsd
to remarkable degree the very high
esteem in which Mr.. Clay Il held By
the business interests Of Durango. All
Joined In wishing him Godspsed and
good luck in all his undertakings, with
the final hope expressed that he would
come back to Durango.
Other speakers who voiced regret
at seeing Mr.. Clay go snd who also
related some history Of the electric
lighting business in Durango were
Rev. Father Callahan and Hon. T. C.
Graden.
The guests At the table were, b.
sides the guest Of honor, Messrs. Chas.
e. Herr, T. c. Graden. s. w. Ray
mond, Reese McCloskey, A. w. Rob
binN w. L. Birkhimsr. George Z
West, Rev. Father Callahan, A. p.
Camp, J. L. Mcneil. Jacob G. Wilson,
Ben W. Ritter. p. F. Parkinson, W.
A. Fallon, Matt Harrington, Harry
G. Baker.
LATE aItMARp Ann YAua