Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-10-12

Its wild scheme, of course" con
tinucd the doctor. "but hes putting II
over. The town council has granted
him ninety nine year lease covering
every street. The roadbed Is started
and things are booming. Lots have
been staked all over the flats property
values are somersaulting. everybody Is
out OF his head. and Gordon Is n god
All he does Is organize new companies
He has bought sawmill Il wharf. a
machine shop. acres Of real estate He
has started bank and new hotel
He has consolidated the barber shops.
and he talks about roofing IN the
streets with glass and making the
town series Of arcades."
Slater hair smiled evidence OF con
,nlsive mirth within.
They've picked OIL a site for a uni
Nersiiy. he said bitrcrly. "Cortez is
going 10 be seat 81 learning and cuI
ture. They're planning park and
place for an Alaskan worlds fair and
museum and library I've always
wondered who starts public Libraries
it's NUTS But didn't s'pose more
than ono or two people got foolish that
way
ONeii soon found that The accounts
he had received OF GordonS last at
tempt - rcconp his fortunes were I'm
no way exaggerated. Cortez. long the
piaything of Tho railroad builders. had
been ripe for his touch II rose in its
wounded civil pride and greeted his
appeal with frantic delight
Gordon perfect, understood that
something moro than vague accuse
tons were necessary t. bring the pub. /
lic to his support III sufficient numbers /
10 sweep him on 10 victory. and with /
this in mind lie laid crafty plans 10 |
seize the Hedlenann grade The trust I
had ceased active work on its old /
right OF way and moved 10 kyak. 10 be
sure. but ii had not abandoned It's
original route and IN fact. had main.
tanned a small crew at the first defie
outside OF COrtez. known MS Beaver
Canyon. Gordon reasoned shrewdly
that struggle between the agents Of
the trust and the patriotic citizens of
the town would afford him precisely
the advertising he needed and give
point To his charge Of unfair play
against the IIeidlemanns.
Ii was not difficult 10 iucite his vie
TINS 70 this act of robbery On the
contrary. once he had made the sug-
seStion, he had hard work 10 restrain
them until he had completed his prep
arations. These preparations we're
simple. They consisted in writing and
mailing to every newspaper OF conse-
lucnce highly colored account OF the
railroad struggle. These mmesgraph.
ri stories were posted from Seattle I'm
Tine FOR them 90 reach their destina.
lions on the date set for the seizure
" the grade
IL was all ingenious publicity move.
worthy OF theatrical press agent. and
L succeeded beyond the promoters
fondest expectations-too well. In fact.
Tor 1t drove the trust in desperation to
'n alliance with the $ H. and y.
The day set for the demonstration
anne; the citizens of Cortez boldly
marched into Beaver canyon 10 take
possession OF the old Heidcmann
but II appeared that they
lad reckoned prematurely. 4 handful
II grim faced trust employees warned
hem back. there was rush. some
'ough work on the part OF the aggrcs
rs. end then the guards brought their
'a ca- ir.o play. The result afford
u &. moro sensational mate.
i,l l i' l.ld hopcd for one citizca
v@s = nnl Eve others were badly
: un Il totcs dascd and horror
ifirh o., arose in her wrath and dc.
ended upon the "asSasslns." lynch
ngs were planned ana mobs threat
ned the local Jail, until soldiers were
Iurrled thither and martial law was
declared