Gunnison news-champion., 1918-06-21
GIVES CUNNISON AND SUR
ROUNDINGS HIGH PRAISE
Former Newspaper Man and Town
Booster Extends Glad Hand Of
Approval for Our Splendid City.

Paying q tribute to Cunnison and
her people that would arouse home
pride in any Of her citizens, Ed. II.
Heermans, formerly an easterner who
is here the guest Of his brother~in-law.
J. d. Jennings, today, told the News
Champion that in all his travels, he
had not visited locality that had SO
favorably impressed him. ~
Mr.. Heermans is engaged in COM
mercial organization work and his
business is that Of developing towns
and cities through chambers Of COM
merce and commercial clubs. This
has taken him to many parts Of the
country, and while born and reared in
the South, he has had opportunity of
studying conditions in cities from
coast to coast.
"This is my first time to stop off in
Colorado, and am more than delight
ed with all your assets" he said in an,
interview. "Gunnison is located in q
most beautiful spot. This is, as you
know, the richest county per capita in
the state of Colorado. Nature has
done her part by Gunnison, and the
wide-awake citizens here seems to be
doing theirs.
"You have the making of city Of
large proportions, and some day the
ambitions Of your public-spirited men
and women will be more fully realiz-
ed than now. OF course, have lived
been in the Northwest. Middlewest,
til last fall-that / am more western
than anything else. But it remained
for me to tarry in Colorado-Gunni-
80 he ~ 20 1-scrrolsxa Tho
West, with its wide open spaces, its
invigorating atmosphere and your
most agreeable and cordial people.
"They say comparisons are odious,"
continued the former newspaper man,
in discussing Gunnison. "But for the
past seven months Mrs. Heermans
and I have been living in New York
state-sthe Empire State it is called.
Please excuse US for saying that we
found the people cold and distant, al
though meaning to be extremely soci-
able and agreeable.
Perhaps my enthusiasm about this
locality II partly due to the fact that
] married . Colorado woman, who has
in season and out Of season been .
champ14n Of her native state, but take
II from me thak Gunnison does not.
need any advance agents to prove the
towns real title to praise for many
good reasons all your own.
"It has been my pleasure to meet
quite number Of your people during
my short stay. Take Mr.. T. OIeary,
for instance, known to everybody as
Tim O'Leary Why, he gave me the
glad hand the moment we met, and
he is so strong for his own town that
he is equal to whole chamber Of
commerce himself. 1t seems as II I
had always known him. ! called up
on Judge Shackleford and paid my
respects to that transplanted southern
gentleman, and had delightful hour.
/ have met Mr.. s. p. Spencer, your
banker, who is also worth knowing.
Mr.. N. A. Jencks, in the county treas
urer's Office, and have lived in the
same Wisconsin city-although not At
the same time, and we have exchang-
ed "reminiscences delightfully."-. ] have
met others, and / feel as If had
known these folks for long time.
"The Gunnison spirit Of cordiality
is the spirit that makes q city and
draws settlers and capital. You have
in your News-C Champion and other
local press newspapers q league ahead
of the march Of progress: Your busi-
ness buildings are admirable, your
residences attractive and with 30
much fine shade, the modern improve
ments installed and coming, together
with the rich country to back you up,
Continued on Fourth Page)