Gilpin observer., 1920-11-11
COLORADO NEWS NOTES.

stroyed the machine shop, tool house
and stationery supply building of the
Denver & Salt Lake railroad (the Moi
tat roadl, at Utah Junction, two miles
north Of Globeville. The total loss is
estimated at nearly $1,0O000O, accord
Ing to w. r. Freeman, receiver for the
road. Half of the loss is covered by in
surance. The roundhouse adjoining
the three buildings which were burned
was saved from destruction by the
prompt action of the night crew en-
ployed in the structure. Three loco
motives, valued at 100000, tools in
ventoried recently for 100000, two
boNcars, dynamos, electric motors and
shop equipment formed the chief loss
in the blaze. The structures, which
were of frame construction, burned
Efforts to extinguish the flames
proved futile, and volunteer workers
on the scene confined their activities to
preventing the spread of the flames to
adjoining structures. Gasoline and
acetylene tanks used for welding pur-
poses in the shops exploded when the
fire had reached its height, throwing
flaming embers high into the sky and
sending hundreds of curious onlookers
scurrying for shelter.
Sugar beet production in Colorado
this year will be the largest on record
in any state in the country, according
to reports from county assessors an
nounced yesterday by the state immi-
grafton department. These reports.
show about 250,000 acres devoted to
the crop. 1t is estimated the crop will
bring $50, 2,SS0,000 on production of
2,140,000 tons. This is the third crop
in the state in point of value, being
surpassed only by wheat and hay.
However, it is predicted that the value
of the corn crop, including silage and
forage, will be very close to that of
sugar beets.
The Custer Peak section of the Den
verDeadwood highway has just been
completed under the supervision of
the United States Forest Service, AL
len S. Peck, district forester, an
nounced yesterday, and the road is
tion of this interstate highway is said
to embrace about seven miles of the
most scenic part in the Western states.
The cost was $4,000 and the project
was part of the program for the
United States Forest Service to i'm
prove the entire line of travel be-
tween Denver and Deadwood, s. d.
Cultivated area in Colorado has in
creased 1885 per cent in the past dec
ade, according to statistics compiled
by the State Immigration Department,
1t was announced by Howard ID. Sulli-
van, deputy commissioner. County as
SCISSORS reports show approximately q
100000 acres were under irrigation in
the state this year, out of a total cult
waited area of approximately 100000
acres. In 1909 the census bureau re-
ported 1,629, ,G94 acres under irrigation,
and total cultivated area of 100000
acres.
Mrs. Stella Francis, who shot and
killed her husband, Roy Francis, last
Wednesday, was exonerated by the
coroner's jury at Greeley. The jury's
verdict stated the shooting was in self
defense. Evidence showed Francis had
not only threatened his wife with
death, but also their two small child
ren. Examination of the mans pistol
and cartridges revealed he had tried
to shoot his wife six times. but had
failed through weakness of the gun
spring.
A total of $17, ,S23, 700 has been paid
out of the state treasury for all pur-
poses in the period from Jan. ], 1919,
to Nov. l, 1920, according to report
made by the state auditor to Governor
Shoup. Auditor Stong's report shows
that of this amount $12, sol, ,S0S.51 was
paid out in cash, S776,S1G.S4 on the
capitol building, S262 531.3O in com
pensation S6S,912 in warrants, S176,-
763.75 in certificates of Indebtedness,
S2,303, ,211.79 in 1919 revenue and ST.
490,127 in 1920 revenue.
During the mining convention in
Denver, November 1910, subsidiary
conference will be held on taxation to
consider the proposed revision of the
present excess war profits tax law as
affecting minlng-coal, oil, metals and
chemicals-as the present law has
proved unworkable, unfair and de-
structive to business. State tax laws
will also be discussed as they are now
confusing and burdensome.
Clyde i. Taylor, banker, had his au-
tomoblle stolen when he was in Colo
RADIO Springs. Search was quickly in
stltuted, but without avail, until the
alleged thief, ii. =. McManus, parked
the machine, unthinkingly, in front of
the bankers home I'm Monument and
was promptly arrested.
Salary increases for Denver school
teachers totaling S4S9,590. to become