The Glenwood post., 1923-03-22

sure, 1t has already been the salvation
of many communities, and chief per
haps of all of these is Johnstown.
Johnstown, spoken of as the little
farming, dairying, and business dis
trict, lies about fifty miles north of
Denver. Prosperity reigns in this COM
munity because of the Holstein cow.
She has put this section at the top of
the list in Colorado as a farming com
munity and, according to Mr.. W. E.
Letford, vice president of the First
National bank Of Johnstown, they
don't expect to stop until it has be-
come the best dairy community in the
west. We believe he means every word
+ Of it, too, because we are told Mr.. Let
I ford has been one of the leading men
who has helped to put Johnstown on
the map.
! Johnstown boasts of fine little bus
I mess section of up-to-date stores; a
first class system of schools and
churches; good hotel where folks
feel at home; condensery which fur
nishes a good market for the milk,
receiving milk daily from over two
thousand dairy cows; factory to han
die the great amount of sugar beets
produced.
! Proud indeed is Johnstown of its
First National bank-the heart of the
community. The men of this bank
saw the vision years ago, and per-
suaded the farmers to buy real high
producing dairy cattle. Then when
they had created the desire they met
the demand by loaning money. From
the February 25th, 1921 issue, we read
in the Denver Daily Record Stockman
the following bit of news:
"When Tom Hill,s the banker, chap
eroned his first carload of grade Hol-
stems from Wisconsin, he and his
charges were met at the little stock
yards siding near town in fashion a
good deal resembling the return of Q
conquering hero.''
Tom Hill goes on to say in the next
paragraph:
"With that carload of cows costing
an average price of 1925 head on my
hands, wasn't sure whether l would
receive warm welcome home or invi
tation to tote 'em back to their middle
| W. acta hn
road, I looked out as the train ap-
preached Johnstown and saw the top
rails of the some stock pens literally
black with farmers and town citizens.
They were at least curious to see what
i had brought. By supper time l had
sold twenty-three of these animals and
IN the evening hours we cleaned up the
entire lot. Previous to that time, all
the cattle we had dared to import were
grades from Elizabeth, Colo, at $40 n
head. The added cost, however, didn It
seem to matter. The farmers had
caught the idea and they responded
wonderfully"
Indeed, as is only just, this bank
has been repaid. From good authority
we learn that the First National bank
of Johnstown is one of the very strong
est banks of its size in the state, and
that its average individual deposits
stand at the top. But as Mr.. Letford
said, "The dairy cow did this"
AS an emblem of achievement in the
Johnstown district we find 1.-THE
Johnstown Dairy Congress, or as is
spoken of in the community as just
; 1'Dairy Day" The eleventh annual
show will be held during March. The
banker, Mr.. Letford, said that some Of
the authorities suggested it be aband
! oned this year. because the farmers
were too busy. The immediate come
, back from the farmers was that the,
, were never too busy to fit their cattle