davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Delta independent., 1923-02-23

some things and got out the first
really fine New Year Edition in 1895.
Among the illustrations were the
Court House, Anna-Dora Opera House,
Farmers & Merchants Bank building
erous residences in Delta, Hotchkiss,
Paonia and the surrounding country.
The edition was in pamphlet form
about 10 by ~ inches, printed on book
paper with sufficient reading matter
and advertisements to make it a
mark in the history of the Indepen-
dent. Then it was Blair & Mastin
for a few years. S. J. Cloud came
next, followed in few years by Duff
field, who was good mixer and soon
became secretary of Board of Trade
and several other boosting organiza-
tions. He was a good active citizen,
capable editor and did much to add
to the value of the paper While
things were going prosperously, Duff
field was suddenly attacked by ap-
pendicitis, resulting in his death
shortly after Alvin NJ. Anderson pur-
chased the property and he too, added
new material to the paper as well as
office equipment.
Anderson was a good scout and his
keen sense of the ridiculous and a
gentle humor which he unobtrusively
introduced into his paper, made it a
household necessity, and because
these gems of the art might be in a
report of a revival of Methodists or
in that of a democratic fight or re-
The Delta independent., 1923-02-23
Retrospect Over Forty Years

ed the life and went broke, the pre-
vailing custom in those days.
In the meantime, the Chief had be-
come the Independent and indepen-
dent it was, although mostl..- of the re-
publican variety. The Populists about
this time-1S9O-ab most of
the democrats and wobbly republicans
and with the grand hailing slogan OF
Waite, Bloody Bride Bits and Philip
pi, practically swept the old parties
off the map. AS the Independent did
not print the gentle. soothing words,
necessary to the populist faith, The
Delta Laborer. now the Tribune.
came into existence and for a short
time newspaper life was worth the
living The next year the Patent
Churn came and with smooth talk and
free buttermilk, sold churn territory
in Texas, Arkansas and Missouri, to
every populist that had the price.
They went and the few that knew
how, got back. So far as Delta coun-
ty was concerned, that ended the Pop
ulist party Later the Laborer be-
came the Tribune, and anticipating
Coue by many years, adopted the for
ula and have lived up to it ever since.
In the fall of 1891, Blair again posses
sed himself of the Independent, en-
larged it and bought an assortment
of new type During the next few
years, notwithstanding Free Silver,
The Cross of Gold, Coxey's army,
diminishing waters and one full crop
of grasshoppers, as well as the in
vention of the Goblin moth, matters
progressed fairly well with abundant
fruit crops, cattle and alfalfa, so the
paper waxed strong and useful. Then
came Howard Russell who added
The Delta independent., 1923-02-23
By JOHN A. CURTIS

Dear Josephine - Attended the
Kings Ball at Weimar. | did not
dance. Forty years is forty years.
Napoleon"
AS a decent respect for the opin-
ions of mankind caused the modern
Caesar to quit dancing at forty, that
same stuff is sufficient for the Delta
Independent to commemorate its
forty years of life though at times the
pulse might have been exceedingly
erratic, especially in its youthful days
of indiscretion. On March Z, 1888, it
being in the light OF the moon and
Mars and Venus being in conjunction,
R. d. Blair began publishing the Delta
Chief, which was the childhood name
of the Independent. 1t filled the
short felt want, natural in the newest
towns and counties. 1t could belittle
Montrose and just tolerate Grand
Junction to a delighted subscription
list: it could refer to the myriads of
square miles of coal, the thousand
hills for cattle to Craze, Hank Ham
mond's hundred bushel oat crop and
Oyerbays fine Benjamin Davis apples,
the climate that knocked Italy's best
for a row, and paint a coming winter
resort for millionaire miners from
Ouray, Silverton and Red Mountain.
Its correspondence from Surface
Creek, Crawford, Roubideau and Pa
onia, was a thing of beauty, some
fact and a great joy until the next.
In the early issues a news item
states that w. o. Stephens has just
completed his villa on Garnet Mesa.
Evidently the same that Bill Joe has
recently adorned. An ad in No. is
The Delta independent., 1923-02-23

of Delta Meat Market, "Any meat
wanted is here, from elk to cottontail.
Best market in town, Levi Schied,
Prop" That is our Levi of today
with the genial smile of long ago. He
was the best mutton chop cutter ever,
and had the reputation of being the
earliest practical prohibition worker
of Delta. Long may he shine. Lewis
market was the best in town. 1t was
the only one.
All the mining towns were booming
and especially Ouray and the Red
Mountain region with it's Custom and
Yankee Boy prospects. Four railroad
lines were being surveyed, all to con-
verge at Delta, so during the fall of
'83, several smelters were planned
Montrose was left on side track
while the city council began to con-
slider ways and means to prevent the
unwholesome effects from the smoke
of prospective smelters and factories.
Crops were success, potatoes weigh
ed four pounds and sugar beet,
seven and half. The Chief flourish
ed. The U. S. surveys were extended
over the county and most everybody
pre-empted claim, proved up little
later and got loan of what the traf-
fic would bear, so money was plenti-
full and the goose was able to fly.
After few years of newspaper
bliss, the lure of Leadville called
and Blair disposed of the Chief. Then
Charlie Downing, Harry Wilson and
J. A. Curtis, each for a period enjoy
The Delta independent., 1923-02-23

publican love feast, his paper was
carefully perused. When VIM. Weiser
was nominated by a democratic con-
vention for district attorney, Ander-
son commented about as follows:
1.-THE Independent don't know who
VIM. Weiser is, but if he be a near
relative of our old friend Bud
Weiser, he is all right"
Anderson was getting old in years
and the physical conditions incident
made it seem proper to quit the pen
Gil and scissors and paste pot and so
the present proprietor, Frank R.
Stearns became editor and owner.
1t would be fine to tell of the news
paper that has developed and the job
printing department. second to none
in western Colorado. and lot of
other wonderful things, but-the
bump of modesty that adorns the
head of the said Frank R. Stearns, is
of such magnitude and consistency,
that the smiling face that so often
illuminates Delta streets, would no
more be seen-very often.
Stearns' paper is a matter of re-
cent history and that kind of history
calls for fairly accurate data while
the ancient stuff calls for just fair
retrenchment of the imagination, and
that is another reason-and then,
Stearns is alive and in good condition.
Forty years is forty years." per-
iod more than the active life of most
men. OF those who read the Indepen-
dent in those early years when lick
ing the editor was a habit and paying
years subscription, miracle, very
few remain and for the early list of
subscribers. the headstones in the
"City of the dead is the record.
That the Independent has survived
the vicissitudes of fate and fortune
and the years of leanness and some of
fatness, is an evidence of good con-
sttution and an unapproachable
heredity. 1t grows stronger from
year to year and is still the favorite
among the persistent candidates for
Immortality.
The Delta independent., 1923-02-23
FACTS REGARDING
OUR OWN DOMAIN

Embraces 1901 square miles or
76S, $40 acres of land all told: 300
square miles or one-quarter of the
area lies within the Battlement and
Gunnison National Forests. and will
furnish summer feed for 100000 head
of cattle. While Delta county ranks
39th in area as compared with the
other 63 counties of the state. 1t ranks
first in improved fruit land, having
10.303 acres of bearing orchard. Mesa
county ranks second with 500 acres.
1t ranks thirteenth in number OF acres
of irrigated farm land, ranks thirteen
tn in productive coal lands. and
twelfth in coal production; ranks
fourteenth in the sumber OF range
cattle, 10th in number OF milch cows
and fifth in number Of sheep; sixteen
tn in number OF swine, twentieth in
number OF poultry. twentieth in num-
ber OF automobiles. seventeenth is
number OF musical instruments, first
in number OF stands Of bees, having
6938 stands; ranks 4th in amount OF
money, credits and book accounts re-
turned by county assessors for taxa
tion, and eighth in the amount OF dia-
monds and other precious stones, first
in production of apples, cherries both
sweet and sour. and apricots, 2nd in
production of peaches. 9Th in produc-
tion OF small fruits, third in produc-
tion of onions. thirteenth OF sugar
beets and fifth in acres of alfalfa,
ranks ninteenth in general population,
fifteenth in school population. and
eighteenth in school revenue.
Has 120.25 miles OF State Highway,
475.5 miles of County roads. Ranks
4th in number OF miles Of irrigation
bitches, seventeenth in bank deposits,
and but nine counties in the state
with less tax per capita than Delta
county.
Possesses the greatest natural sum-
mer resort In the state, Grand Mesa
Lakes resorts, and ranks first In both
summer and winter climate. Taken
all around 1t is the best county In
Colorado. The climate is ideal and
the people are cultured and hospit-
able.
The Delta independent., 1923-02-23

came to hills which were SO steep
that they could not climb. They
would be unhitched and taken around
a circuitous route while several hun
dred soldiers pulled the wagons to the
top of the hill.
They also made one trip to Grand
Mesa, starting across Garnet Mesa
and coming out near where the State
Bridge is at present. The river was
forded as there were no bridges. He
said there was large troop of Caval-
ry in front and more in the rear and
on each side Of every team was
trooper armed to the teeth. The party
camped there for time and returned.
Mr. Bradley was not informed what
the object of either of these visits
was but he says he believes they ex-
pected an outbreak from the Indians.
Mr.. Bradley related another exper-
ience when his party started to Ala
mosa with their mule teams. In Sep
started on a trip to Alamosa and
camped on the Blue between Cimar-
ron and Lake Fork. We will repeat
Mr.. Bradley's story in practically his
own words. There was long grade
there and ! was back five or six
teams and l noticed they all pulled
out, so when it came my turn,
pulled out until the 25 teams were
sidetracked and pretty soon we saw
three OK wagons, six yokes each. and
trail wagon coming numbering down
the hill. They were driven by a
young fellow named Jackson and his
uncle.
when the OK teams came along
side of our teams they stopped and
we were already stopped. They told
us story about the shooting of an
Indian. He was the son of Shavano.
1t seems as near as they could tell
| that these OK teams were just about
out of provisions and were expecting
to get some more grub down at Gin,
arron. They had camped on Blue
Mesa, and as near as l remember
there was a party of 10 or 12 Indians
| in the bunch. They rode into the
Jackson camp and wanted something
to eat. The teamsters had eaten up
/ EVERY lHlu6 anu lhey Sdiu tits hluh
have anything so the Indians began
using some bad language. They said
that young Jackson said: Look out
boys, they are going to shoot, and
he jumped behind a wagon and cut
loose at the Indians with Winches-
ter rifle and shot this Indian. Shava-
nos SON The Indians picked him up
and rode off in hurry.
There were several troops of the
4th Cavalry and we knew they were
| 10 or IL miles coming the same way.
so we advised him to go to the caval-
ry, it was only about one and one
I half miles to Cap Cline's place and
give himself up to the cavalry and de-
mand protection. There was an In
dian Agent named Berry at the
| Agency, at what is now Colona, and l
think Berry was there at Cline's, as
near as I remember, but when he
there was an Indian there by the
name of Meacham and they started
with Jackson to go to Gunnison City
and in some way between there and
Gunnison, the Indians took Jackson
away from them and what they did
with him nobody knows but he never
was seen again. not even his body
was found but it was always supposed
that the Indians tortured him to
death.
"The following spring. drifted into
Telluride and went to work in the
mines and / followed the mining game
up to a few years ago"
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-25

when his sentence expires It was
argued that Mclaughlin had been
drinking at the time of the assault
and did not know what, he was do
ing.
Attorney Berman also presented
the pardon case of Amade Rioux,
stating that the petitioner had rem
dered valuable service to Sheriff Ora
ham in helping him locate the
source of supply of illegal intoxi-
cants in Cumberland county and that
the sheriff advocated his pardon. He
said that ~Rioux had atoned for his
crime. paid the penalty and was de-
termined to be law abiding citizen.
The last hearing, was on the case
of Mrs. Edith M. Wright. now of
Portland and formerly Of Millinocket,
Attorney Sidney Stevens Of Millin-
ocket appearing as counsel. He
stated that Mrs. Wright had rerAnted
her crime and that she Is greatly
needed in the home to take care of
her three small children. Mrs.
Wright's husband, Harvey Wright of
Portland, favored the pardon, saying
that he had forgiven his wife and
wanted her back at home to take
care of the little ones.
Judge Spear Takes Oath As Retired
Judge
Hon. Albert NJ. Spear Of Gardiner
yesterday morning took oath before
the Governor and Council as an as
sociate retired justice of the supreme
judicial court.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-25
New York Produce Market

New York, July "a.
WHEAT-spot easier; No. red win
ter track New York domestic 11S;
No. dark northern spring c. i f track
New York export 1877; No. hard win
ter do. 1l2; No. 1 Manitoba do. 1924
ard No. > mixed durum do. 1854.
CQR N steady 70 Nc; ? yellow
do. ITO and No. mixed do. 1854.
OATS-Spot irregular; No. 2 white
53i.
LARD-Easy; middle west 1850
PoTAToEs-steady; Long Island
No. / barrel 425@ $50; southern 1860
$50; No all sections 1850 200.
steady; Long Island
white barrel 1850 200; red 200 q ESQ:
BUTTER-Steady; receipts 1l,1s2;
e cry ' extras, 81 score s s7s@ los: cream
cry frsts. 80 to 81 score. 36q37.
EGGS-Steady; receipts 36,367;
fresh gathered extra tirsts 263 @29; do,
firsts 24d &c; do. second and poorer p
0a3a.
The raw sugar market was firm and
higher with a little better inquiry re-
ported from Cutport refiners. Prices
were &c higher to the basis Of 81 for
Cubas cost and freight, equal to 1903
for centrifugal. The sales included
1850 bags of Philippine Islands to q
refiner and 10000 bags or
Cubas to a New Orleans refiner.
The raw sugar futures market opened
irregular and from two points lower to
one point higher. but firmed up on Gov
erin1 and scattered buying by trade
interests and brokers with Cuban con-
nections, prompted by reports of bet
ter demand for refined sugar and the
upturn in raws. Prices at best showed
net advances of 10 to 16 points, but
near the close there was slight set
back under realizing and final prices
were five to IS points net higher. Clos
ing: September $40, December 4.4S,
March 352. May 3.5S.
There was a better inquiry reported
for refined sugar but prices were I'M
changed at S35 to 900 for fine granu-
lated.
Refined sugar futures nominal.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-25
MONTVILI.E

CENTER-After a few days shut
down, G. L. Edmunds resumed saving
lumber on Monday for J. J. Clement.
afr. and Mrs. w. J. Bean, with Mrs.
Eliza G. WAREHOUSE, were visiting
relatives in Searsport on Sunday.
Hon. and Mrs. J.lJ. Clement went
Sunday to Augusta. They will visit
several other towns before their re-
turn.
Sunday. Mr.. and Mrs. J. w. Went
worth entertained Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank f. Carter, Miss Lila Haskell
and E. A. Ramsay of Watefyille.
z. c. Bowler and daughter, Mary,
and granddaughter, Margefy, with
Miss Margaret McCurn of Portland
and the Misses Catherine and Bea-
triee Bowler of Canton, Mass, and
Concord, N. H., were Sunday guests
of Mrs. Emma c. Cushman, Mrs.
Cushman's mother, Mrs. Mary Bow
lar, of Palermo. They went home
Sunday.
Last week Mr.. and Mrs. J. J. BUR
kill. of Hudson. Mass, Mr.. and Mrs.
J. H. O'Neil of San Francisco. Mrs.
f. j. Mccarthy and Misses Edith and
Lois Mccarthy of Someryille, Mass,
were guests of the J. J. Burkilps. Mr..
and Mrs. A. H. Pike of Auburn were
there for the week end, while Mrs.
Lyman A. Grant and Buikill Grant
will be guests of Mr.. and Mrs. Bur-
kill for a few weeks.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-25
MEETS GOVERNOR
Continued from Pace One)

After being shown the council
chamber, Lambert remarked that he
was thankful to the governor and
council, to Gov. Baxter, to Mr.. HIGH
born and Miss Fogler.
oh, 1t seems good to breathe the
pure. fresh air." Lambert said to the
Kennebec Journal reporter, "And
that ride from Themasten to Augusta
in the automobile was the greatest
sensation that l ever experienced.
Will show by my conduct that l ap-
me.
Lambert said that he was 48 years
OF age. He was neatly dressed in a
light suit of clothes and wore glas-
ses.
Mr.. Hiehborn armed with the nee
essary papers reached the prison at
Thomaston shortly after o'clock
Tuesday afternoon. The party had
supper at a tea room near Wiscasset
and after reaching Augusta Lambert
was fitted out with new clothes.
On leaving the governors Office,
Lambert and Mr.. Hichborn met
Judge Edgar c. Smith, deputy seere-
tary of state. who is a resident of
Doyer-Foxcroft. and who was in at
tendance at the trial.
"You don't know me, do you,
Henry" asked Judge Smith.
mo. ! can't say as I do replied
Lambert
"Why am Edgar Smith, don't you
remember me-" asked Judge Smith.
Yes, I do remember YOU" said
Lambert "But you have changed in
all these years and so have l."
Lambert registered last night at
the Augusta House and will leave
today with Mr. Hichborn for New
York state where he has secured
employment on large farm.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-25
Chicago Produce Market

-
within a fraction of the lowest prices
reached thus far by the 1873 crop.
Weakness of the New York stock mar
ket had much to do with the Lowering
tied at IA to &c net decline with Sep
tember 96s to 81 cents and December
90 to 1.00a. Corp finished at range
VARYING from &c off GA shade ad-
vance; oats, s@a to &c doWn ana PFC re
From the outset pressure to sell was
evident in the wheat market. sharp
decline in Liverpool quotations tenoed
to emphasize the effect of bearish views
expressed by leading Chleago panksr
as to the outlook for improved trade
with Europe. In addition, the down,
ward course of securities in Wall
street put wheat bulls at decided
disadvantage, and although hedging
sales of newly hsrteste a.. Whe Ware au onis
moderate, the market later felt the
weight of persistent eommlsslon
house selling and of increased heeglng
as we'll as unloading on the part u
early buyers. .. ..
Chicago were again heavy. in contrasI
with exceptional smallness OF arrivals
in the southwest and west, where 1arih
organizations are striving to nave as
much wheat as posslple stoissu for
farms. was apparently responsible TOT
some of the selling pressure here, ana
so. too, was slowness of export de-
mand. Announcement that harvesting
had already begun in the Canaalal
q big Weld in prospect, was effective
also in depriving the market here OF
support. .,s Nth
wheat weakness. At one stage, new
ever, July corn touched new hleh
orl &c, %l,n on S.
Provisions were depressed by down.
turns in the value of hogs.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-25

er; other grades beef steers and year.
lings slow, uneven. barely steady; top
matured steers 1850; in-bet ween grades
uneven, barely steady she stock. cut
50 higher; bulk tS packers 1050@l1oo;
to outsiders hoo 0iI50; bulls and plain
stockers IL to 25c lower; bulk beef
steers and yearlings .s00@ll00; few.
yearlinss above 1000; bulk s25@ 1000;
itop 1860; grain fed heavy stayed heif-
ers 1000: several loads Texas grassers
5oo@650; according to quality and con-
ditiop.
HOGs-Receipts $4,000: opened
steady to strong; few good lights 500
OSLO later to traders; later trade dull,
uneven. mostly 10 to l5c lower; bulk
100 to 240-pound average 766@S00;
bulk weighty butchers 725@775; pack
ing sows mostly 6l0@640; few strong
follower 1900.
sHEEP-Reeeipts 10000; fat lambs
IS to 400 lower; spots more; bulk good
and choice westerns i290@l300; top 70
city butchers 1885; bulk natives 1909
1885, packers top 1900; eulls mostly
S00@8b0; sheep generally steady; me,
dunn handy weight ewes to killers 500
@650: heavy $500 42S; light weight up
ward to 100; feeder lambs 1175@ O. 500.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-25
PALMYRA

Mr.. and Mrs. Merle Rix of Belgrade
Lakes were recent guests at G. c.
Condon's.
Mr.. and Mrs. Carroll McPheters of
Hartland were visitors Saturday at
D. S. Emerson's.
w. NJ. Weeks has returned from
Boston, where he had been for treat
ment.
Palmyra Grange missed a meeting
Saturday evening. but few patrons
gathered at the hall and had the pleas
ure of listening to some excellent mu-
sic, both vocal and instrumental. Mrs.
Webster of Maiden, Mass, was present
and rendered several selections on the
piano which showed her exceptional
ability along musical lines. She also
sang duets with Mrs. e. T. McCabe,
soprano. which was enjoyed by all
present.
+. w. Seekins ana d. 8. Emerson
with their families, took an auto trip
Sunday to a cottage In Stetson where
they had dinner and fine time is re-
ported.
Raymond Dugans, Mr.. and Mrs.
Carleton Smart of Maxfeld and Miss
Gladys Buck of Medferd were callers
Sunday at w. A. Blaisdell's and visit
ed their farm here.