Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-06-17
CHAPTER Iv-COntinued


The dinner was served in one of the
private dining rooms of the club,
known as the Red room. The guests
were those OF the luncheon, with the
addition Of young Cox and Caleb. It
appeared that they had been In some
conference that afternoon and that
the dinner marked the end of satisfac-
tory arrangements. The talk was all
OF mutual interests. Big Business.
It appeared that the afternoons con-
ference had been called In connection
with the threat Of other Californian
cities to wrest from Golden Its su-
premacy as the metropolis OF the Pa
cihc coast. The great fire. following
the earthquake. had given them OPP
portunity to creep up in population
and general progress. Los Angeles
was the most formidable competitor,
with Oakville, across the bay from
Golden. once only thought Of as a
suburb of the peninsular city but now,
as the actual terminal Of transcon-
tinental railroads that ended at deep
water. an active rival.
With so small a party Caleb was In
easy earshot of the conversation. His.
interests naturally centered on Wilbur
Cox and they quickened at the mention
Of water supply.
~The board of public works will ap-
prove the plans for filling the mains
with salt water from the bay In case
Of any big confagration." said Cox.
''That will not only obviate any repeti-
ton OF disaster through the conduits
breaking between here and the reser-
goirs, as they did In the quake, but will
prove q saving"
Jack Cox turned back to Caleb.
The governor Insists that the vital
thing the matter with Golden's growth
Is the question Of adequate supply" he
said in an undertone. Naturally he
concentrates on that point"
Els there a shortage7" asked Caleb.
Likely to be. they tell me. Better
quiz the governor If you're interested
He'll pour out information on that sub
ject like a water-gate once be gets
started"
Here was food for thought. Water
shortage meant water development. It
might mean an opportunity.
The government project win take
years to put through" the host was
saying. meantime we've got to get
busy"
Were leaving that end Of II to you,
Cox" said Winton. Conserving wa
ter, buying and selling water-at
profit Is your business"
"a reasonable profit"
-And a reasonable dividend" capped
with dry smile.
The dinner was not protracted And
L broke up completely. These men
seemed all to have definite things to do
even at the close Of the day. The
guests shook hands affabIy with Caleb.
IAN engineer7 Intending to locate
here7 You'll find plenty r. do" Such
was the consensus Of taeir greetings.
The result was heartening. Out here
n the West they seemed to accept a
nan as efficient until he proved him
sslf otherwise, he decided. In the
asM1A ~ was uAAGHEMAs n Ak&MHCH 4
would stay years on approval. almost
Inder suspicion. until he made good
Jack Cox Invited him to visit I'm
,eriai valley. as his guest. TO see what
lad haen done theirs and calab re-
ponded In kind to the cordiaiity and
ivident earnestness Of the solicitation
sut be had an idea-Baxfer would
lave called II hunch--that be would z
10 well to stay In Golden for while.
Ind cultivate Cox bis Yankee mind
uggested that here was a direct open
ng-
Cox widened H.
7 sm IN town for q few days he
aid You musf come up to my once
Dr. . chat over fhingm And perhaps
sm wsusd lska to leoh @var the CryHtal !