Idaho Springs siftings., May 03, 1902, Image 1

About Idaho Springs siftings. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1900-1905

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It Begins to Look Like a Business Summer jz? jZ? jZ?
THE TRUTH
IS GOOD ENOUGH.
VOL. 2
GROWTH
OF THE
SCHOOLS
Figures That SpeaK For
Themselves Concern
ing Idaho Springs.
A comparison of the condition of the city
schools as to the numbers for this year and two
years ago. Last year contagious diseases so inter
fered with the school that the records of that time
are worthless for comparison.
All the schools, average number belonging :
November, 1899 554
March, 1900 524
November, 1901 630
March, 1902 . 628
It is unusual for a school to have as large an at
tendance in the spring as in the fall, as is shown
above for the year 1899-1900, the average number
belonging being thirty less in March than in No
vember. But for the present school year the num
bers are practically the same, there being a differ
ence of only two. This is very unusual and indi
cates a growing school population.
All the rooms this year have been filled and
most of them overcrowded. This is particularly
so in the fifth grade, Miss Jones’ room. The regis
tration in this room for the year has been seventy
and the average number belonging has been sixty.
Now it is generally agreed among educators that
where a teacher has over forty pupils her work is of
necessity reduced in efficiency in proportion as the
number of her pupils exceed forty. As the most
of the teachers have in the neighborhood of fifty
five pupils it can be readily seen why they feel that
the crowded condition interferes with their best
work. -
During the last few years the grades below the
fifth have been relieved by the establishment of
new rooms. But the fifth grade has no larger ac
commodations than it had years ago. The fifth
grade of next year will be made up of the fourth
of this year. Here is a comparison of the fourth
grade of this year with 1899-1900.
Average number belonging :
April, 1900 59
April, 1902 74
The registration in the fourth grade for this year
has been over ninety, and to take care of all these
pupils there is only one room.
Another place where there will plainly be a
pinch next year is in the High school. A compar
ison of the year 1899-1900 with 1901-1902 will show
why. Average number belonging :
April, 1900 35
April, 1902 58
An increase of 23.
The High school will lose this year ten by grad
uation. It will gain the present eighth grade,
which numbers twenty-two and is already seated
with the high school. It will also gain the present
j seventh grade, which now numbers thirty-eight,
although the registration for the year has reached
fifty.
So it is easily seen that there is liable to be 108
pupils to be accommodated in a room which has
eighty-six seats, and which by overcrowding could
be furnished with ninety-three. The latter num
ber would make the room very uncomfortable.
Another matter to be considered is that our
I school population is growing rapidly. This has
I been referred to above, but it is also shown by the
fact that twenty-six pupils, whose parents have re-
I cently moved into the district, have been register-
I ed at the Central school alone.
SCHOOL NOTES.
A week ago Friday afternoon the boys of the
High school crossed bats with those of the eighth
grade. At first everything went in favor of the
I High school boys; so much so that they wrapped
I their nerve up in a bundle and sent it back to town
I by a passing team, and a bevy of their pretty sis-
I ters w-ho had gone down to cheer them on to vic-
I tory concluding that their presence was heeded no
[ longer returned home. Then the weather changed,
i The grade boys began to make tallies, while the
High school representatives indulged in some wild
throwing and still wilder catching. Luck was
against them and they almost forgot how to make
tallies. The game finally closed with a score of
24 to 31.
Siss, boom ! Siss, boom ! Who is it ?
High school, High school, nit, nit, nit.
Next Friday afternoon the schools -will have
their first field day. The sports will be beld on the
grounds of the Central school and the adjacent
part of Colorado street. There will be running and
jumping contests, pole vaulting, relay race, a sack
race, a hurdle race, a potato race, etc. This is the
first attempt of the schools to hold field day sports
and the boys may not do anything wonderful this
time, but they expect to make a beginning and to
I learn how to do in the future.
As a result of the Agricultural college and the
Georgetown concerts, the school has on hand
SBI.BO. It has not been determined just howto
I use this money, but part of it will undoubtedly be
Idaho Springs Siftings.
IDAHO SPRINGS, COLO., SATURDAY, MAY 3. 1902.
Council Invites Progress.
Two special meetings of the city council were held this week for the purpose
of getting an ordinance in shape relative to the matter of granting water rights
to the Big Five federation in consideration of the expenditure of a quarter of a
million dollars in fitting Idaho Springs as one of the finest resort points in the
state.
The members of the council have shown the proper spirit of enterprise in
handling the proposition, and are going upon the theory that a city as well as an
individual can afford, as a business proposition, to expend $i where the return
from this expenditure will be $5.
In consideration of the free use of water for the buildings and other pur
poses the Big Five donates to the city land enough adjoining the reservoir to ex
tend the reservoir system, and enters into a contract to begin work on a SIOO,OOO
hotel within one year from the date of the passage of the ordinance.
The city council and Big Five are getting a good proposition under the ar
rangements to be made. We understand that there is a difference of opinion as
to the length of time the free use of water shall be granted but this will be satis
factorily arranged by the council.
It is useless to argue the theory that it is better to charge progress a bonus
rather than aid it in entering a place. The states of the South have found it
necessary, in order to develop their latent resources to accomplish something in
the direction of attracting capital. As a result half of them have passed laws
exempting from taxation for a period of ten years any industry that will expend
a certain sum of money, and employ from fifty to 100 workmen. They realize
that the employment of the toiler is the basis of all success. In spending a quar
ter of a million dollars in Idaho Springs the Big Five will accomplish more than
could be accomplished in any other way for the city. The expenditure would
mean that the city would receive twenty times what it would give in taxes from
the Big Five property alone. Aside from this the population of the city would
soon be doubled, and it is safe to estimate that this would mean a doubling in
taxable values. Hundreds of laborers would be put at work, and these toilers
would spend their earnings with local people.
Aside from the populist argument that every corporation is dangerous, there
is no one who doubts the advisability of opening the doors to the entrance of cap
ital. Let it come. Idaho Springs has every advantage to make her a great dis
trict. When the Big Five spends a quarter of a million in the city the property
will be worth nearly double what it is now. Free water will not drain from the
pocket of any taxpayer. The start has been well made. The theory is right
and the city council is accomplishing more for Idaho Springs than any other leg
islative body in its history.
devoted to the decoration of the High school room.
The following letter was found on the superin
tendent's desk last Wednesday forenoon :
Idaho Springs, Colo., April 30, 1902.
Dear Mr. Clarke :
Please write the notice which this letter contains
upon the board where all can see :
NOTICE.
To-morrow is May day !
Look out for May baskets
To-night.
and oblige,
Many.
On the ground which editors usually take that
anonymous communications should receive no at
tention, Mr. Clarke declined to post the notice,
but from latest reports it appears that his action
had no effect on the May baskets.
Where Is the Empire Road.
A letter has been received at this office asking
the question, “Where is the road across the range
that was to have been built from Empire west.”
We admit we do not know. The road lias not been
seen in this vicinity, and there is nothing in our
outside correspondence to indicate that it has been
in any of the outside sections. If Mr. Hawley
owns the Colorado and Southern, and also owns an
interest in the new Moffatt line, it is hardly possi
ble that he will parallel himself or permit any other
road to come up through a canon he owns. Under
the circumstances the idea of a transcontinental
line is not encouraging.
The Boulder Chatauqua.
F. W. Hynes, representing the Colorado and
Southern’s advertising department, was in the city
Wednesday and states that every arrangement is
being completed for one of the most extensive Cha
tauqua seasons Boulder has ever enjoyed. From
the correspondence relative to the attendance re
ceived this early it is apparent that the success of
last year has opened a new field and that the at
tendance w ill be much greater than it has been
heretofore and the attractions more expensive and
better.
Work on the Trocadero Begun.
On Wednesday morning a force of five men
were put to work arranging the foundation for the
big pavilion on Soda creek. Under the latest plans
made it will be 88x56 on the ground. J. J. Hoban
was awarded the contract for the grading and
building of the foundation, which will be as secure
as it is possible to make it with the solid rock.
Over 75 per cent of the stock necessary has been
sold to local people and it is probable that the de
mand for it w-ill be in excess of the supply.
To Extend the Water Supply.
With the view to a future extension of the city
reservoir system the water committee of the city
council accompanied by the mayor, city attorney
and S. N. Simpson visited the system on Wednes
day and gave it a thorough investigation. Every
thing will be done to meet the increasing demand.
Frank Joslin’s Lucky Hat.
Frank Joslin, junior member of the great Jos
lin’s Dry Goods company of Denver, lucky mining
man, successful promoter of good things and a fel
low who assays clear to the limit as a royal prince
01 good fellows, came in Thursday with that mas
cot hat—a cross between a parachute and the shade
over an express wagon. Mr. Joslin is connected
with the Bullion King, Gold Medal and Seaton
Gold Mining and Milling company—three of the
really excellent propositions of the district, and his
luck is as regular and persistent as the course of
the sun from the east to the west.
He claims the hat does it, and the hat looks like
it could do anything. As a matter of fact the ven
erable piece of headgear looks like it might assay
pretty well ‘‘all by itself.”
When he left Denver Thursday morning and
donned the relic of the dead his children ask
ed their mamma to get them a different papa.
When he found a seat on the train bound this way
the news agent tried to sell him caramels and a lit
tle book containing a history of Pike’s peak.
‘‘Pike’s peak?” said Frank with a frown, ‘‘l
don’t wan’t your book—l invented that peak !”
Then a Swede mine superintendent thought he
might be a miner out of employment and accosted
him :
“Say Yonnie, yo skal vant job?” he asked.
“What sort of work?” returned the genial
merchant.
“Aye vant trammer to yump en mak tengs go
lak hel en mae mine en Idaho Sprengs.”
‘‘Hard rock?” asked Frank.
“Val Aye skal tank so. Bay lial yo cannaw
hardly drive drell ento et. Aye haf faller vorkin
for mae vat pound met sledge all day and ven
night com te hole bane stickin out.”
Mr. Joslin explained to him who he was and
that he was himself a mine operator and then the
son of Sweden began to apologize.
‘‘Aye tank from vay yore hat skal look yo bane
vantin yob poorty bat,” he said in the most apolo
getic tone he could command.
The Denver man refuses to be interviewed con
ceaning the hat further than to insist that it has
brought him good luck in thirteen different deals
during the past thirteen years. It always attracts
attention because it is out of date, out of shape
and in appearance an article of abject misery.
Mr. Joslin was in consultation with Dr. Shaller
during his trip and arrangements are soon to be
made for the thorough development of the big
properties in which he is interested. He is also in
terested in the International Mechanical Boiler
Cleaner company, and states that the hat suggested
the idea of the invention which forms the basis for
the operation of the company. In Denver the hat
is a stranger, but in Idaho Springs it has become
famous. Photographs of the lucky old relic would
sell well here among the mining men who are
always more or less the slaves of superstition.
Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Birkins and little Grace are
all nappy as the result of the arrival of a boy on
Friday morning. Papa Birkins can easily look over
the top of the Big Chief mountain and see Denver.
k 4
THE PEOPLE SAY: ;
i|“IT’S A GOOD PAPER”*
k ft
Ar Ar A- A A AAAA A A'A A A'St*.
THE CLIFF
CHANGES
OWNERS
New Jersey Lady Buys
the Big Hotel for the
iSum of SIO,OOO.
* An important deal was [consummated this week
when Mrs. S. A. Stock, formerly of Patterson, N.
J., purchased the Cliff house, near the natatorium,
for SIO,OOO. J. W. Rickard'was the owner of the
property and has reaped a harvest from its conduct
and operation for the past seventeen years. Mrs.
Stock is a good business-like woman and will begin
next season to add twenty additional rooms, so that
the additional demand can be accommodated.
At .the present time the hotel contains thirty
rooms and is a good-looking building. Back of it,
under the hill, the finest spring water of a mineral
character ever found in the district was discovered
some years ago, but Mr. Montague, who then own
ed the land adjoining it, went into court and stop
ped the progress of the tunnel for the springs by an
injunction. Since that time nothing has been done.
It was stated at that time that the people were
driving on a mineral bearing vein, and that if they
had fought the matter energetically it would have
been impossible to have stopped them.
Mrs. Stock, the new hostess, comes here from
Patterson, N. J., and is a heavy stockholder in the
Big Five company. She is a firm believer in the
future of Idaho Springs and believes that the day
is not far distant when it will occupy the position it
should as one of the points and
mineral sections of the West.
‘‘l cannot see how one could well doubt the fu
ture of this place,” remarked Mrs. Stock to a Sift
ings representative. “There is everything here
that nature could bestow. The mining industry,
the lumbering and timbering industry, the tourist
resource and nearly everything that could be wish
ed. Perhaps lam optimistic but it appears to me
as if tbe place had just received a start. I shall con
duct the hotel as best I can and know there will be
abundant business to make it a profitable proposi
tion. My brother and son will soon be with me
from the East, and my daughter is already here.
They will be of inestimable benefit to me in help
ing in the conduct of the place.”
Mrs. Stock is a pleasant lady t 6 meet and a good
business woman. Under her management the hotel
wall be as popular as it ever was under the manage 7
ment of Mr. Rickard, who will retire with the good
will be the people of the city and the friendship of
everyone.
“Peeping Toms" Arrested.
On Monday evening the city authorities arrest
ed four boys who had gained access under the ladies’
dressing room at the Opera house. The boys had
tom away the boards on the outside of the stage so
they could get under it and then cut holes through
the floor of the dressing rooms and put in their
time gazing at the sights behind the scenes. “Dad”
Kane made the arrests and the boys were solicitous
regarding the outcome and begged to be released
on condition they would never do such things
again.
Forest Fire on the Chief.
Charley Crosson was in the city from Brook vale
this week and reported that a forest fire was raging
on the south side of the Big Chief. During the
earlj' part of the week the smoke could f>e seen
rolling up from this city. Little fear was express
ed regarding danger to the interests on this side as
the summit of the old mountain is still crowned
with snow on the Idaho Springs side. The state
authorities' however, cannot be too careful in the
matter for the protection of the forests.
South Denver and Georgetown.
Manager Rowe states that he has arranged a
game between the South Denvers and the local
team for May 11. On May 18 Georgetown will
cross bats for the trial trip and the next team to
be taken on will probably be Central City for a re
turn game. To-morrow Empire *wlil try for the
laurels, and it is said that the game will be an in
teresting one on account of the fact that the towm
up the canon has a very good lot of players anti
are always ready to do a lot of rooting.
Mr. Renshaw Returns.
W. E. Renshaw returned from his trip East this
week and has been compelled to remain at his
home a greater portion of the time on account of
feebleness as a result of his recent illness while in
the East. He expects to be out and feeling com
fortably well next week.
The lecture on Christian Science given by Dr.
Edwards on Friday evening last was attended by a
large number of people and the eloquence of the
gifted gentleman was the subject of general com
ment. The local church is becoming a strong fac
tor in the religious life of the city and the lecture
was a treat to outsiders as well as to the immediate
members of the congregation.
NO. 20.