Cloud City Chronicles

Highlights from the 

Carbonate Chronicle

75 years ago

ONE DAY WANT-AD SOLD THEIR HOUSE

May 3, 1948

*******

Herald Democrat want ads can do a good job for you at a very small cost, and this statement is proved by want ad users who volunteer to tell us of the results they obtain.

This week a want ad result story, which we believe worthy of mentioning, came to our attention. Wednesday, Mrs. D. C. McCarty of 115 Chestnut street gave us a 14-word ad advertising their modern home for sale. Her instructions were to run the ad “TF,” which means “until forbidden.” We received a phone call from Mrs. McCarty before noon Thursday requesting that we stop the ad immediately and telling us their home had already been sold, and as a direct result of the Herald Democrat ad, which just ran the one time. And quoting Mrs. McCarty, “Our home was almost as busy as the Grand Central depot after 5 p.m. last night.” The McCartys had requested in their ad that interested people not call until after 5 p.m.

The 14-word ad which the McCartys ran just one time to sell their home cost them just 70¢. Is there anyone who can give us a cheaper or quicker way to sell property, or anything else that one might desire to dispose of?

‘It Can Happen To You,’ Warns The Patrolman

May 10, 1948

*******

Patrolman Tom McAuliffe of the State Patrol today cautioned motorists against forgetting that bad weather conditions are not yet past in Colorado for this season. “We may expect occasional snow storms, rain and fog during May,” he said. “With fine weather most of us are inclined to feel the winter weather is over and be unprepared for a sudden snow storm or other adverse weather conditions.

“Mountain roads are apt to be especially treacherous due to the formation of ice on curves and in shaded places at this time of year. Motorists driving in the mountains should be prepared at all times for unusual weather conditions,” he said.

Patrolman McAuliffe also pointed out that winter driving safety devices should be kept in good condition and be immediately repaired in the event they become defective. He referred to such things as heaters, windshield wipers, defrosters, fog lights and tire chains.

“Particular attention should be paid to vehicle speeds when driving under inclement weather conditions,” he said. “Accident reports show ‘speed too fast for conditions’ was often lower than the stated limit.”

WONDERS OF HISTORIC LEADVILLE IN BEAUTY OF NATURAL SETTING TOLD IN CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

May 17, 1948

*******

Leadville received a fine boost as a tourist attraction in The Chicago Sunday Tribune for April 18. The writer of the article, Pearl Anoe, knew whereof she spoke for she made a visit here a couple of years ago and was assisted in her material by Leadville Chamber of Commerce members.

The Tribune’s story obviously should bring additional visitors to the Cloud City this summer, and for the home folks here the story makes pleasant reading for it is more accurate and less lurid than far too many stories about Leadville have been.

The Herald Democrat is indebted to Dr. Franklin J. McDonald, who brought in a clipping from the Tribune. In Wauwatosa, Wis., Mrs. W. S. Spinney, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. McDonald, ran across the Leadville article and sent it here. Following is the complete story as it appeared in The Chicago Sunday Tribune:

BEAUTY BEDECKS EVERY MILE OF LEADVILLE TRIP

By Pearl Anoe 

Colorado’s Leadville is the lodestar which draws a constant parade of visitors over the wide ocean to ocean highway No. 24. Even with no Cloud City at journey’s end, the trip would be well worth taking because of the pictorial panorama that unfolds along every mile — thru and over the Rocky Mountains — by train, automobile or bus.

You can’t judge Leadville by the entrance you make along Slaughter House Gulch, where six smelters once turned silver clouds into black palls of smoke; nor Jacktown and Stringtown — where 4,000 happy prospectors once lived joyously, and not too long. So drive up Irish Row and think of the fun that walked there once upon a time, when the west and its pioneers were young, gay and courageous; then turn on Chestnut street and look it over.

It was built in the days when Leadville never slept. Theaters closed at three o’clock in the morning, but dance halls and liquor shops never closed at all. Chestnut street property sold for $250 a front foot in 1878. Harrison and Chestnut were soon rows of stores and business buildings, with every third door opening into a saloon. There were five coach lines which came into town over tortuous roads, carved from the mountainsides, along precipices — and filled with boulders.

Harrison avenue today has some of the old board sidewalks, but automobiles have replaced the mule and burro, and trees are growing on the two mile high earth beside the walks. The church steeple that reaches closer to heaven than any in the nation is up there; also other steeples — for church and modern schools are in Leadville today, as well as taverns, which still know no closing time.

In the days of its youth, Harrison avenue boasted long mining carts, gay little one horse buggies; shining phaetons and prancing horses — and yes, a coachman for the overnight millionaires. Today you may sit on the enclosed portico of the hotel suite of the famous old Vendome hotel which once housed Baby Doe Tabor (wife of Colorado’s fabulous millionaire H. A. W. Tabor) just above Harrison avenue’s gay white way — and meditate on the past as you watch an automobile parade whirl noisily up the street, an Austrian wedding party where paper money (not gold or silver) has been pinned to the bride’s wedding gown as gifts, and the celebration goes merrily on for a week.

Across the street is the Golden Burro cafe and bar, with its black silhouette figures of bucking broncs, cowboys, buffalo and stagecoaches — figures cut from wood — decorating the walls, and its juke box music comes drifting toward you. Stores with plate glass windows invite you to buy a modern dress or hat, and beauty shops are doing a good business. Up the avenue is the famous Healy House museum, where many dresses and hats worn by belles of early days are cherished.

Leadville today has a teen-age club which is doing an excellent job for its young people; and the old Elks Opera House furnishes good entertainment for young and old. This historic building was world famous in the 1880s with its 982 seats, shining mirrors, desks, red velvet curtains draped with gold, box seats, and orchestra pit. Today the Elks gather in the club rooms, talk over ore specimens confined in glass cases, play solitaire and other card games and enjoy life — just remembering!

The opera house still has 982 seats, but the boxes contain dining chairs now, and the film has worn off the mirrors. The old piano on the stage has mellowed a bit as to tone and volume. The walls of the entrance hall on Harrison avenue are decorated with pictures of those early players — Dustin Farnum, Anna Held, Jane Carlton, Mrs. Leslie Carter, Chauncey Olcott, Grace George and others.

SENIORS OF L.H.S. ENJOY ‘SKIP DAY’

*******

The 31 members of the L.H.S. senior class put aside their studies yesterday to take the annual “Skip Day” trip. Accompanied by their class sponsor, Drayton Schaefer, and his wife, and Mr. and Mrs. William B. Pepper, the group drove to Twin Lakes falls, leaving here shortly before 8 o’clock in the morning.

Games of softball, hikes and other sports were enjoyed, cameras were kept busy and an appetizing picnic lunch was devoured at noon. The weather was reported very nice and a wonderful time was had by all. The “skippers” returned at 5:15 last evening.

BROWNIES ENTERTAIN MOTHERS AT TEA

*******

Friday afternoon, May 7th, the Brownie Scout groups entertained their mothers at the annual Mother’s Day tea with a program representing each group. The program was opened with the Brownie salute and pledge of allegiance to the flag given in unison by the three groups, after which they sang their Brownie songs. Group No. 1 under the leadership of Mrs. Clifton Mason and Mrs. Clarence Motzer sang “With a Hey and a Hi and a Ho Ho Ho.” Group No. 2 under the leadership of Mrs. A. K. Hanes and Mrs. H. Thompson gave a little one act play, “Flower Parade.” Group No. 3 under the leadership of Mrs. Jack Graw was represented by an accordion solo, “Lost Magnolia,” by Donna Mason, a reading, “Little Tommy’s Gun,” by Esther Graw, and a piano solo, “The Track Meet,” by Sharon McMurrough.

After the program tea and cake were served by the Brownie Mothers Club with Mrs. Clarence McMurrough, chairman of the Mothers Club, and Mrs. Catherine Sayer, president of the AAUW Brownie sponsors, pouring. The table was very pretty with lighted pink tapers and spring flowers. Each mother was then presented with a corsage of sweet peas and nasturtiums by her own little Brownie.

ARKANSAS RIVER WATER SAMPLES SHOW NO POLLUTION DUE MINING

May 24, 1948

*******

Samples of water taken from the Arkansas river last week showed no indication of pollution or even any harmful effects on the stream due to mining and milling operations in the Leadville area.

Making the tests were Charles R. Casey, secretary of the Leadville Chamber of Commerce, K. L. Tatman of the Resurrection Mining company and Robert Blake of the A.S.&R. milling unit. Their survey was made on May 13 and the samples have since been studied, although no analysis was made.

Samples were taken at the California gulch, Malta junction and various other points, including places below Canon City. Conclusions reached by the three men making the survey were pretty much in agreement:

Said Mr. Tatman: “We are mainly concerned with finding that the river water’s discoloration was not coming from mill tailings. We are quite positive now that the mining industry here is not contributing anything to the Arkansas river that is detrimental to fishing.”

Mr. Blake stated: “We are satisfied from the color of the dirt in the samples that it is coming into the river between Salida and Canon City and that it is due chiefly to erosion and a general run-off.”

Summing up, Mr. Casey said: “Our conclusion is that mill tailings ponds in the Leadville area in no way affect the river. Contamination and silt is the problem to be solved. Any attempt to blame the mining industry for the river’s condition would result only in hardship, with no benefit.

“The Chamber of Commerce contends that every citizen should realize that payrolls here are based on mining activities and not on fish and game. Citizens of Lake county should cooperate in every way to see that efforts to slow down the mining industry be stifled.”