Cooperation between forest rangers and forest residents is the greatest preventative for forest fires known, in the opinion of W.L. Wilson, veteran ranger in the Montezuma Forest.
Retired Sept. 1 after 25 years spent in the Norwood district of the Montezuma Forest, Wilson can boast of never having had a fire in his district - something of a record for the forest service.
If people are cooperative and friendly, in the opinion of Wilson, they will be careful not to start fires and will be ready to report to the forest ranger in their district at the first sign of a blaze.
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The worst fire in some time occurred here Tuesday when the apple packing shed of the Mesa Verde Apple Packers association was totally destroyed.
How the fire originated is unknown. First notice came when an explosion blew hole in the roof and sent a cloud of black smoke skyward, after which the flames spread rapidly. Mrs. B.F Green, who lives across the street, says she heard sounds like articles tumbling around and falling in the building, and she looked out just as the explosion occurred.
The loss is estimated at about $7,500, of which $4,000 was covered by insurance.
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Perry Clark, partner in the Piccone & Clark (Mancos Hill) coal mine, died Wednesday at the Cortez hospital from injuries received at the mine.
According to Dan Piccone, the best information is that Mr. Clark had inspected the place where he intended to work, about 2 o'clock Tuesday, and sat down to roll a cigarette when a rock fell on him, crushing his body so badly that he could not live.
He was formerly a resident of Dolores and operated the Morris mine, south of town.
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The corn-hog problem seems to have been solved, by an agreement between the government, the packers and producers, which has resulted in the killing at once of 4 million pigs and light hogs and a million sows due to farrow this fall. These hogs are to be processed in the usual manner and edible meat from them is to be marketed at moderate prices to the unemployment relief administration, to feed destitute people.
The butter and cheese situation is now getting a lot of attention.
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German Settlement: Haying is the important thing at Lester King's this week. The Williams boys and W. and Earl Vance are helping them.
Henry King, Harlen Elsten, Earl Williams and Stanley Roelker enjoyed their last swim this season Monday afternoon in the pool beneath the falls in Hartman Canyon.
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Nearly all of the members of the Pioneer Association who live in this area were out full blast last Thursday and enjoyed themselves. Most of them spoke of the solos sung by Albert Leavell as being well worth hearing.
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Editorial Comment: It may turn out that the most important thing that has happened in the world in the past three years is the international wheat agreement signed by the representatives of 23 nations. We believe that Mr. Frederick E. Murphy, the head of the American delegation, is right when he says that the records for a thousand years show clearly that wheat has always been the index to the price of other commodities.
In other words, as Mr. Murphy puts it, "prosperity comes from the soil."
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Notice is hereby given that on Aug. 7, 933, Homer W. Bingham filed his formal application to exchange lands within the Arapaho National Forest for timber from lands within the Montezuma National Forest.
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On the list of candidates in favor and against ratification of the amendment to repeal the 18th amendment are Earl Barker, Durango, in favor of ratification, and F.W. Kroger, Durango, against it.