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Show November 17, 1995 Is I l I . M L . I Cross Currents r D !sVi 1 . 8 t V p 1 l - r I- Al v n.-- C . fc ji 'I J JUfc. -- C' Vj I Vt .,. n Page 7 vi-r-- nC J M aiu 1 A h4k I The Singles Connection meets at The Cortez Center in Cortez the first Sunday of every month from 6 to 8 Cortez coal came from Mesa Verde p.m. Singles is a group of people meeting new friends in an informal environment. (970-565-115- By Duane Smith was the chief heating fuel in nineteenth century, and the that had mines neighboring it was fortunate indeed. Cortez was one of those lucky towns. Unfortunately, when Mesa Verde National Park was created in 1906, the mines were found in the northwestern part of the park. Coal (bituminous) had been known to be in the area since the 1 870s, but with richer deposits elsewhere in southwestern Colorado, no need existed to mine it. much of a money maker for the government for small mines. The largest mine, for example, produced 661 tons during a d operation in 1912. The mines operated all year, each year, throughout the decade the peak production era for Mesa Verde. By the turn of the century, however, At least one park superintendent, Hans Randolph, thought local needs could be nicely balanced with park needs. With the mines far away from the ruins visitors enjoyed, he believed the royalties from increased mining would largely meet the cost of operation of the park. One of the leasers, William Jordan, wanted to increase his operations by building a tram from the valley floor to his mine on the mesa. The coal mining era in the park ended in the 1920s. Superintendent Jesse Nussbaum Coal small mines opened serving the needs of isolated Cortez. With no railroad connections, Cortez needed the mines to avoid the high cost of train and then wagon freighting of coal from the Hesperus mines. Local residents pressured their congressmen to allow mining within the park only to run into strong objections; it was not until 1910 that the Secretary of the Interior was authorized to grant leases and permits. The lessees had to royalty - not pay a -- year-aroun- - The coal mining era in the park ended in the 1920s. wanted to stop both grazing and mining in Mesa Verde, and did. Several factors helped him with the issue of coal. Mining declined rapidly after World War I as the quality of the coal deposits decreased. Also, improved roads and trucking made transporting coal to Cortez easier and cheaper. In a small way, the question of coal mining at Mesa Verde helped to force a resolution of the larger issue of mining in the parks. By a 1920 act, Congress had ended the activities for prospectors and miners in parks; in 1931 a bill specifically prohibited mining in Mesa Verde. Pressure would be put on the government to allow mining in other parks in following decades, but never to open the very limited mineral potential in Mesa Verde. Farmingtons Apache Elemen tary School Thursday Noon Choir has been selected to perform at Music convention in Las the Cruces on January 4. To help defray costs, there will be a raffle on Thursday, December 14, at 12:15 p.m. at the Apache School Music Room. A search has started for Mrs. Durango. Prospective contes tants for the Mrs. America pageant call Tricia, (Golden, Colorado). The ARC of Farmington will sponsor a free program on on November 20, at the Farmington Civic Center. is a program for people with disabilities to learn how to take more control of their lives and to make more decisions about themselves and their community. George Barnett). All-Sta- 303-279-52- 68 self-advoca- cy Self-advoca- (505-325-899- (Duane Smith is a history professor at Fort Lewis College and a published author. He and Marilu Waybourn, a historian and native of San Juan County, New Mexico, alternate as writers of "Four Comers Memories.) te 8, Southwest Colorado cultural arts patrons have kicked off a $500,000 Artist-in-Residen- fund-raisin- drive for a new Program at Fort g ce Lewis College. Lewis College Foundation). (970-247-742- 5, i a- AVt. vX . w 'A- - :r NPUl 0 Year Rate Effective Through January 1 5, 1 996 I IT tyoGv Membership open to anyone living or working in San Juan County 0 2 850 Municipal Drive 3850 East Main Street 326-77- 1 325-553- W i, C.S- cy J V Fort |