This week in Colorado History: October 11-October 17

The Economy, Farms, and Politics: A solution to current events…
The Golden Weekly Globe of October 11, 1873, begins by discussing issues common to October 11, 2010, but offers considerably different solutions. The article “Go West, Young Man” begins by stating that, “One result of the financial difficulties now before us will be the throwing out of employment of numbers of laborers in all of the large cities and towns.” For those currently seeking a job, this seems to again be a statement of the obvious. It is doubtful, though, that a graduating Mines student is too interested in the author’s solution to the problem. He establishes that, “The inland regions are not only blessed with a profusion of food, but are suffering from a dearth of labor,” and suggests that those in need of work rapidly depart for the Midwest to shuck corn. If Career Day and Info Sessions do not end well, this is always an option.

“To the Farmers”
Before computers and corporate farms, it was far more difficult to obtain information on crops, as evidenced by Geo. F. Packard’s request as president of the Colorado Farmer’s Union that farmers turn in their statistics. Why? Packard explains, “It is desirable that the wheat crop of Colorado for the year 1873 should be ascertained with some degree of certainty, in order that we may not be forced to sell at too low a figure.” He tentatively suggests that wheat should be sold at a little less than 1872’s prices.
Partisan Cooperation

The Golden Weekly Globe also reported that some election results were back for the Territorial Legislature. To quote those more intimately connected with the political climate 137 years ago, “The Denver Tribune thinks that as this body will probably be a non-partisan one, the people have much to expect from it.” This is not a particularly profound opinion, as the Council consisted of five Republicans, six Democrats and one independent and the House consisted of eleven Republicans, eleven Democrats, and one independent. The opinion that much would get accomplished was at least optimistic – it could have easily predicted gridlock.