II 6 VOLUME WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1902 NUMBER ; TERCIO, COLORADO &he Most Recent of C. F. (Si I. Camps SIX MINE OPENINGS AND EXTENSIVE COKING WORKS SITUATED IN THE VALLEY OF THE PUEGATOIRE AMIDST BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SCENERY INTERESTING HISTORY OF THE REGION A MODEL AND SANITARY CAMP OF MODEL AND SANI- TARY HOMES AMPLE WATER SUPPLY THE MANAGEMENT THE MEN WORK OF THE MEDICAL AND SANITARY DEPARTMENT THE SOCIOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. ERCIO, the most recent gion is a part of the old Spanish conces- of The Colorado Fuel sion known as the Maxwell land grant. and Iron camps, is sit- The camp is situated in .the foothills of the uated in the valley of Sangre de Cristo range, close to the New the Purgatoire o r Mexico frontier. This country, known as Picketwire River at the Purgatoire, or Picketwire region, in the present terminus the past was called one of the "bad lands" of the Southern divis- of Colorado, not from its general geological ion of the Colorado formation, but primarily because of the con- and Wyoming Rail- stant warfare waged between the resident way, thirty-one and squatters, and the owners of the grant. one-half miles west Pour or five settlers finally obtained home- ~ by south of Trinidad, and but six miles from steads from the "grant" owners. The re- the New Mexico line. The camp was first mainder of this immense tract of land, with known as Torres, later Rincon, and then its rich coal fields and other natural min- Tercio. eral wealth and resources, was held by the History. owners without any attempt at develop- Historically, the situation of Tercio ap- ment, until the latter part of the year 1900. peals to the modern fact lover as this re- Tercio as a camp, came into existence about The Snowy Range from Tercio, Colorado. J30 TERCIO, COLORADO. November, 1901, and from a non-producing, Mine and another opening are situated isolated mountain valley, modern energy and about one and one-half miles south of the science have transformed it into a scene of camp. The coal from the Vega mine is to the means of steam bustling industrial activity. The bleating conveyed tipple by power, while the product of the other open- of sheep on the hillside has given place to ings reaches its objective point by means the whistle of the locomotive and the hum of inclined plains, the launched cars coming of machinery. The pine trees have taken down pulling the "empties" up. the form of neat houses, and the gray rock has been transformed into long rows of Coke Ovens. ovens. it coke Where was possible formerly One of the most impressive sights about for only a few to make a living, thousands the camp are the long rows of coke ovens, may now find employment at good wages. extending three-quarters of a mile west View About a Quarter of a Mile Above the Cottages at Tercio. The Mines. from the "washer". The first series, which At present six openings are being worked is nearly completed, numbers six hundred, on veins varying from four to twelve feet. and six hundred similar ones are contem- The estimated daily output at present is plated by the company in the near future. about four hundred tons, but the tipple and The Washer and Tipple. screens have not as yet been completed. The washer, which is nearly completed, When this is done the output will be is situated at the entrance to the camp. greatly increased. The possible yield The tipple, also, is situated here, across is, howeyer, many times this amount, as the small opening formed by the situation the surrounding hills seem to be a vast of the surrounding hills. coal bed. The coal is pronounced to be Local Management. equal to the best formerly found in South- William Skidmore, formerly of Sopris, ern Colorado. The openings in the immedi- Colorado, is now supt. of the mine. Linsey ate vicinity of the camp are Nos. 1 and 2 Connors, formerly of Segundo, Colorado, is North, and Nos. 1 and 2 South. The Vega superintendent of construction. Joseph VIEW OF TERCIO. 131 o t UBJ J32 TERCIO, COLORADO. Griffith, is "pit boss." J. L. McKee is guide books and railroad pamphlets call in charge of the office with the following "Colorado's beautiful climate," neither too staff: R. G. Nathan, L. F. Norton, J. R. hot nor too cold. Jameson and Ezra J. Snell. Water Supply. Postoffice. The Purgatoire, Purgatory, or Picketwire river winds its way through the camp in The postoffice is in charge of D. P. Jones. serpentine fashion, and supplies a reservoir The Colorado and Wyoming Railway. of 900,000 gallons capacity, about two miles The Colorado and Wyoming Railway, above the camp. The people of Tercio are which connects Tercio with the outside thus furnished a pure water from the per- world, runs two passenger trains daily. J. petual snow and ice beds of the Sangre de H. Bell is in charge of the office of the Cristo range. Another large reservoir lo- Colorado and Wyoming Railway. cated in a natural basin, one mile wide, is The Store. being built by the company as an additional The Colorado Supply Company store is source of supply for this and the lower in charge of D. P. Jones manager, C. C. Mc- camps. In the near future pipes will be Williams assistant manager, Walter Mc- laid to carry water to all the cottages, fur- Nett cashier, Jeff Ayers, Ed. Perkins, and nishing a plentiful supply for household and James Fleming clerks. The store building irrigating purposes. is to be of stone and is as noteworthy from As a Place of Residence. an artistic point of view as from the more The abundant water and the excellent practical standpoint of capacious size and market afforded by the local store consider- durability. ably simplify camp housekeeping. Com- Environment of Tercio. fortable modern cottages diversified in The environment of the camp is particu- architecture, and containing from three to larly attractive, even in a state far famed six rooms each, are provided at reasonable for its wondrous natural beauty. It is rent. One hundred cottages are already situated in one of the prettiest parks or built in well planned streets. In most in- valleys of Las Animas County, but six mfles stances these are surrounded by green from the New Mexico line, and is most lawns and gardens, which, owing to the abundantly watered by numerous springs scarcity of water elsewhere, are found in and branches, which gives it the appear- only a few Southern Colorado camps. The ance of a continuous green lawn, built on houses are not crowded, and it is the in- a generous scale. It is surrounded on all tention of the company to fence every yard. sides by hills, green and well wooded, prin- The tents and shacks, common to new cipally with firs and aspens, which suggest camps, are rapidly disappearing and giving the altitude of some eight thousand feet place to neat cottages. It is said that con- above sea level. The climate is very brac- tracts have been let for four hundred addi- ing and salubrious, and suggests what the tional dwellings. Every house is provided After Dinner at the Colorado Supply Company Boarding House, Tercio. ITALIAN DEPARTMENT. J33 with a garbage box, which is emptied each day, and the con- tents carted out of camp. The objectionable pile of tin cans is conspicuous by its absence, and the camp is kept as clean as a well regulated city. Medical and Sanitary Depart- ment. The medical and sanitary de- partment is in charge of Dr. W. L. Conway. The clean yards and grounds and excellent health of the camp show that the work of this department has been not without results. The Men Who Dig the Coal. The population is made up of Italians, Mexicans, Americans, in the order of numbers as Office Force and Temporary Office of C. F. & I. Co. at Tercio. named, besides a fair represen- tation of Germans, Scotch, Irish and Swedes. Africa has only one representative. Below the "tipple" is what is styled "Italy," or the Italian quarter. Here are houses built of Tercio, Colorado. stones and mud and inevitable car-roofed IERCIO, ii piu recente campo della which have not been shacks, yet replaced Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, by the cottages referred to above. The e situato nella vallata del flume large, dome-shaped out-door ovens recall Purgatorio o Picketwire, ed 6 il punto other lands. In this distinctive quarter on terminale della divisions sud della fer- a Saturday night, all restraint seems to be rovia Colorado & Wyoming, a 31% thrown off, and amusement holds entire sway. Strains of the concertina, chords miglia sopra Trinidad ed a sei mig- from the violin, laughter, shouts and danc- lia dai conflni del Nuovo Messico. Questo ing, further carry out the picture. campo che prima era conosciuto sotto il Educational. nome di Torres e poi di Rincon ora chi- amasi Tercio. A modern school house of four rooms I dintorni del veramente at- is now under course of construction, to sup- campo sono plant the old adobe building of last year. trattivi, circondato come e tutto all' intono It will open this fall with a competent staff da colline boschive con abeti e tremule sino of teachers. It is also proposed to estab- ad un altezza di 8,000 piedi. La vallata nella lish a night school and kindergarten. quale e situato il campo e una delle piu belle della Contea Las 1'abbondante Sociological.