In the highlands drained by the Rio Grande and a short distance from Wagon Wheel Gap nestles the marvelous mining camp of Creede. Prior to 1890 it had not existence, and while the ranchmen thereabouts had some inkling of the deposits of mineral wealth, this knowledge was presumptive, being based solely upon the occasional out-cropping of low grade ore. For ten years the land of which the vast silver formation is a part was used by M. H. Wason as a range, and winter and summer his cattle nibbled a bare sustenance upon the hills which covered the deposits of the Holy Moses, the Last Chance, Amethyst, the Bachelor, Ridge, and the Ethel.

Captain N. C. Creede, who had been prospecting elsewhere in the mountains, learned of these rumors and in May of 1889 went to these hills and with his partner, George L. Smith, of Salida, proceeded with a systematic search. The hills are on either side of Willow creek, a tributary on the Rio Grande River, and this stream extends due north and south, eating its way through gorges the rocks of which rise 300 feet on either side of the stream. East and west branches of this stream again bisect the hills. The altitude of the country is 10,000 feet, rising rapidly from the bed of the stream to a height of 1, 500 and 2,000 feet to the shafts of the bonanza discoveries. One of the hills is named Campbell Mountain, in honor of the military genius in whose hands was placed the construction of Fort Logan, near Denver. Upon this mountain Captain Creede began his work, and in a short while discovered a vein. This was located by himself and Mr. Smith, and has since become known as the Holy Moses mine. Two months later Charles F. Nelson began prospecting upon the hill and located the Ridge and Solomon mines, and these locations were followed by the discovery of the Ethel, which was located by Captain Creede.

The wonderful nature of these discoveries immediately raised the question of their durability. A study of the formation was at once made, and it became evident to these gentlemen that the mountains were what is known as the bracite volcanic. Indications of a severe glacial action are apparent upon every hand. And the further indications are that this was the action of ages. The glacial flood filled the surrounding country with the float abraided from the outcroppings, and to this action is attributed the almost surface appearance of the ore bodies themselves. The first ore taken from the Holy Moses assayed $80 a ton and carried native silver, horn glance and suphuret or amethyst quartz, spar and talc, with an occasional occurrence of lead carbonate. A shaft was sunk, with the result of finding solid walls and a five-foot vein of ore in place.

The discoverers did some development that summer. In the spring of 1890 they returned and did more effective work. At this juncture David H. Moffat, President of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad; Sylvester T. Smith, the General Manager, and Captain L. E. Campbell, of Fort Logan, became interested, and to them Captain Creede and Mr. Smith explained the situation and asked for capital and better shipping facilities. In the deal that followed a bond upon the Holy Moses was given by Captain Creede and his partner for $70,000, and Messrs. Moffat, Smith and Campbell became at once identified with the prospect. It was the publication of this fact that directed attention to Willow Creek and the King Solomon district. The stampede began and soon prospectors were thick upon Campbell Mountain. The purchasers of the Holy Moses put thirty men to work and the results created a burning demand for facilities.

The question of the extension of the Denver and Rio Grande a distance of ten miles to the mine was then raised, and the bickerings to which this question gave rise were carried into the directory meetings of the company in New York. The outcome of that struggle was the resignation of Mr. Moffat from the presidency and Mr. Smith from the management of the company. The extension was refused and an independent company, the Rio Grande and Gunnison, was organized and the railroad was built. The subsequent revelations have shown that Mr. Moffat was right and the directors of the Denver and Rio Grande were wrong. While this side issue was at stake the work at the lines was continued. Plans were matured for the construction of a wire tramway that would carry the ore to the valley below, where it would be loaded upon the cars as soon as the Gunnison line completed its construction.

The Holy Moses Mining Company was incorporated about the same time, and the development that was being done dissipated the notion that the ore was simply large-bodied fissure veins. The company, therefore, extended its purchase along the lode, and Captain Creede was employed by them at a large salary and a third interest in all subsequent discoveries. There being 100 tons of ore on the dump, the Holy Moses Company ceased development, and the construction of the tramway was pushed rapidly forward. It was soon completed, and extends to an elevation of 1,100 feet from the gulch of the creek and is 2,000 feet in length, and has a capacity of 200 tons per day.

The rapid incoming of prospectors and the discovery and development of other mines built a community of habitations the counterpart of which has no existence in this or any other mining section. Heretofore camps have been favored with a building site for a city within easy reach. With the King Solomon district it was different. By common consent the gulch of Willow Creek, at the foot of Campbell Mountain, became the abode of the embryo city. It is no wider than a street in Denver, and on either side of the stream the walls rise 300 feet. Over the stream the houses are constructed with pole foundations, to raise them above the bed. It is simply a gorge, and upon the sides the houses cling in a most precarious fashion. The dangers which this primitive mode of construction invariably produces are well understood by the miners, yet day by day they go on apparently indifferent to the catastrophe which a spring thaw is certain to produce. Over 2,000 people are crowded into this gulch, and the possibility some day of an involuntary ride upon a mountain torrent with all their belongings is the frequent topic of conversation. The undesirability of this as a site for a permanent abode has stimulated town-lot enterprises at a point half a mile below the gulch at a place known as Jimtown or Amethyst. This town abuts a section of school land, and a short distance below this is the town site of Wason, named after the ranchman whose cattle for so long held exclusive privileges over these bonanza fields. The town in the gulch was called Willow, taking its name from the stream that flowed beneath the foundations. Subsequently, it was named Creede, and the suggestions made by Governor Routt upon his recent trip to the mines will probably be adopted, and that is, to merge the three towns into one and lay out the city of South Creede on the school section which the State is to plat and sell.

That which contributed most to the more recent fame of Creede camp was the discovery made in August, 1891, on Bachelor Mountain by Theodore Rennica, who had Ralph Granger, Julius Haase and Erich von Buddenbrock for partners. An outcropping of a rich mineral not dissimilar from that of the Holy Moses was found in a five-foot vein. This property was located as the Last Chance. N. C. Creede discovered the cropping about the same time and at once recognized its value. As soon as the stakes were set on the Last Chance he located the Amethyst, adjoining the first location on the north. The vein was soon found to be all that the cropping promised and two producing mines that gave ore worth $170 a ton from the first shovelful were added to the list. The excitement at once centered on this hill, and since that time hundreds of locations have been made on and long the vein and this prospecting led to the finding of many promising lodes and apparent blanket veins on Bachelor Mountain.

The Bachelor, an old location, was discovered several years ago by J. P. Burnett and passed into the hands of J. C. McKenzie, James Wilson, M. V. B. Wason and others. Soon after the discovery of the Last Chance this property was purchased by parties in interested in the Holy Moses Company for $20,000, and later the Bachelor Mining Company was incorporated, with David H. Moffat, Sylvester T. Smith, Frederick F. Struby, Julius E. French and John T. Herrick for directors, and a capital stock of $100,000. The purchasers made extended development and have made a mine of the property.

The Last Chance has had a change of ownership. The other partners soon purchased the interest of Julius Haase for $10,000, and on November 22d Rennica and Buddenbrock sold their one-third interest to Messrs. Sanders, Dixon and others for $50,000 each. It is said that Mr. Granger was offered $100,000 for his one-third a day or two after this, but refused to sell. The property has produced an immense quantity of ore, and the owners have recently contracted with Humphrey & Co. for the delivery of 100 tons a day to the railroad at Amethyst.

The Amethyst has a vein of ore about five feet wide between walls. It has been developed with two shafts located about 200 feet apart on the vein, one eighty and the other ninety feet deep. In sinking these shafts, seventy-eight carloads of ore which ran from $90 at the start and now $170 a ton, have been taken out and shipped. They are now drifting between the two shafts and are sending out from eight to ten cars a day. Not a pound of ore has been taken out except in development. It is estimated $1,000,000 worth of ore will be blocked out between these two shafts. A third shaft is now being put down, and a steam hoisting plant is soon to be added.

The ore in the Amethyst, the Last Chance and Bachelor is of the same character and all are on the one lead. It is of milling character, carrying much native silver, silver glance and some horn silver. Both quartz and talcite are the foundation. The mineral is solid between walls and is shipped without which old miners will recognize as a marvelous thing, they have no “dump” for the reason that there is no waste in the mines and nothing to be “dumped.”

The properties of the Moses Company are all under the general management of Captain Campbell. Harry Allenby is superintendent, with James O’Brien and Samuel Billings foremen.

The Ethel May has about 5,000 tons on the dump and will work about thirty-five men. A tunnel to be about 300 feet long is being run to cut the vein considerably lower than the first working.

Ex-Senator Thomas M. Bowen purchased the Ridge and the Solomon of C. F. Nelson, and has hold of a large group comprising the Mexico and others. After holding them a few months, developing them to some extent and making important strikes in the Ridge and Solomon, he sold the group for a good round sum to George Nichol and others, who added to it by the purchase of the St. Peter, Wandering Jew, Rio Grande, Maggie and Mammoth No. 2. Considerable development is now going on, with occasional shipments. The Ethel lies in the centre of this group.

Charles Nelson holds the Yankee Girl, lying below the Moses, and has it developed with a 190-foot tunnel. He has also the Casino fraction, between the Cliff and the Phoenix.

The Lena, lying just off the Cliff, is owned by L. M. Stollard and R. W. Griswold. The Phoenix, Jr., is the property of Tom Johnson, Louis Pierce and Frank Oliver.

There are any number of good claims on the hill on which little but the assessment work has been done, and which will require much more development to bring them into pay. During the short working season of last summer much decisive work was done, but not enough to thoroughly show up the extent or nature of the mineral deposit.

From south to north on Bachelor Hill the claims lying along the vein are, first the Bachelor; parallel to it the Spar, then north comes the Commodore and Sunnyside, at the end of them the Del Monte, then the Last Chance, the Amethyst, then the Cleopatra. South of the Bachelor is another good property, the Lenore, owned by Charles Nelson and James McClurg, of Denver. East and parallel with the Cleopatra is the Daisy, owned by the Moses Company.

The Cleopatra is owned by D. S. Cotton & Co., Salida parties. It is unquestionably certain to become a shipper in a short time.

The Sunnyside is owned by A. C. Dore, and $20,000 was refused for it some time ago, while it was yet a prospect.

The Little Maid and Silver Plume are two claims on Bachelor Hill which lie north of the Cleopatra and are owned by U. F. Smith and M. C. Merrill, a banker of Kansas City. The owners are confident of getting the lead next summer.

L. F. Bradshaw, R. W. and E. P. Watson have two fine-looking claims on the big blanket lode on the mountain.

The Grant No. 1, with fifteen feet of quartz well mineralized, is one of them. They have every indication of great richness ahead.

H. P. Griswold and C. C. Cotton have a claim in this vicinity that is showing stuff similar to the Granger lode. The Grand View and Salem are some splendid prospects in this vicinity.

The Golden Eagle is a prospect to the west of the Amethyst which shows good rock and seems to be on the big blanket. It is owned by Denver parties, who will have development work done at once.

The Annie Rooney, lying southeast of the Last Chance, was located by L. M. Stollard and R. W. Griswold and purchased by the Willow Creek Ming and Milling Company, composed of Rio Grande Railroad officials. President E. T. Jeffrey is president of the company; W. R. Dietrick, J. B. Moore and M. H. Rogers are directors. It is patented ground and is considered one of the most promising in the undeveloped course of the big lead.

The Conejos, Nos. 1 and 2, located at the west side of Windy Gulch, are held by C. C. Cotton, H. P. Griswold and E. S. DeGolyer. It has a lead of talc and quartz and iron and gives assay of $30 a ton on the surface.

The new York overlaps the Last Chance, and it owners, George L. Smith and Samuel Coffin, are to all appearances preparing to make a strong fight at law for the big mine, claiming some illegal moving of stakes after the first location was made. The Pittsburgh, by the same owners, angles to the northwest from the New York.

The Del Monte was located b Chas. P. Nelson to the east of the Last Chance, which it overlaps at the south end and takes in about 100 feet of the big lead. Mr. Nelson is sinking a shaft on the property in Chinese tallow or talc. which is day by day becoming better mineralized. This work promises to be the most effective development of the big deposit which has been made outside of the mines directly on the lead, and its result is watched with a great deal of interest.

The St. Charles joins end lines with the Bachelor on the south and has a good showing for the vein.

The old giant of the camp is Mammoth Mountain. It rises bluff and ponderous above the gulch, and looks as though it might be a tower of mineral strength. A number of good prospects were opened there late this fall, and there is every reason to believe that there will be great mines opened there.

The Mammoth is a monster lode, twelve feet wide, which was located by Mr. Creede for the Moses Company. The character of the ore is silver and copper. Systematic development will be made in the spring.

Charles F. Nelson has the Emily and the Centaur on this lode, being extensions of the Mammoth.

Thomas Hastings has a number of valuable locations on this mountain. In the Homestake he is getting gold rock that runs $13 at the surface, and is rapidly getting better, with indications of a big mine ahead. The Golden Terror, Silent Friend and Clara are also his locations.

Back from the gulch on this mountain there is an immense ledge of lime that seems to dip into the mammoth. On this Herman Kruger is working on a shaft. He has sunk forty-six feet through a carbonate of iron and expects to find blue lime beneath it. He is from Leadville, and is of the opinion that the formation is similar to that of the great carbonate camp.

The only gold in the camp is found on this mountain. Authorities are in dispute as to the structure and lay of the mineral deposit, and it will require at last another summer’s work to settle the question.

There is much ground which has yet to be prospected and a few localities in the vicinity of the three big hills have already been staked and will, no doubt, in time be added to the shipping section. Deep Creek, Blue Creek and Hot Springs gulch, the two last named in the vicinity of Wagon Wheel Gap, have some flattering prospects. The main range has been but slightly scratched in two or three places, and these give much encouragement. Hugh Wilson has a number of good locations above timber-line and about ten miles west of Creede; and C. C. Cotton and H. P. Griswold made one location at the head of East Willow which they call the Timber-line. An immense blowout about 200 square makes a great showing of white quartz, the surface float rock of which gives an assay of $46 in gold and some silver. It has lead indications about it and they will make development this spring.

The Montezuma is a claim held by Cotton and Griswold on the blanket formation below Amethyst. It is an iron carbonate that gives assay of forty ounces in silver.

Winter opening up in this locality with unprecedented severity, the work of prospecting ceased and the question of a suitable location for a town attracted the attention of the miners, and disputes grew in number and vehemence through the month of December. The school section is in close proximity to the mines, and notwithstanding the fact that M. V. Wason had upon it a lease from the State Land Board, squatters entered upon the property and began to claim titles upon the ground that the land was mineral, and therefore should revert to the Government. The unnumbered decisions to the contrary in the United States Land Office in similar cases did not daunt them and steps were begun to open a vigorous fight against the State.

The people not only seized upon the land for the erection of their homes, but they sunk shafts and began to open veins of mineral. The clash among the parties interested became so vigorous that the noise of the wrangle finally reached the ears of the Governor and the State Land Board, and early in January they proceeded to Creede in a body. It was no pleasure trip and the officials endeavored to dodge the duty, but the Governor was obstinate. They all had to go. In the party there were Governor Routt, Secretary of State Eaton, State Auditor Henderson, Insurance Commissioner Hurd, Superintendent Coy, State Engineer Maxwell, Attorney-General Maupin, Register France and Adjutant-General Kennedy.

The advent of the Governor was announced with such eclat as the limited means of the community could command. Everything that was capable of noise was brought into requisition, and the salvos that the hills re-echoed made the huge pines tremble. There was on time lost in getting down to business, and the leading citizen, in a woolen shirt, broke the trail for his excellency, whose short legs made sorry efforts in tracing the footprints. The largest edifice in the place was a general merchandise store, into which the governor was led. here was gathered a large number of the able-bodied men in the camp. A beer-keg, upended, was the rostrum, and upon this the Governor was raised. The speech he made was not long, nor was it particularly eloquent, but it struck the spot. He would have said more, but the physical exertion he made to maintain his equilibrium upon the keg consumed much of his reserve power. As he climbed down, however, he was heard to say: “You fellows are getting into trouble, following the advice of some jack-legged lawyer.” The roar that followed almost upset the Governor, but when he was informed that the “jack-legged lawyer” was the chairman of the meeting, he comprehended the extent of his remark and the degree of enthusiasm with which it was greeted.

The substance of the address was to the effect that the State would aid rather than retard the cap, and that the school lands would be sold to the miners by lots, and that where there was mineral the State would only exact royalty. This solved the problem, and the situation became pacific.

The Governor and the State Engineer looked over the school land. or as much of it as peeped here and there above the snow.

Since the trip of the Governor’s party a greater impulse has been given the camp and arrivals vary from fifty to one hundred per day. There are two hundred carpenters at work, and as the highlands are covered with timber, houses are multiplying rapidly. There are three papers in the place and they are doing their best to extend the fame of the camp. The latest arrival is the Creede Candle, published by Luke H. Johnson, a newspaper man of Denver. It is an enterprising journal and is zealous in the cause. Jimtown is also a marvelous town and Wason is receiving the overflow from the two principal camps. Those who are going into the camp at this time are largely merchants.

The first stock of goods to reach Creede was brought by W. I. Covert, who for a time supplied the needs of all. There are livery stables, saloons, and shops of all kinds. Since the railroad has gone into the camp prices have been greatly reduced and living there is now comparatively reasonable. There are twelve women in the camp, and these assist in operating the boarding houses and hotels. A bank has been established, of which J. D. Mabin is President and W. O. Staton Cashier. It is associated with the State Bank of Monte Vista and has a capital of $80,000.

Every person in the Camp is now awaiting the expected boom in the spring. Lots are selling in favorable locations from $200 to $1,000, and locations upon mineral land are being held at sky figures. Among the business enterprises already in operation are the following: E. C. Covert, merchandise; J. L. Pugh, livery stable; A. H. Major & Co., mining supplies; Jesse Gully, meat market; Ewing Hardware Company; Weiss-Chapman Drug Company; F. M. Osgood, hotel; J. H. Hunt, liquors; Slavick & Co., Silver State Saloon; S. I. Tice & Son, Creede Hotel; Soultrey & Co., liquors; H. P. Griswold, surveying; Lewis & Foreman, cigars; Ragan & Davis, saloon; Arthur A. Miller, surveying; Gray & Mann, saloon; B. N. Campbell, carpentering; W. A. Gibson, contractor; J. D. Miracle, lawyer; Dr. H. Pratt, physician; Dr. H. Lemke, physician; Charles A. Johnson, lawyer; W. B. Glidden, lawyer; L. M. Stollard, surveyor; J. S. Meadows, wood and coal; I. R. McLeod, saloon; Holy Moses Company’s office; D. W. Hoover & Co., transfer business; Menezel & Cassedy, hardware; Doc. Munson, saloon; F. R. & E. G. Miller, lumber; D. R. Smith, general stock.

According to Rand & McNally’s map, Creede is located on the line between Saguache and Hinsdale County. In consequence of the unsettled condition, property owners, anxious to be on the safe side, have filed papers in both counties. When the Governor and his party were at Creede he agreed to have the matter looked into by the Board and the State Engineer, which has been done. The developments are very strange, and it is not likely that much litigation will follow. As described by the acts of 1886, forming the counties, the west line of Saguache County is placed further to the west several miles, and an anvil-shaped piece, comprising eight or nine townships, which was supposed to be a portion of the western portion of Saguache County, is really a portion of Conejos County, as described by the law, and is cut off from the main portion of that county, and is entirely separated by Rio Grande County, which is thirty miles across.

The northern boundary of Conejos County follows along the continental divide to Cochetope pass and then southeasterly to Rio Grande River. The northern boundary of Rio Grande County is very well defined by law, and leaves Conejos County in separate pieces, and the locality in which Creede is situated is thrown into Hinsdale County apparently.

The State Engineer is looking into the matter, and says that a survey of the line, after a thorough study of the acts of the Legislature, will be necessary to locate the new camp, and he has no idea which county it belongs to. In the meantime there seems to be but one way for the claim owners to do, and that is to file their papers in both counties until the matter is settled by a survey. The State Engineer says the snow is too deep to survey now, and thinks nothing can be done before spring.

None of the county lines have ever been surveyed in that portion of the State, as it was supposed that the bounds were sufficiently described by the several acts.

Since the carbonate discovery at Leadville no mining excitement in the State has equaled the interest which the discovery at Creede has created. Everywhere Creede is the topic of conversation, and the fever has passed beyond mining circles and has penetrated the homes in the large cities. In every resort where young men are wont to gather venturesome spirits commune, and from the discussion the matter generally terminates in the formation of a company to “grub stake” the more hardy and sending them forth into these hitherto unexplored regions. It is this fever that is swelling Creede’s population.

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Frank M. Osgood. - The first question that the weary traveler will ask upon arriving at Creede is where the best hostelry is, and the answer will be unanimous, the “Cliff Hotel,” which is conducted upon the advanced principles of the East, with the warmhearted generousness of the West. The proprietor of this house is Mr. Frank M. Osgood, who came here in April, 1891, and, with the judgment and foresight gained through former experience in mining camps, decided that Creede had a future, and he would cast his lot with it. He is so ably assisted in his business by his wife and daughter that patrons receive all the benefits of home comforts and the best of meals, so that they are always well satisfied with their lot at “Cliff.”

N. C. Creede. - The father of Creede Camp is N. C. Creede, and that he is one whose paternal eye is ever watchful for his child’s benefit goes without saying. Mr. Creede came to Creede Camp in 1889, and met with success almost from the start, being the discover and locater of most of the rich mines in this locality. Mr. Creede is a whole-souled man, whose assistance he is ever ready to give to any measure that will help advance the interests of his camp.

W. I. Covert. - The above named gentleman has resided in Creede since April, 1891. He is engaged in the general merchandise business, being agent for E. C. Covert, and Justice of the Peace for Howmann precinct, and that he is a level headed conscientious business man, is attested by the fact that all decisions rendered by him have very rarely been disputed or appealed from.

A. H. Major & Co. - The largest general merchandise store in Creede is the one conducted by A. H. Major and F. Frazer under the title which heads this article. They carry a stock which is in every way adequate to the requirements of the camp and show what confidence they have in the future. They are both gentlemen of excellent business ability and will leave no stone unturned to push Creede to the front.

Jesse Gulley. - Creede’s meat is dispensed to the inhabitants by the well and popularly known Jesse Gulley, who raises nearly all the stock that he cuts up for the trade, and that is one of the reasons why the residents of that locality praise the Pioneer Meat market. Mr. Gulley came to Creede in June, 1891, although residing in the Valley for the past twelve years. He is identified extensively with its interests, and is ever ready to place himself upon record with its future.

D. P. Van Fleet. - The subject of this sketch is the manager and bookkeeper of the commissary for the Holy Moses Mining Company. He is also engaged in mining and has some very good claims, especially the “Sunny Side.” Mr. Van Fleet has resided in this Valley for over five years, coming to Creede in September, 1890. And it will not be out of place to here add that Mrs. Van Fleet was the first lady to come to Creede to reside and the only lady who braved storms of last winter. Mr. Van Fleet is one of Creede’s most enterprising residents and business men.

Chas. F. Nelson. - One of Creede’s pioneers is the above named gentleman, who came to this locality over six years ago. he was the discoverer of the “Ridge,” the “Solomon,” the “Phoenix” and other valuable mining properties. he is one of Creede’s most enterprising and enthusiastic residents, and is ever ready to aid and foster any proposition that will be a benefit to his city.

Henry Allenby. - If you want to know anything about the country surrounding Creede, ask Henry Allenby, Superintendent of the Holy Moses Mining Company, and if the question is one that will not interfere with that Company’s interests, then you may be sure of ascertaining just what you want, as no better miner or posted man resides within the gates of Creede than Mr. Allenby. At present the mines under his immediate charge consist of the “Holy Moses,” “Ethel,” “Mammoth” and “Amethyst.” His experience dates back twenty-five years. He is just as genial and affable as he is well posted, and no better companion could you ask for to gain information and pass a pleasant hour.

Loftus & Hastings. - The above firm were the first to recognize that fact that where Jimtown is now, would be the best site for a town, and so with that forethought that characterizes men as particularly intelligent, located their establishment at that point. They carry an excellent line of wines, liquors and cigars and dispense them with an air born of metropolism. The firm is composed of William Loftus and Tom Hastings, young men who combine the push of the West with the conservatism of the East.

Cliff Saloon. - One of Creede’s most popular saloons is the one conducted by William Gray and Robert Mann, and known as the Cliff Saloon. These gentlemen located the Cliff in May, 1891, and do one of the best businesses in their line in Creede, as they are popular and genial business men.

They carry in stock a line of goods that would not reflect discredit upon the most pretentious city resorts, and can at all times be relied upon to cater to the best trade and provide the best character of wines, liquors and cigars. The gentlemen have a well-earned reputation for being among the most progressive and liberal spirited citizens in Creede, and are always to be found in the front rank when the town’s interests are at stake.

Junction Saloon. - The proprietor of the above named saloon is the urbane and popular A. J. Farris who came to Creede in May, 1891, although having previously resided in the Valley for five years. The class of liquors which he is known to dispense are of the best vintages, while his cigars are of the best brands. Mr. Farris is one of Creede’s most enterprising citizens.