Many similarities can be found between the newspaper articles we have now and those of 100 years ago: complaints about the President, advertisements for snake oil, new school buildings, land deals, water issues, socialism and suspicious activities by persons with foreign accents.  Some of the choices of expression are quite different than we use now and could be considered libelous today! The newspaper was published twice a month under the name of The Alamosa Courier and The Alamosa Leader. A tremendous amount of news, both local and national, was gathered for the bimonthly publication.

Criticism of “King Wilson” (President Woodrow Wilson) was on the front page. It said the President had a “migratory habit and a desperate situation concerning his political tour... Wilson was touring around the country lecturing on Federal money while Congress works for the people... chaos and confusion abound in the industrial world while the cost of living continues to rise.” Another article about Wilson claimed that he was the most advanced socialist in the world.  Should the President wish to inform himself about how he is regarded by the people he should disguise himself among the people.

The Colorado State Fair was held in Pueblo Sept. 22-27.  “If you have the nerve and the fare you can ride in an aeroplane for fifteen minutes, considered perfectly safe.” [Sponsored by the Curtis-Humphry Aeroplane Company.] Eleven breeds of sheep have been entered at the State Fair and 260 stalls were built for cattle. “Ray Wells left in a Tin Lizzie for the Pueblo State Fair.  Here’s hoping he will have a good time and return sober.”

Hooper had a fine crowd for their local fair and prize winners were announced.  Some of the prizes awarded were best brown beauties, best hill potato, peck potatoes, hand darning, and home-made cup cake, to name a few.  AA Denton had the best arrowhead collection which was found near his home. An 83-year-old man had 140 pounds of honey - the best display ever seen.

A Valley couple, that married in Kansas City after a brief four-day acquaintance, filed for divorce.  The couple lived in Mosca on the Montgomery Ranch. They decided that they had drawn the booby prize in the lottery of marriage.  The court ruled in favor of Mrs. Montgomery for an alimony of $600 plus attorney cost.

“Shivers of horror when the church leaders are considering advocating for dancing.”  [No specific church was named.]

An Alamosa girl attending school in Grand Junction was in a “smash-up” caused by a Maxwell automobile coming as fast as it could.  The fellow in the car had lost his head and smashed into the front of the girl’s car. One of her eyes was black as coal and the side of her head was badly scratched up.  One man in the other car died the next day. 

A potato truck went through the bridge on the county line. A flat car loaded with a steam shovel pushed through the west end of the freight depot, completely shattering the end of the building.

CW Kerr showed up with two carloads of land buyers.  WR Pyke sold a quarter of brush land. Two 50-acre and one 47.1-acre water rights in the La Jara Meadow Land were for sale by the State Land Board for $25.00/acre.  The public auction will go to the highest bidder.   

Wm J Etherton advertised that he was leaving the Valley and offered up his ranch 3 miles south and 2 miles west of Mosca.  Auctioneers are Malone, Newmeyer and O.A. Hiller. Malone and Newmeyer are the men who will do the talking and Hiller is the man who keeps tabs.  

A sister and brother with the last name of Petty had a double wedding ceremony.  An “epidemic of love” was reported due to the numerous marriage license applications.  “No doubt some old maids will try to expose themselves to the contagion.”

The Isis Theater had a full house all week for the Mary Pickford picture Daddy Long Legs.

The market for potatoes, onions and cantaloupes was up slightly.

The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) representing the entire Valley met in Alamosa at the Methodist Church.

A new brick building, constructed by Olive-Groening, was going up on State and Main.  The State Street side is 160 foot and Main Street side is 29 feet in length. The building will house the Alamosa National Bank and Creek Meat Market. The new high school is only two blocks from the post office. It has a beautiful circle drive and cement bridge from Third Street and faces Mount Blanca.  No oil tanks or railroad will be near. “This school makes this a real town. Durango paid $175,000 for their new school and it put them on the map.”

The Elks Club will host local boxers the Hardy boys and Fred Valdez.  “A good clean boxing match is less brutal than a football game.”

For rent on 40 Cascade: two furnished rooms and bath for light housekeeping.

Manassa brass band purchased a new monster bass horn for $175.

Someone lost a butterfly broach on the streets of Alamosa on Sunday night. $2 reward.

A reward of $100 is offered to anyone who can help identify the persons who dynamited the fish in the Rio Grande.  Hundreds of dead fish were found floating and lodged along the banks. It is thought that it may be done by out-of-state tourists because it is hard to believe any local man would do it.  “If the culprits are caught, they stand a chance of getting some rough handling.”

“Didja ever have a customer say, ‘I can’t see’?” This month’s advertisement for Better Electric Lights.  

There was an enthusiastic and well-attended crowd to talk over plans for the drainage district that will cover a large part of the lands east of Center, and east of Hooper from Alamosa to Russell Springs.  

A new glacier was discovered near Boulder. The glacier is 1,100 feet long by 600 feet high and estimated to be 71 years old. 

The Yankee Boy Mine (Ouray) was producing again after being idle since 1893.  The silver and copper ore is worth $250/ton.

Downtrodden Hop Pickers in California read the headlines.  Professional agitators, assisted by Bolshevick reporters, are forming strikers, offering free tents and an average of $6/day for girl or women pickers.  Men are offered 60 cents per box or 25 cents per pound.  

The Salida Record reported that the Marshall picked up a man with a foreign accent and complexion.  Then the US Marshall picked up the offending Hindoo [sic].  He was selling lottery tickets and was willing to tell you by the shape of your head (phrenologist) what number to buy and make a winning.  The Hindoo claims to be 81 years old, the father of 26 with four wives, and is one of six sextuplets from East India Isles.  

Apparently the Courier competitor referred to as the “Big Drum Paper” knocks on the neighbor’s door (Courier) every time it needs to use the presses, or needs paper, or asks the Courier to come and fix something.  Yet they refer to the Courier as the “feeble squawking paper.”