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Show 98 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. While our party were visiting the School of Mines I talked with Mr. George West, editor of the Transcript. " Tell me something of the early days of Golden," said I. His eyes twinkled with merriment as he gave me the following incident: " The town of Golden was laid out in July, 1859, and the erection of houses, here and there, was at once commenced. As sawed lumber was scarce, and commanded enormous prices, most of the dwellings were built of logs. The company with which I was connected, known as the Boston Company, commenced a huge log building calculated for a store and dwelling combined. Soon after Mr. Loveland began a rough log structure for a store, and as work progressed considerable rivalry was engendered as to which should be first completed. The rafters were put on both about the same time, and the strife to get them shingled became quite animated. All the neighbors were, interested in the contest, and who would prove the victor became a lively topic of conversation. By a lucky trade we had secured sufficient shingles to cover our roof, and all but three or four bundles had been put on, when night interrupted our work. " Mr. Loveland had also obtained some shingles, but not enough to complete his roof, which left him in a bad fix. We went to our downy couches that night feeling much elated at the prospect of beating Loveland in the race. But fancy our astonishment in the morning on discovering that he had come over with his men, stolen our remaining shingles, and was at that very moment nailing the last of them on his own roof. " During the forenoon, however, he sent us over the same amount of shingles he had surreptitiously appropriated, |
