december quill 2011

8/3/2019 December Quill 2011

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december2011

quill

THEPROSPECTORS

Official publication of The Gold Prospectors of Colorado volume 38 no.12POBox 1593, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901

Inside

Cache Creek! 2Contacts! 2December Calendar! 3December Activities! 4Christmas 1806 ! 4El Pueblo History Museum ! 5California Suction Dredging! 6Public Lands for the People! 6Colorado Gives Day! 6Staffordshire Hoard! 7White Christmas?! 7Santa Claus in the Mines! 8Santa Claus in the Mines! 9Bats ! 10

Abandoned Mines ! 10Colorado Weather! 11Celling Your Soul! 12Wildlands! 12Humor! 13

www.gpoc.com

GPOC Christmas Dinner

December 14th

We will once again celebrate theseason with a potluck dinner at 7:00.The club will be furnishing the meatsthru the generous assistance of clubmembers.

Club members are requested to bring asalad, vegetable or desert of theirchoosing. We have found that in thepast there have been a variety ofdishes to choose from. Please

remember to label your containers sothey can be returned to their owner.An easy way is with the stick onaddress labels.

There will be a surprise gift for thoseattending along with door prizes and afew games to get you in the spirit of theseason.

Each year the GPOC generouslydonates to the Toys for Tots program.Please bring a new, unwrapped toy fora boy or girl for each member in yourparty.

Natures Gift Mosquito Gulch photo by Lin
http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/


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GPOC The Prospectors Quill Vol. 38 No.12 WE ARE ELECTRONIC atwww.gpoc.com 2

President

Ben Higley

[email protected]

Vice President

Wayne Wittkopp

vicepresident@gpoc.

com

Secretary

Elise Pearce

[email protected]

Treasurer

Bill Smith

[email protected]

Webmaster

Stacey Smith

[email protected]

Editor

Lin Smith

[email protected]

Membership

[email protected]

Claims

[email protected]

Trustees

One Year

Gary Beaderstadt

Two Year

Diane Anderson

Three YearJim Blakenship

GPOCcontacts

Gold Prospectors of ColoradoP.O. Box 1593

Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901

The Prospectors Quill is the official newsletter ofthe Gold Prospectors of Colorado. The opinionsare those of the authors and do not necessarilyreflect those of the club or its members. Theeditor, club, officers, and contributors do notassume any liability for damages resulting from

use of information in the Prospectors Quill.Articles of interest are welcomed. All articlessubmitted for publication are subject to editing.

Submission of articles must be received beforethe 20th of the month. Unless noted, non-profitsmay reprint or quote from articles, providedcredit is given to the authors and publicationand a copy of the newsletter the article appearsin is sent to the editor of The Prospectors Quill atPO Box 1593, CS CO 80913. All pictures are theproperty of the photographer and are not to becopied or reproduced.

The information is provided solely for the readersg e n e r a l k n o w l e d g e . GPO C ass umes no

responsibility for its completeness or accuracy.

Although care has been taken to produce the

information in the Quill, information is provided

without warranty of any kind, either express or

implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of

the information.I want to thank you in advance for

pointing out my mistakes! However, it is YOUR

responsibility to research resources and make sure

that you are in compliance with all laws and

regulations, as well as following the GPOC CODE of

ETHICS.

The GPOC is a 501(c) charitable organization

www.gpoc.com

Prospectors Quill

EditorLin Smith

[email protected]

Cache Creek Host Program Still Under Consideration

At the November GPOC board meeting, the Board voted to end the GPOCparticipation as camp hosts at Cache Creek. Jim Blankenship and Bill Smithagreed to meet with the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office to formally advisethem. During our General Membership meeting, several membersexpressed concern over the Boards decision and asked that we discussalternatives with the BLM that would allow them to keep the area open toprospecting.

Jim, Linda Smith and Bill Smith met with Ms. Stephanie Carter and her staff

at the Royal Gorge Field Office on Nov 15th. Stephanie explained the BLMscurrent efforts to improve management of the Cache Creek property as arecreational panning area.The BLM is working to establish new plan ofoperations with new regulations that will support stronger enforcementcapability. In the meantime, they hope to have the area kept open andmaintain close surveillance of activities. This cant be done without a camphost.

We expressed our concerns about inability to enforce current guidelines,potential for physical confrontation, addition of tasks beyond the currentagreement, and conditions that are giving GPOC a bad reputation.Stephanie agreed these are all valid concerns, some of which can beaddressed immediately and some of which their future plan of operationswould address.

We reached agreement on the following: Continuation of the camp host program will require re-negotiation of

current contract There needs to be clear limits on camp host tasks and

responsibilities The BLM cannot have the camp host perform any enforcement The BLM needs to provide training for camp hosts The camp hosts would monitor the area and advise people of unsafe

conditions and work The camp host would document observations and advise the BLM

Field Office of unsafe conditions The BLM would be responsible for all enforcement action and would

perform Minor reclamation on a regular basis during the season to eliminate

unsafe conditions

Even though the Board voted to terminate our involvement in the camp hostprogram, Jim and I (as board representatives) agreed to have the Boardreconsider our position if the BLM is able to put in place a satisfactoryagreement to safeguard our members, limit their tasks, and reduce theopportunity for further damage to GPOCs reputation.

We will meet with the BLM again in the February timeframe to conductfurther discussions and make a final determination on the future of CacheCreek. Bill smith
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/


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December

meetings meetings events events

a en arFor further information contact:

www.gpoc.com

Please refer to the information

below for further events.

1st

Board Meeting

Gold Hill Police Station

955 Moreno Avenue,CS, CO

7:00 PM

[email protected]

Claims Committee

There will be no

meeting forDecember.

2nd,3rd

Bents Fort

8 miles east of LaJunta, Colorado on

State Highway 194

Past imes of the1840s at an isolatedt r a d i n g p o s tincluding candlelighttours of the fort. Forreservations for thee v e n i n g t o u r s ,p h o n e ( 7 1 9 )383-5026

3rd,4th,10th 11th

Victor Lowell

Thomas Museum

202 Victor AvenueVictor, Colorado

Free admission

11:00 AM-4:00PM

see info below

14thGeneral Membership

Christmas Dinner a

7:00 PM

3400 N.Nevada

CS, CO

eeting

d Toys for Tots

9th,11th

Flatirons MineralMinera

Boulder County Fairgr

Exhibit Building, 9595

Longmont, CO

Friday 10-6, Sat 9-5, S

FRIDAY10-6:00ADM.SAT.9-5:00ADM.$5.00" SUN10-5:00ADM$5.0 " AGES12&UNDERFR

lub Annual Gem &l Show

ounds

Nelson Rd,

n 10-5

3.00AGES13&UP" AGES13&UP" AGES13&UPEWITHPAIDADUL

Victor Lowell Thomas Museum Victor, CO Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11

Free AdmissionThe Victor Lowell Thomas Museum will be open for specialChristmas hours Saturday and Sunday, from 11am to 4pmweather allowing.

To support Victors efforts at having shops open for holidayshopping, and to offer the community a gift of free admission, themuseum will open for those weekend days if weather allows. Puton an extra sweater and come see the museum and do someunique gift shopping as there is no heat.

If weather is snowy and icy, please call ahead at 719-689-5509 tobe sure we are able to open for the day.

The Christmas Donkey" Holiday Show Butte Theater

139 Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek, ColoradoLocal character William Otis is well known for his eccentricbehavior; breaking into song at the drop of a hat and conversingwith a donkey. But when he starts dressing like Santa Claus (andbegins dressing his donkey as a Reindeer) its only the children ofCripple Creek who know the truth: Old Bill Otis is the next SantaPlease call (719) 689-3247 or visit www.ButteTheater.com

The Elf Emporium Holiday Gift Bazaar Dec. 10 -11

Victor, Colorado

At the Victor Community Center at Portland Avenue and SecondStreet. In the event of drastically cold weather that weekend, the

museum will set up a table at the emporium with items fromgift shop.

Train Show Dec. 10-11

The BMRC has hosted an annual Train Show for the gepublic for the last 34 years. This year's Show will be held aBoulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont, Colorado.Show will feature several operating layouts, prizewinmodels, a layout to be raffled off, many vendorsopportunities to meet and chat with railroad modelers of this a

The Show will be open Saturday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PMwill be open Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admissi

$5.00 (children under 12 free).

Georgetown,Colorado Christmas Mart Free Admission!

Weekends of Dec. 3rd and 11th 10:00am-5:00pm

Each December the town of Georgetown transforms forweekends into a bustling Christmas scene reminiscenChristmas of long ago. Outdoor European Marketpholiday entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides,Nicholas, Santa Lucia childrens procession, mus

tours and more. http://www.historicgeorgetown.spevents/xmarket.htm

Claims CommitteeMeeting

All members arewelcome to participate in

the meetings. Currentand future claims will be

discussed as well asdeveloping plans of

operations. This can bea great opportunity tolearn the process and

resources for filling and

maintaining a claim.

T-rex Encounter

Presented by DenverMuseum of Nature &Science at DenverMuseum of Nature &Science thru Jan. 8,2012
http://www.buttetheater.com/http://www.historicgeorgetown.org/spevents/xmarket.htmhttp://www.historicgeorgetown.org/spevents/xmarket.htmhttp://www.denver.org/events/detail?e=2946&t=museumshttp://www.denver.org/events/detail?e=2946&t=museumshttp://www.historicgeorgetown.org/spevents/xmarket.htmhttp://www.historicgeorgetown.org/spevents/xmarket.htmhttp://www.historicgeorgetown.org/spevents/xmarket.htmhttp://www.historicgeorgetown.org/spevents/xmarket.htmhttp://www.buttetheater.com/http://www.buttetheater.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/


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Chaffee CountyUS-285 north of Poncha Springs at milepost 132

Earlier, Spanish and French explorers had passed through the area and in 1802mountain man James Purcell reported bountiful beaver on Chalk Creek. Purcell toldCapt. Zebulon Pike of gold in Bayou Salado (South Park) in 1806. Pike dutifully notedthe report, but it didnt trigger a gold rush. That was to come a half-century later. Pikeand 22 men, assigned to set the southwestern boundary of the 1803 LouisianaPurchase, sought the Arkansas headwaters. The Christmas 1806 historic site on U.S285 commemorates Pikes visit.

Frustrated in their attempt to climb Pike's Peak on November 27, 1806, Zebulon Pikeand his party of 15 trudged on through South Park looking for the Red River, southerboundary of the Louisiana Purchase. After crossing Trout Creek Pass, the explorerscame again to the Arkansas River, with food perilously low. On Christmas Eve twohunting parties shot eight buffalo, and Christmas day was spent near the mouth oSquaw Creek (one-half mile to the south) feasting on buffalo and repairing equipment

Early in 1807 Pike crossed into the San Luis Valley at the Great Sand Dunes and built alog stockade (reconstructed as a state historical monument) on the Conejos River neapresent La Jara, where he was taken prisoner by the Spanish.

The Spanish authorities confiscated Pike's journals and they were not recovered by theUS from Mexico until the 1900s. He wrote an account from memory of his expeditionswhich was published in 1810 as The expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike toHeadwaters of the Mississippi River, through Louisiana Territory, and in New Spain

during the Years 1805-6-7.[6] It was popular and later translated into French, Germanand Dutch editions. His account became required reading for all American explorers whofollowed him in the 19th century.

Zebulon Montgomery Pike (1965). Elliott Coues. ed. The expeditions of ZebulonMontgomery Pike to headwaters of the Mississippi River, through Louisiana Territory, and

in New Spain, during the years 1805-6-7. Ross & Haines. 1895

CaptainZ

ebulonPike
http://books.google.com/?id=XrMlAAAAMAAJhttp://books.google.com/?id=XrMlAAAAMAAJhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebulon_Pikehttp://books.google.com/?id=XrMlAAAAMAAJhttp://books.google.com/?id=XrMlAAAAMAAJhttp://books.google.com/?id=XrMlAAAAMAAJhttp://books.google.com/?id=XrMlAAAAMAAJhttp://books.google.com/?id=XrMlAAAAMAAJhttp://books.google.com/?id=XrMlAAAAMAAJhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebulon_Pikehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebulon_Pikehttp://victorcolorado.com/stcfg/2011lightingmapweb.pdfhttp://victorcolorado.com/stcfg/2011lightingmapweb.pdf


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In conjunction with the winter of 1806 and Lt. Zebulon Pike the El Pueblo HistoryMuseum provides one the opportunity to further study the history of the area and theinfluence of Pike, the fur traders, and the Spanish culture in the settling and developmenof Colorado. The massacre on ChristmasEve in 1854 at the fort is another reminder tous of the struggles our forefathers endured in establishing Colorado.

It is thought that the first European construction in the area of Pueblo was most likely asmall picket stockade constructed by Lt. Zebulon Pike in 1806 near the confluence of theFountain and the Arkansas. French trappers recorded a couple of visits to the areawhere they found the old stockade. In 1841, George Simpson passed through and founda cluster empty log trading posts (this was a trading place that was only occupied acertain times in the winter months by some of the traders from Bent. St. Vrain & Co.).

The winter of 1841-42 was a very profitable one for Bent, St. Vrain & Company, and theitraders. Some of the traders were looking around for a way to strike out on their ownUncle Dick Wootton had just returned from a trip escorting several thousand sheep bacto Missouri for Matthew Kinkead and had several thousand dollars to show for it. In May1842, Kinkead, Simpson, Robert Fisher, Joseph Mantz and Francisco Conn began theconstruction of Fort Pueblo. We have no data or drawings from the site but moshistorians figure it was most likely a smaller version of Bent's Fort. Over the following

years, many different traders, with their Indian and Mexican wives and families, used thefort for trading purposes but they've left no clear chain of title for the property.

El Pueblo History Museum is built near the original remains of the El Pueblo Fort. Theoriginal structure was built of adobe bricks on the north side of the Arkansas River, theinternational border between Mexico and the United States (the river today is about 1/4mile south of where it was then). While a lively exchange of goods and services washappening at the settlement, the El Pueblo traders were also traveling around to trade inIndian camps and throughout the region.

After years of disease, starvation and frustration at their inability to stop these foreignersfrom encroaching on their lands, the Utes and Jicarilla Apaches resorted to raiding thesettlements. On December 24, 1854, Tierra Blanca and his Ute and Apache warriorsattacked El Pueblo. They killed or kidnapped everyone in the place. Most of thosekidnapped were ransomed and returned shortly afterwards but the massacre was theend of the original settlement. The neighbors came in to bury the dead and retrieve wha

they could, then the fort was abandoned. The next settlers in the area just built right ove

it like it was never there.

And then in 1988, Dr. William Buckles (of CSU-Pueblo) began an archaeologicaexcavation to locate the remains of the original trading post. The investigation uncoveredpartial remains in the middle of the downtown business district. In 1990, the El PuebloHistory Museum was opened very close to that excavation site. So what we have here ia reconstruction of that old settlement in the yard of the Museum building. Inside theMuseum are wonderful displays and exhibits depicting what life was like for NativeAmericans and newcomers alike, from prehistoric times through the 1900's in southernColorado.

ElPuebloHistor

yMuseum

Artifacts and images of the furtrade era and the founding of ElPueblo are featured, includingfurs, hides, and the carvedwooden grain chest owned byWilliam Bent, founder of BentsFort.
http://coloradowest.auraria.edu/?q=nodehttp://coloradowest.auraria.edu/?q=nodehttp://www.sangres.com/colorado/national-parks/bents.htmhttp://www.sangres.com/colorado/national-parks/bents.htmhttp://www.sangres.com/history/bentstvrain.htmhttp://www.sangres.com/history/bentstvrain.htmhttp://www.sangres.com/history/pike.htmhttp://www.sangres.com/history/pike.htmhttp://coloradowest.auraria.edu/?q=nodehttp://coloradowest.auraria.edu/?q=nodehttp://coloradowest.auraria.edu/?q=nodehttp://coloradowest.auraria.edu/?q=nodehttp://www.historycolorado.org/museums/view-map-2http://www.historycolorado.org/museums/view-map-2http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-nativeamericans.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-nativeamericans.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-forts2.html#Fort%20Massachusettshttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-forts2.html#Fort%20Massachusettshttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-nativeamericans.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-nativeamericans.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-nativeamericans.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-nativeamericans.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-ute.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-ute.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-apache.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-apache.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-ute.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-ute.html


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In this newsletter, GPOC provides links and references to other websites. GPOC has no control over information at such sites

hyperlinked or referred to. These links and references are being provided for the convenience of thereaders, and GPOC does

not endorse and is not responsible or liable for the content, nature, or reliability of any linked or referenced website or any link

contained in a linked or referenced website. GPOC takes no responsibility for monitoring, updating, supplementing, or

correcting any information on any linked or referenced website and makes no representation or warranties regarding such

information.

Suction Dredge Status in California

November2011

Interested Parties

I've been receiving telephone calls and email

messagesasking if the Department of Fish andGame expects to resume the issuance of suction

dredge permits in November. While it is true that at

one time we projected the adoption of final

regulations in November or December of 2011 this

is no longer the case. In short, the adoption of

Assembly Bill 120 has substantial implications for

the current moratorium. Rather than repeat what is

already available on this issue I suggest you go to

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/suctiondredge/and review,in particular, the first two topics on that website.

The website was updated on October 3, 2011 and

remains current as of this time.

Mark StopherEnvironmental Program Manager

California Department of Fish and Game

601 Locust Street Redding, CA 96001

voice 530.225.2275

fax 530.225.2391

cell 530.945.1344

[email protected]

PLP files motion for preliminary injunctionagainst State of California to reopen suction

dredging

Public Lands for the People has filed an amended complaint

and a motion seeking a preliminary injunction against the

State of California to lift the ban on suction dredging.

The state legislature implemented AB 120 on July 26, 2011,

which included the requirement that "any new regulations

fully mitigate all identified significant environmental impacts.

Mark Stopher, the former head of the California Department

of Fish & Game, admitted this is a standard that is impossible

to comply with under the California Environmental Quality

Act.

The process of promulgating revised regulations ground to a

halt with the passage of AB 120 despite a court order that

directed Fish & Game to complete a Supplemental

Environmental Impact Report and issue new regulations.

The amended complaint and motion were filed in San

Bernardino Superior Court, and a hearing is tentatively

scheduled for January 18, 2012.

Read the Motion for Preliminary Injunction (pdf file)

Read the Amended Complaint (pdf file)

Colorado Gives Day

The second annual Colorado Gives Day takes place onTuesday, December 6th, beginning at 12 am andcontinuing for 24 hours. Last year, the single biggestday of giving in Colorado inspired the generosity ofthousands who donated $8.7 million on line to 529 oftheir favorite local charities. Colorado Gives Day is aproject of GivingFirst.org, an on line resource createdby Community First Foundation that profiles Coloradonon-profits and encourages charitable giving byproviding comprehensive, objective, and up-to-dateinformation about hundreds of Colorado organizations.The GivingFirst.org website: https://www.givingfirst.org/index.php

Dredging

Free Holiday tours of the Governor's Residenceat Boettcher Mansion

December 10, 2011 - December 16, 2011

400 E. 8th Ave.Denver, CO 80202

PRESENTED BYColorado Historical Society

The Governor's residence at the Boettcher Mansion will beopen for holiday visitors for an entire week from 10 am -2pm starting on December 10, 2011 and continuing dailythrough December 16, 2011. The decorations this year will

reflect the theme of Holiday Heritages. Entertainment willbe provided at various times throughout the week in theCarriage House.
http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.denver.org/events/organizations/detail?o=3672&t=history_heritagehttp://www.denver.org/events/organizations/detail?o=3672&t=history_heritagehttp://www.denver.org/events/organizations/detail?o=3672&t=history_heritagehttp://www.denver.org/events/organizations/detail?o=3672&t=history_heritagehttp://www.denver.org/events/organizations/detail?o=3672&t=history_heritagehttps://www.givingfirst.org/index.phphttps://www.givingfirst.org/index.phphttps://www.givingfirst.org/index.phphttps://www.givingfirst.org/index.phphttp://icmj.com/userfiles/files/20110609-First-Amend-Complaint.pdfhttp://icmj.com/userfiles/files/20110609-First-Amend-Complaint.pdfhttp://icmj.com/userfiles/files/20111018Memorandum-%20in-Support-of-Motion-for-Preliminary-Injunction.pdfhttp://icmj.com/userfiles/files/20111018Memorandum-%20in-Support-of-Motion-for-Preliminary-Injunction.pdfhttp://mail.gpoc.com/edgedesk/cgi-bin/compose.exe?id=01e89086fa914edc29a96302fce8d09fe120&new=&xsl=compose.xsl&[email protected]://mail.gpoc.com/edgedesk/cgi-bin/compose.exe?id=01e89086fa914edc29a96302fce8d09fe120&new=&xsl=compose.xsl&[email protected]://www.dfg.ca.gov/suctiondredge/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/suctiondredge/http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/


7/14


Will We Have a White Christmas?

There is a 50% chance that Denver will have a whiteChristmas.

If you look on the probability map most of the areas wesearch for gold have a greater than 90% chance.

The period of record of the data for most of the maps is1961-1990. The map above from the Climate Atlas showsthe statistical probability (in percent) that a snow depth of atleast 1 inch will be observed on December 25th. Highestprobabilities are in northern and mountainous areas of thecountry. The probability was computed using snow depthobservations for December 25th for the full period of recordfor a given station (rather than just the 1961-1990climatological normals period).

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/

christmas.html

Staffordshire Hoard Goes On

Display in Washington DC

The Anglo-Saxon hoard containsabout 5kg of gold and 2.5kg of silver.

The exhibition is at the NationalGeographic Museum in Washington

DC containing the UKs largest find ofAnglo-Saxon treasure.

On July 5th 2009, Terry Herbert, ametal detector enthusiast, discoveredthe largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found. Fromfarmland near Lichfield in Staffordshire, England, Terry and a teamof archaeologists unearthed more than 3,500 pieces fromhundreds of individual objects dating to about 650 A.D. Valued atclose to $5 million, the hoard includes exquisitely crafted artifacts,most of which are military in nature.

More than 100 of these artifacts will be on exhibition at theNational Geographic Museum including elaborate gold and garnetsword fittings, decorative elements for helmets, crosses, and a

gold strip bearing a Latin inscription from the Bible. It will stay onshow in the US until March 2012.

Explore the history behind the gold hoard as you travel back intime thirteen hundred years to Mercia, one of the most powerfuland aggressive kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon era. Although it maynever be known who buried the hoard or why, the gold treasuresoffer clues about warfare, the spread of Christianity, and Saxoncraftsmanship.

The Staffordshire Hoard is now jointly owned by the BirminghamMuseum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum.

http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/locations/center/

museum/

http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk /

Theres also a wide range of learning resources online for

students:

BBCs Primary History Anglo-Saxonshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/

Britain Express Anglo-Saxon lifehttp://www.britainexpress.com/History/anglo-saxon_life.htm

Education Scholastic Anglo-Saxon riddleshttp://education.scholastic.co.uk/content/8316

The Ashmolean Museum Anglo-Saxon resourceshttp://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmolean.org/arrival/arrival_index.html

Here is a education packet for teachers and students.

http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/education/key-stage-2-3-education-pack

Natures Comebacks

Cosponsored by the Denver Museum of Natureand Science and The Nature Conservancy ofColorado (TNC)

Nature is resilient, and given opportunity and alittle help, it can fight its way back to health. Joinus for a screening of the inspiring IMAX film aboutanimal rescue, Born to Be Wild 3D, and anevening with Chris Pague, TNC seniorconservation ecologist, who will share his ownstories of how nature is making a comeback inColorado and around the world. Afterward enjoydessert and coffee and a chance to socialize withpeople who work to conserve our planet.

Thursday, December 87 pmPhipps IMAX Theater$12 member, $15 nonmemberhttp://www.dmns.org/learn/adults/after-hours/

natures-comebacks
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.dmns.org/learn/adults/after-hours/natures-comebackshttp://www.dmns.org/learn/adults/after-hours/natures-comebackshttp://www.dmns.org/learn/adults/after-hours/natures-comebackshttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.dmns.org/learn/adults/after-hours/natures-comebackshttp://www.dmns.org/learn/adults/after-hours/natures-comebackshttp://www.dmns.org/learn/adults/after-hours/natures-comebackshttp://www.dmns.org/learn/adults/after-hours/natures-comebackshttp://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/colorado/index.htmhttp://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/colorado/index.htmhttp://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/colorado/index.htmhttp://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/colorado/index.htmhttp://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/education/key-stage-2-3-education-packhttp://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/education/key-stage-2-3-education-packhttp://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/education/key-stage-2-3-education-packhttp://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/education/key-stage-2-3-education-packhttp://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmolean.org/arrival/arrival_index.htmlhttp://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmolean.org/arrival/arrival_index.htmlhttp://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmolean.org/arrival/arrival_index.htmlhttp://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmolean.org/arrival/arrival_index.htmlhttp://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmolean.org/arrival/arrival_index.htmlhttp://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmolean.org/arrival/arrival_index.htmlhttp://education.scholastic.co.uk/content/8316http://education.scholastic.co.uk/content/8316http://education.scholastic.co.uk/content/8316http://education.scholastic.co.uk/content/8316http://www.britainexpress.com/History/anglo-saxon_life.htmhttp://www.britainexpress.com/History/anglo-saxon_life.htmhttp://www.britainexpress.com/History/anglo-saxon_life.htmhttp://www.britainexpress.com/History/anglo-saxon_life.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/locations/center/museum/http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/locations/center/museum/http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/locations/center/museum/http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/locations/center/museum/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/christmas.htmlhttp://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/


8/14


# In a small cabin in a California mining town, away up amid the snow-clad, rock-bound peaks of the Sierra Nevada

Mountains, sat a woman, in widow's weeds, holding upon her knee a bright-eyed, sunny-faced little girl, about five yearsold, while a little cherub of a boy lay upon a bear-skin before the open fireplace. It was Christmas Eve, and the woman sagazing abstractedly into the fireplace. She was yet young, and as the glowing flames lit up her sad face they invested iwith a weird beauty.# Mary Stewart was the widow of Aleck Stewart, and but two years before they had lived comfortably and happy, ina camp on the American River. Aleck was a brawny miner; but the premature explosion of a blast in an undergroundtunnel had blotted out his life in an instant, leaving his family without a protector, and in straitened circumstances. His dailywages had been their sole support, and now that he was gone, what could they do? With her little family Mrs. Stewarhad emigrated to the camp in which we find them, and there she earned & precarious livelihood by washing clothes for theminers. Here was a hard lot; but the brave little woman toiled on, cheered by the thought that her daily labors stoodbetween her darling little ones and the gaunt wolf of starvation.# Jack Dawson, a strong, honest miner, was passing the cabin this Christmas Eve, when the voice of the little girlwithin attracted his attention. Jack possessed an inordinate love for children, and although his manly spirit would abhorthe sneaking practice of eavesdropping, he could not resist the temptation to steal up to the window just a moment tolisten to the sweet, prattling voice. The first words he caught were: "Before papa died we always had Christmas, didn'we, mamma?" "Yes, Totty, darling; but papa earned money enough to afford to make his little pets happy at least once ayear. You must remember, Totty, that we are very poor, and although mamma works very, very hard, she can scarcelyearn enough to supply us with food and clothes." Jack Dawson still lingered upon the outside. He could not leavealthough he felt ashamed of himself for listening. "We hung up our stockings last Christmas, didn't we, mamma?continued the little girl. "Yes, Totty; but we were poor then, and Santa Claus never notices real poor people. He gave youa little candy then, just because you were such good children." "Is we any poorer now, mamma?" "Oh! yes, much poorerHe would never notice us at all now." Jack Dawson detected a tremor of sadness in the widow's voice as she uttered thelast words, and hid wiped a suspicious dampness from his eyes. "Where's our clean stockings, mamma? I'm going tohang mine up, anyhow; maybe he will come like he did before, just because we try to be good children," said Totty. "It wilbe no use, my darling, I am sure he will not come," and tears gathered in the mother's eyes as she thought of her empty

purse. "I don't care, I'm going to try, anyhow. Please get one of my stockings, mamma."# Jack Dawson's generous heart swelled until it seemed bursting from his bosom. He heard the patter of little barefeet upon the cabin floor as Totty ran about hunt' ing hers and Benny's stockings, and after she had hung them up, heardher sweet voice again as she wondered over and over if Santa really would forget them. He heard the mother, in achoking voice, tell her treasures to get ready for bed; heard them lisp their childish prayers, the little girl concluding: "AndO, Lord! Please tell good Santa Claus that we are very poor; but that we love him as much as rich children do, for dearJesus' sakeAmen!"# After they were in bed, through a small rent in the plain white curtain he saw the widow sitting before the fire, heface buried in her hands, and weeping bitterly. On a peg, just over the fireplace, hung two little patched and fadedstockings, and then he could stand it no longer. He softly moved away from the window to the rear of the cabin, wheresome objects fluttering to the wind met his eye. Among these he searched until he found a little blue stocking which heremoved from the line, folded tenderly, and placed in his overcoat pocket and then set out for the main street of the campHe entered Harry Hawk's gambling hall, the largest in the place, where a host of miners and gamblers were at play. Jack

was well known in the camp, and when he got up on a chair and called for attention, the hum of voices and clicking oivory checks suddenly ceased. Then in an earnest voice he told what he had seen and heard, repeating every word of theconversation between the mother and her children. In conclusion he said:# "Boys, I think I know you, every one of you, an' I know jist what kind o' metal yer made of. I've an idea that SantyClaus knows jist whar thet cabin's sitiwated, an' I've an idea he'll find it afore mornin'. Hyar's one of the little gal's stock'n'sthet I hooked off'n the line. The daddy o' them little ones was a good, hard-working miner, an' he crossed the range in theline o' duty, jest as any one of us is liable to do in our dangerous business. Hyar goes a twenty-dollar piece right down inthe toe, and hyar I lay the stockin' on this card table' now chip in much or little, as ye kin afford."

SANTA CLAUS IN THE MINES

1884
http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/


9/14


Brocky Clark, a gambler, left the table, picked the little stocking up carefully, looked at it tenderly, and when he laid it downanother twenty had gone into the toe to keep company with the one placed there by Dawson.Another and another came up until the foot of the stocking was well filled, and then came the cry from the gamblingtables: "Pass her around, Jack." At the word he lifted it from the table and started around the hall. Before he hadcirculated it at half a dozen tables it showed signs of bursting beneath the weight of gold and silver coin, and a strong coinbag, such as he used for sending treasure by express, was procured and the stocking placed inside of it. The round of thelarge hall was made, and in the meantime the story had spread all over the camp. From the various saloons camemessages saying: "Send the stockin' 'round the camp; boys are a-waitin' for it!"# With a party at his heels, Jack went from saloon to saloon. Games ceased and tipplers left the bars as theyentered each place, and miners, gamblers, speculators, everybody, crowded up to tender their Christmas gift to theminer's widow and orphans. Any one who has lived in the far Western camps and is acquainted with the generosity ofWestern men will feel no surprise or doubt my truthfulness, when I say that after the round had been made the little bluestocking and the heavy canvas bag contained over eight thousand dollars in gold and silver coin.# Horses were procured, and a party dispatched to the larger town down on the Consumnes, from which theyreturned near daybreak with toys, clothing, provisions, etc., in almost endless variety. Arranging their gifts in proper shape,and securely tying the mouth of the bag of coin, the party noiselessly returned to the widows humble cabin. The bag wasfirst laid on the step, and the other articles piled up in a heap over it. On the top was laid the lid of a large pasteboard boxon which was written with a piece of charcoal: "Santy Clause doesn't always giv poor folks the cold shoulder in this

camp."# Christmas dawned bright and beautiful. Mrs. Stewart arose, and a shade of pain crossed her handsome face asthe empty little stockings caught her maternal eye. She cast a hurried glance toward the bed where her darlings laysleeping, and whispered: "O God! How dreadful is poverty!"# She built a glowing fire, set about preparing the frugal breakfast, and when it was almost ready she approachedthe bed, kissed the little ones until they were wide awake, and lifted them to the floor. With eager haste Totty ran to thestockings, only to turn away, sobbing as though her heart would break. Tears blinded the mother, and clasping her littlegirl to her heart she said in a choking voice: "Never mind, my darling; next Christmas I am sure mamma will be richerand then Santa Claus will bring us lots of nice things." "O mamma!" The exclamation came from little Benny, who hadopened the door and was standing gazing in amazement upon the wealth of gifts there displayed.# Mrs. Stewart sprang to his side and looked in speechless astonishment. She read the card, and then, causing herlittle ones to kneel down with her in the open doorway, she poured out her soul in a torrent of praise and thanksgiving toGod. Jack Dawson's burly form moved from behind a tree a short distance away, and sneaked off up the gulch, great

crystal tears chasing each other down his face.# The family arose from their knees, and began to move the stores into the room. There were several sacks of flourhams, canned fruits, pounds and pounds of coffee, tea, and sugar, new dress goods, and a handsome, warm woolenshawl for the widow, shoes, stockings, hats, mittens, and clothing for the children, a great big wax doll that could cry andmove its eyes for Totty, and a beautiful red sled for Benny. All were carried inside amidst alternate laughs and tears."Bring in the sack of salt, Totty, and that is all," said the mother. "Is not God good to us?""I can't lift it, mamma, it's frozento the step!"# The mother stooped and took hold of it and lifted harder and harder, until she raised it from the step. Her cheekblanched as she noted its great weight, and breathlessly she carried it in and laid it upon the breakfast table. Withtrembling finger3 she loosened the string and emptied the contents upon the table. Gold and silvermore than she hadever thought of in her wildest dreams of comfort, and almost buried in the pile of treasure lay Totty's little blue stocking.We will not intrude longer upon such happiness; but leave the joyful family sounding praises to Heaven and Santa Claus.Anon.

Elocutionist's Annual Number 12 Comprising New and Popular Readings Recitations, Declamations, Dialogues,

Tableaux, Etc., Etc., National School of Elocution and Oratory; Philadelphia, 1884. Page 44-49.

In reading this story remember the Toys For Tots Program that the GPOC participates in everyChristmas. Please bring a new unwrapped toy for a boy or girl to the GPOC Christmas dinner.

SANTA CLAUS IN THE MINES, continued


10/14


Cave Closures Battle Bat Epidemic

By Nikki BaumanAdventuring through natural caves and nonactive mines inColorado have been popular hobbies and destinations forspelunkers and tourists alike. However, plans for caveexploration have been put on hold in order to protect one ofnature's most misunderstood creatures: bats.

North American bats are under attack by the white nosesyndrome, Geomyces destructans, a fungus originating inEurope that is already established and prevalent through theNortheast and South United States. Over 1 million bat fatalitieshave been reported due to white nose syndrome, and the worryin the West is that the disease will soon migrate this way.

Bats are a vital component to their ecosystems, acting as pollinators, seed dispersers, afood source for predators, and pest controllers, as they eat thousands of insects a night.In the winter, they hibernate in dark, moist environments where their metabolism slowsdown and their immune system virtually shuts down for the season. This is when thefungus attacks. Both organisms seek out caves with temperatures ranging from 41 to 59degrees Fahrenheit, with at least 90 percent humidity.

Affected bats show signs of white powder on the nose, ears and wings. The fungusirritates the bat and wakes it from hibernation. The bats prematurely use up fat stored forthe whole winter, and the unnatural extra activity results in starvation. So far this has beenobserved among little brown bats, northern long-eared bats, and the already endangeredIndiana brown bat. Two other species, the Ozark big eared bat and the Virginia big earedbat, are on the endangered species list and at a high risk of contracting white nosesyndrome.

Since the discovery of white nose syndrome in the U.S. in the winter of 2006-07, researchhas been inconclusive that humans play a role in the spread of the fungus that causeswhite nose syndrome. Through research it is now certain that the primary vector for thespread of the fungus Geomyces destructans is bat to bat, with the secondary vector beingfrom cave to bat. While there has been suspicion of human assistance to the spread ofthe fungus in instances with long-distance jumps, none have been directly tied to the workof visitors to caves.

Those who obtain permits to handle bats for research and conservation practices mustfollow protocols established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The protocols can befound on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website, and include rules such as:

No gear/clothing can be used east of the Mississippi River and reused out West withoutproper disinfection with bleach or professional Lysol agents.

Dead bats, bats with radio collars, or tagged bats must be reported to the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service for species counts.

Never handle a bat without a disease transmission barrier, due to bats sometimescarrying the rabies virus.

Until we can learn more about white nose syndrome, caves will remain closed in theRocky Mountain region and foothills including Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota,Nebraska, and Kansas. This refers only to caves and abandoned mines on U.S. ForestService lands. This closure is not applicable to commercial or privately owned caves.

Nikki Bauman is anaturalist at WalkingMountains ScienceCenter. The new AvonScience and NatureCenter offers freeadmission and is opento the public 10 a.m.6p.m. Monday throughSaturday.Directions to Walking

Mountains ScienceCenter: From I-70,take AvonExit167;from trafficcirclegetonNottingham Road;take second right ontoBuck Creek Road;immediately turn rightagain, then left ontonew asphalt road;Walking Mountains is1/4 mile down thisroad. http://www.gorerange.org/

NikkiBauman

Abandoned Mine Lands

The BLM Colorado AbandonedMine Lands (AML) database hasabout 3,200 recorded sites. Thesesites are estimated to have morethan 5,000 features such as audits,shafts, prospects, etc.

Over 23,000 hazardous mines and

1,300 miles of streams areimpacted by past mining in

Colorado.

In October, a teen from Golden was rescued by a team from the School of Mines when

he and a friend entered an abandoned mine shaft. The two teens had traveled over 100 feet

when a ledge gave way trapping one of them. This is another GOOD reminder that abandoned

mines hold may dangers: water, rotting timbers, loose rock, deadly gases, etc.

Abandoned Mines

Last year 22 people died nationw

while exploring abandoned mine
http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gorerange.org/http://www.gorerange.org/http://www.gorerange.org/http://www.gorerange.org/http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/


11/14


Know before you go! When planning your winter tripinto our backcountry, remember these safety items:shovel, beacon, probe, and KNOWLEDGE.

Much of the terrain throughout the Rocky Mountainregion is subject to snow avalanches. In recent years,theres been an increase of winter backcountry usersinvolved in avalanches; some involving fatalities.

You are responsible for your own safety and that ofthose around you. Get avalanche savvy and take acertified avalanche course.

Backcountry users should be aware of potential riskand should be skilled at recognizing potentialavalanche areas and snowpack conditions and actaccordingly. Perform careful snowpack evaluations,stability tests. There are plenty of routes for saferbackcountry travel in avalanche country. Be able torecognize and use them as needed.

Avalanche potential increases with increasing slopeangle, snowfall, rain, wind, changing temperatures,other factors. Avalanche hazard can escalate in a

very short time. If you do not have avalanche training,consider sticking to low profile, non-avalanche proneterrain.

Ski/snowboard resorts provide a high level ofavalanche control on their managed slopes withinbounds. Remember that during severe weatherevents, even these areas may be subject to elevatedavalanche conditions.

Additional Resources

Avalanche Awareness - For more information onavalanche education and safety practices, visit theForest Service National Avalanche Center

Avalanche Conditions - Colorado AvalancheInformation Center provides forecasts of AvalancheConditions in the Colorado backcountry.

AvalanchesinColorado

Royal Gorge BLM OfficeRoad Conditions

Information on current road conditions andspecial closuresis available 7-days a

week,24-hours a day,by calling our office at719-269-8500!

Road Conditions in Colorado

http://www.cotrip.org/

roadConditions.htm

National Weather Service in Grand

Junction

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/gjt/

The Colorado Department ofTransportation, CDOT's, Weather andRoad information station for the GrandValley, 106.7 FM, was recently forcedoff the air due to a situation beyondtheir control.

RoadConditions

Invertebrate Paleontology II: Mesozoic & Cenozoic

The modern groups of abundant invertebrates arosefrom the ashes of the Permian-Triassic extinction.Groups such as mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoids.

Examine the fossil groups that are most importantduring this second stage of invertebrate history.Wednesdays, January 18 - February 86:30 - 9:30 pm. Denver Museum of Nature & ScienceClassroom 303 $110 member, $140 non-member

Blue Fungus, Red Forestshttp://www.dmns.org/science/science-bites/blue-fungus-red-forestsIn this Science Bite, MuseumscientistFrank Krellexplainshow the combination of pinebark beetles, fungus, andpeople have turned many ofthe green forests in Coloradointo a blanket of rust red.

Bob Butler

Buena Vista,

Colorado

719-395-2003

3 and 4 stage recovery systems

The production and recovery capabilities of the multi-stage system is far greater than most otherhighbankers using only the single riffle design. Thisdesign will process up to one cubic yard of unclassifiedgravel per hour with adequate water volume.

A very important part of this recovery system is itsability to separate and flush out the major portion of theunwanted light weight sand and gravel while trappinggold and black sand values. This ability can save time,effort and expense when the concentrates are reduceddown to the gold and other values.

Each state of this system is separate with hi-ribbedcarpet and raised expanded metal. On clean up, thisallows each section to be cleaned and tested until it is

determined which section contains the highestpercentage of gold.

After many months of daily use, it is always the firststage in the hopper that retains the greater amount ofgold and the other stages in line decreasing until thefinal riffle stage contains almost nothing.Since the firststage contains the most gold and also the least amountof sand it should be harvested regularly and the nextstages can be run much longer with the final stagecleaned at the end of the day. Also, checking the firststage can determine if the gravel that is being runcontains gold or other value.

Coming soon: A small attachment to the highbankerthat can process the concentrates at the same time theequipment is running.

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http://www.dmns.org/learn/adults/field-trips-and-travel/polar-bear-watch#http://www.dmns.org/learn/adults/field-trips-and-travel/polar-bear-watch#http://www.dmns.org/science/science-bites/blue-fungus-red-forestshttp://www.dmns.org/science/science-bites/blue-fungus-red-forestshttp://www.dmns.org/science/science-bites/blue-fungus-red-forestshttp://www.dmns.org/science/science-bites/blue-fungus-red-forestshttp://www.dmns.org/science/science-bites/blue-fungus-red-forestshttp://www.dmns.org/science/science-bites/blue-fungus-red-forestshttp://www.dmns.org/science/science-bites/blue-fungus-red-forestshttp://www.dmns.org/science/science-bites/blue-fungus-red-forestshttp://www.crh.noaa.gov/gjt/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/gjt/http://www.cotrip.org/roadConditions.htmhttp://www.cotrip.org/roadConditions.htmhttp://www.cotrip.org/roadConditions.htmhttp://www.cotrip.org/roadConditions.htmhttp://avalanche.state.co.us/pub_bc.phphttp://avalanche.state.co.us/pub_bc.phphttp://avalanche.state.co.us/pub_bc.phphttp://avalanche.state.co.us/pub_bc.phphttp://www.fsavalanche.org/http://www.fsavalanche.org/http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/


12/14


Celling Your Soul

As the number of phone numbers on theNational Do Not Call (DNC) Registrysurpassed 139 million, the Federal TradeCommission reiterated that despite theclaims made in e-mails circulating on theInternet, consumers should not beconcerned that their cell phone numbers willbe released to telemarketers at any time inthe near future. In addition, according to theagency, it is not necessary to register cellphone numbers on the DNC Registry to beprotected from most telemarketing calls tocell phones.

The truth about cell phones and the DNCRegistry is:

Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbersare NOT being released to telemarketers,and you will NOT soon be getting

telemarketing calls on your cell phone. There is NO deadline by which you mustregister your cell phone number on theRegistry.

Federal Communications Commission(FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketersfrom using automated dialers to call cellphone numbers. Automated dialers arestandard in the industry, so mosttelemarketers are barred from callingconsumers on their cell phones withouttheir consent.

The national associations representingtelemarketers have stated that their clients

do not intend to start calling consumers

cell phones. There is only ONE DNC Registry. There is

no separate registry for cell phones. The DNC Registry accepts registrations

from both cell phones and land lines. You

must call from the phone number that you

want to register. If you register online, youmust respond to a confirmation e-mail.

While the telecommunications industry hasbeen discussing the possibility of creatinga wireless 411 directory, according to theFCC, even if a wireless 411 directory isestablished, most telemarketing calls to

cell phones would still be illegal,regardless of whether the number is listedon the federal governments National DoNot Call Registry.

For More Information

To learn more about the National DNCRegistry and the rules that enforce it, visitthe FTC at www.ftc.govor the FCC atwww.fcc.gov.

In October, the 10th U.S. CircuitCourt of Appeals in Denver upheldt h e 2 0 0 1 R o a d l e s s A r e aConservation Rule which prohibitslogging and road-building on 49million acres of public forests andgrasslands nation wide. Somee x p e r t s i n c l u d i n g t h eenvironmental Protection Agency

feel that Colorados plan isdeficient.

It would give top-tier protection toabout 13 percent of the landprotected under the nationalroadless rule, which blocks mostroad-building on 4.4 million of the14.5 million acres of national forestin Colorado. The C o lo radoproposal would make exceptionsfor expansion of mining, loggingand ski resorts.

The 120-page decision by theappeals court in Denver overturnsa Wyoming federal judge'sdecision in 2008 that found thenational rule illegally usurpedcongressional power to designatewilderness.

Attorneys for Wyoming and theColorado Mining Associationargued that Forest Service

managers were trying to create defacto new wilderness areas. TheWyoming judge agreed and ruledthat the roadless rule violated the1964 Wilderness Act, whichrequires congressional action tocreate wilderness.

The Colorado Mining Associationexpressed its disappointment with

the ruling upholding the ClintonAdministrations Roadless Rule.Th is regu la t ion , sa id CMApresident Stuart Sanderson,threatens to put off limits millionsof acres of public lands currentlyava i l ab le f o r mu l t i p le andpr od uc t i ve use . CMA i sdisappointed that the decisiondoes not reflect a practicalunderstanding of the impact thethe Rule will have upon mining

jobs or access to needed mineralshere in Colorado and the U.S.

CMA has worked with stakeholdersto support the implementation of aroadless rule specific to the needsand interest of Colorado and willcontinue to support a commonsense effort to finalize a Coloradoroadless rule, which is pendingfinal action before the Secretary ofAgriculture.

Hartsel Depot

Federal appeals court says Colorado must abide by stricter federalrules for wildlands
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19168981http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19168981http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19168981http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19168981http://www.fcc.gov/http://www.fcc.gov/http://www.ftc.gov/http://www.ftc.gov/http://www.gpoc.com/http://www.gpoc.com/


13/14


Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the valleynot a thing was a movin' - not even in the alley.

The boys all snug in their bags, were dreamin of a mine with acarbine.

The wife in her curlers, she was lookin real fine!

A cold wind was blowin, down the stovepipe it moaned.The long winter night I bemoaned.

The socks were hangin by a dim miners lightand I was a dreamin of a rich mining strike.

The girls in their feminine dreams were attuned,to gettin golden rings that wouldnt turn their fingers green.

The wife wanted jewelry, like gold with big rocks.I wanted my Chevy, down off the blocks.

Then outside, such a noise did commence,like something was caught in the barb-wire fence.

I ran to the window, and saw pretty quick,the man makin the racket, was Good Ol St. Nick.

You may think of Santa, in your own minds eye,all dressed in red, but Ive got a surprise.

That old boys a miner, and dressed as such,he just uses the Santa gig as a crutch.

On Christmas, of course, a truck for a rig,he hooks the thing up, to a long string of mules.

He climbed on the roof with his sack full of goodies,he backed down the stovepipe, all dirty and sooty.

Fat legs in his Levis, chubby hands in his mittens,just like gold he was a glisten.

He turned toward the tree, his sack full of gold?He was a miner, from his head to his toes!

His neck was red, his shirt said Gold Digger.His ball cap read GPOC, it doesnt get any bigger!

He placed all the presents, using his trusty black-light.

I thoughts to myself, this guys alright!Then it was back to the wood stove and into the night.

He ran to his truck and threw his sack in the back.Then he yelled at his mules, with absolutely no tack.

And I heard him exclaim, as his mules took fright,Merry Christmas to all, and to all a rich strike!

Adapted from another poem by Lin Smith

Detectorist's Night Sgt. Pulltab

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the placit was near dead quiet and my mind started to race!

Ain't nobody here, lots of time for reflecting,but all that can wait, cause I'm going detecting!

I grab my detector, a scoop for the sand,my Lesche extractor I got from Lucky Dan's.I head out to the car to look for an old site

if I'm uninterrupted I'll just hunt through the night.

I pulled up right next to an old carnival placethe coins in the dirt I started to chase.

The tones in my headset were filling my earsweet silver and gold buried right under here.

I pinpointed my target and started a hole

I was six inches down digging just like a mole.When a guy comes up from behind me and said what are y

doing? Are you out of your head! I turned on my kneesexpecting police but it was Santa instead.I'm real sorry Santa I was home all alone,

so I figured detecting would warm up my old bones.

He smiled as he turned to open his sackwhen he bent over I saw his pants split up the back.

So he's into detecting I saw right awaymy first MD pants looked exactly that way.

He pulled out a Minelab with a white Kevlar rodwith THAT I could cover a whole field of sod!

He also pulled out a few rolls of Mercsand some Liberty halves then he started to smirk.

These goodies are yours but I'm gonna be sportyturn your back and then count from one up to forty.

I turned and I counted like he told me to do,when I turned back around he was gone! The coins too!

The Minelab was laid with its coil straight aheadso I lifted it gently and sweet tones filled my head.

So THAT'S what he meant he had made the job hardthe silver was buried all over the yard.

Coin after coin the Lesche dug up,til my apron was full and my knees just gave up .

Now MY sack was full of the old silver roundsI swear my loot bag must have weighed fifteen pounds!

He hadn't shown me THIS many Mercs,it was then that I realized how Claus magic works.

Each coin used to be an old beaver pulltab,but his magic had changed it to what's now in my bag.

A sleigh flashed by with Santa onboardI waved to thank him for my great Christmas hoard.

And I heard him say in a voice loud and boldMerry Christmas detectorists, may all your targets be gold

A Colorado Night Before Christmas
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14/14

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