A change, both radical and sudden, was made in the mail service in and out of Dolores July 1. The railroad bus from Durango now arrives here at 8:15 in the evening, coming over after the arrival of the eastern train into Durango and bringing mail and express through without a layover. This is practically the same arrangement as was tried out once before with train service and found unsatisfactory. However, it is believed it will work out to better advantage with the faster buses.
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Durango Herald-Democrat's account of the 4th of July boxing show here was just plain ridiculous. The writer would probably make a better job at reporting a game of tiddle-de-winks. His statement that Clay was knocked out by a "terrific right cross" is the worst. In the first place, there is no such animal as a terrific right cross. The right cross is counter to a straight left and seldom a man is knocked down by such a blow. The blow with which the Big Six flattened clay was a straight right, and it was "terrific," all right enough. Clay is a good young fighter but needs about five years more experience before he tackles a man of Irving's caliber.
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Several from here went out to Dove Creek Wednesday to attend the last day of the celebration in the wheat-bean country. They report a big crowd and splendid celebration. In the evening, George Stonich, of Beaver camp, and Swede Anderson, of Dove Creek, fought a four-round contest. The referee called the fight a draw, owing to the fact that it was an amateur match, but those from here say that Stonich had the best of the bout all the way through and knocked down the Swede three times.
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Earl P. Stanford lost his house and all its contents to fire about one o'clock on the fourth. Stanford and his family left the house about noon and came to town for the celebration. They returned in the evening to find their home destroyed. The Stanfords live on the Mike Spyres old homestead on the mesa north of Dolores.
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S.F. Hyde, former Dolores jeweler, was a recent visitor at the home of his friend, Mark Stone, over in the valley. Mr. Hyde and a nephew of Mr. Stone have spent several months prospecting in Arizona and made hardly enough to buy their salt, Mr. Stone says. Hyde will open a watch repair shop in Torence, Calif., soon.
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T.H. Akin Merc. Co.: New house dresses, big assortment prints and lawns, each 59 cents. Munsing silk hose, sheer chiffon, 50 cents. Shirting, 9 cents per yard. Cracker Jack, 3 packages, 13 cents. Grownups as well as youngsters go for this delicious, wholesome confection.
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Arriola Items: The Gardner brothers moved their cattle from Ruin canon to the mountain range the latter part of last week.
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Editorial Comment: The wether was hotter in 1901, so don't worry; it might be worse.
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The people of Dolores simply must make up their minds to stage a big fourth of July celebration each year. We never saw a more successful celebration than the one held here Tuesday, which proves that this place is the logical place for an affair of this kind. There should have been some sort of a patriotic program in the morning, with music and speaking; otherwise, there was little to be desired. Next year, let us have the program and make the day complete.