Subject

The History and present condition of Humane Efforts in the City

This society owes its existence to Mrs. Francis B. Hill who by persistent efforts enlisted the sympathy and support of a number of influential citizens prominent among whom were B.W. Steele the able editor of the Gazette, Louis R. Ehrich and George R. Buckman. The society was organized July 2 1888 with the following officers and directors.

E.A. Colburn
President

Mrs. Francis B. Hill
Vice-President

Geo. R. Buckman
Secretary

Mrs. Margaret Haup, Mrs. John Curr, Mrs. Duncan Bell, Miss Helen Jourzalin [?], and B.W. Steele. Directors.

The membership for the first year was 144. The work of the society has always been carried on through love of the cause. No expenses having been incurred either for office rent or salaries, our financial standing has always been good, and without doubt this fact has acted as a terror to evil doers, who realized we were able to stay with a case to the bitter end and were not to be daunted by threats of appeal to the Supreme Court.

A Humane Society combines the work of a society for the protection of children and a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, but even this does not include all our work, because we extend our protection to every living creature, our motto being "we protect the helpless." In our first year two little girls were rescued from the vilest surroundings in Colorado City and good homes found for both. This alone seems sufficient justification for our existence, but not a year has passed without the rescue, or necessary protection of children more or less in number.

I have often thought that it would pay to do this work more thoroughly. If the state could seize all children living in vicious surroundings and educate them, thus giving them a chance to become good citizens, there would not be so many criminals. The building of prisons in which to confine these little unfortunates when they have become old enough to be incarcerated is surely beginning at the wrong end of the line. This work is of such magnitude that we can hardly imagine it being thoroughly done, but perhaps in the year 2001 the nation or the state will grapple this problem with greater zeal, and under better systemization will achieve great results. In the education of the children lies the foundation of the future greatness of the nation.

We protect women from brutal husbands, and have put in jail men who spent their earnings in drink, instead of supporting their families, and we have assisted aged and helpless men & women in being cared for by the county.

In the animal department we have humanely destroyed a large number of horses unfit for work and of no further value, also other suffering animals. Lame horses, and those with sores have been taken out of harness, and in flagrant cases the drivers have been prosecuted very little of that sort of cruelty is to be seen in our streets at the present time. The tight over check, and overloading - principally in the case of stone wagons - have received attention. Perhaps in 100 years from now the torture of the abominable tight over check will have become a thing of the past. During the hot weather poultry is shipped from Kansas in very bad condition: the crates are too small and contain too many chickens; many are consequently trampled to death, and great suffering is caused by want of water. Every summer this trouble with shippers and express companies is renewed, but the latter have agreed to instruct their agents to decline all shipments which are not made in accordance with the circular of our society. Members of the country club were prosecuted for shooting live pigeons from traps, "for sport and amusement." The case was carried to the Supreme Court and decided in our favor. This unmanly sport is therefore illegal in Colorado.

Some cases of docking horses tails were successfully prosecuted and heavy fines inflicted. Public opinion is becoming so strong against this cruel and foolish fashion, that there are signs of it passing away. Coursing was found to be too hard work for the sportsman who had to find the jack rabbit in the open and there remain in the saddle all day following the hounds. The plan was therefore adopted of shipping rabbits from Kansas and releasing them from a box for the dogs to kill. The rabbit having been confined is stiff and unable to run with its usual agility; it is also in a strange country and knows not where to run for shelter. Believing that this kind of sport is identical in principle with the shooting of live pigeons from traps, there being no difference between releasing a bird from a box for the purpose of shooting it for fur and releasing a rabbit for the "sport" of seeing the dogs kill it, this society gave notice of arrest and prosecution. Since then no "coursing meet" has been held.

In April 1900 a magnificent golden eagle was driven from the mountains by a snow storm, an settled in the deep snow north east of the city, where it was easily captured uninjured, and exhibited in a box in Tejon St. In order to rescue the emblem of liberty from persecution the society purchased the bird for $10.00 and having welded on its leg a silver band inscribed with name and date, set it at liberty from the top of the mesa over looking Glen Eyrie. Seeing that an eagle lives for 100 years, we wonder if this one may be found living in 2001.

The education of children in humane ideas must necessarily exercise a great influence in the formation of character. Children who are taught to be kind to animals will probably grow up with these feelings developed into brotherly love for all humanity, and will be less likely to belong to the criminal class. This kind of instruction ought to form a part of education in the Public Schools.

The doctrine of evolution binds humanity and animals into a relationship from which there is no escape. It teaches that from the lowest to the highest there is but one life. The animals therefore are of our kin, one blood, one flesh, one life, children of the One Father as much as we. Perhaps in the year 2001 people will have outgrown eating their poor relations even as most of the inhabitants of the earth at the present time have ceased to eat each other.

When this letter is opened the Humane Society may perhaps have ceased to exist. If this be so, we beseech you to reestablish it. There never can be a time when it is unnecessary to cultivate a voice for the speechless or to extend a helping hand to the helpless. Our present membership is 82. This falling off in numbers is due to the fact that the treasurer has a balance on hand of about $800.00 and citizens know that we are not in need of money. During our first year we had 43 cases. During the year to May 6, 1901 there were 180 cases. Our present board of directors appointed May 6, 1901 is as follows:

William F. Slocum- President, D. James A. Hart- Vice-President, Francis B. Hill- Secretary, Geo. R. Buckman- Treasurer.

Directors Mrs. E.C. Goddard, Mrs. E.M. E. Solly, Mrs. F.E. Robinson, Miss Brinley, and Miss Sarah Dorsey. Attached is a list of our present members.

Vale,

Francis B. Hill, Secretary

Colorado Springs August 1, 1901

List of Members of The El Paso Branch of the Colorado Humane Society at August 1, 1901:

Alvord, Mrs. A.A., Anderson, Dr. B.P., Anderson, Mrs. B.P., Armstrong, Willis R., Adams, Katherine F., Burns, Miss Jennie, Buckman, Geo. R., Barnes, J.P., Brinley, Miss E.J., Bemis, Mrs. J.M., Burr, Mrs. F.E., Blake, Mrs. A.S., Carpenter, Dunbar F., Carpenter, Leonard, Carpenter, Alfred T.V., Crissey, Giles, Curr, John, Clark, William B., Dorsey, Miss Sarah H., Dickey,Mrs. Mary S., Farrar, Mrs. Laura, Farnsworth, Charles, Giddings E.W., Gardiner, Dr. C.J., Goddard, Mrs. E.C., Grinnell, Mrs. R.B., Hall, Henry, Hamp, Mrs. Margt., Hill, Francis, B., Hundley, J.E., Hayes, Mrs. M.H.D., Hutton, R.H., Howbert, Edgar, Hart, Dr. James A., Hart, Mrs. James A., Jewitt, W.K., Jewitt, Mrs. W.K., Jones, A.J., Jones, Mrs. A.J., Jackson, W.S., Jackson, Mrs. Harry, Kent, Mrs., Lansung, Mrs. Chas. A., Lennox, Mrs. Wm., Lundstrom, J.E., Lawton, A.L., Marden, Mrs. Geo. N., Marley, J.H., Mitchell, Mrs. Horace H., Nichols, W.S., Parsons, Mrs. Geo. H., Robinson, Mrs. F.E., Rupp, Mrs. Daniel, Stockwell, Miss Mary H., Sinton, Geo. H., Spackman, E.L., Solly, Dr. S.E., Savage, Dr. A.J., Sinton, Melvin, Shields, J.G., Slocum, William F., Slocum, Mrs. Wm. F., Sutton, A.S., Sinton, Dr. W.K., Sinclair, Mrs. J.H., Skinner, Herbert, Skinner, Mrs. Herbert, Seldomridge, Bros., Thurlow, Charles, Thurlow, Mrs. Chas., Thedinga, J.H., Tripp, Miss Jessie, Touzalin, Mrs. L.M., Van Cott, A.C., Waterman, Mrs. H.E., Wellington, L.J., Williams, C.M., Williams, Mrs. C.M., Warren, Miss S.J., Wilbur, Matt, Wheeler, Mrs. Harriet M., Whaite, A.H.

To Shippers of Live Poultry NOTICE!

All coops for shipping fowls shall not be less than 3 1/2 feet in length, 16 inches high and 2 1/2 feet in width. Coops for turkeys shall not be less than two feet high. There must not be over two and a half dozen fowls to a coop; below this number to be regulated by size of fowl, and each coop must be provided with a cup for water on the road.

Consignments of live fowls in coops too crowded or not conforming to the provisions of this notice will be confiscated and disposed of in such manner as shall seem best to the Society or its agents.

Francis B. Hill,

Secretary Humane Society

Colorado Springs,
July 1, 1901.