A Kindly Word  

As Park county grew in the first fifteen years, this vignette of Fairplay in 1881 reflects the high energy and efforts of the enterprising people of those times. 

            “ ‘Under date of July 3^rd Mr. Whitehead, of the Denver News says: “Yesterday I had the pleasure of being with the good people of Fairplay, enjoying their splendid hospitality and noting the fact that, though not rushing, that pleasant town of the beautiful South Park is still one of the solid places in one of the best counties in Colorado.   

Fairplay, as old timers are aware, was first laid out in 1872, the first inhabitants being attracted thither by the rich placer diggings in and adjoining the bed of the South Platte river, upon the banks of which the town is built.  These diggings are still paying, being largely worked by subjects of the “flowery kingdom,” it being considered too much labor for “Melikan” men with the wages offered.  The later prefer taking the chances of striking a bonanza of their own, or working for the larger wages paid for labor in the great mines of the adjacent mountains.   

At a more recent date Fairplay received quite an impetus to business, and a growth in population by the discovery of the splendid mines on the range six or eight miles distant.  It became the outfitting centre for a very large district, and most of the rich discoveries of Park county were the work of parties who claimed Fairplay as their home and who still cling to the place 

            The business of Fairplay has been steady and there are not a few rich men in Colorado who made the nucleus, if not the whole, of their fortunes there.  She continues to be a business town, and besides the mining interests, receives a large support from the enterprising farmers and stock men of the South Park.  By the way, both of these classes have amassed fortunes during the past few years in selling their products to the rich mining camps that have sprung up in that time.   The farm and stock interests of the park, with the prosperity of the miner assured, must be permanently remunerative.  There is a class of wide awake, commercial men in Fairplay who are alike creditable to themselves and the town. 

            The flourishing town of Alma, six miles above and with interests closely allied to those of Fairplay, was made necessary by the opening of the great mines on and adjacent to Mt. Lincoln, at the base of which the town is built.  Always important, the outlook for Alma was never brighter than at this time.  With new discoveries all around and renewed activities in the old mines, trade is brightening up, and new reduction works for handling the increased output are among the additions of the early future.”