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<br />CHAPTER II <br /> <br />TO\~ OF STARKVILLE <br />FINANCIAL STATUS AND PHYSICAL ASSETS <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />Area settlement started in 1595 when a band of Spanish Con- <br />quistadores led by Liva Bonilla and Juan de Humana extended an <br />Indian suppression expedition from present day New Mexico. Stark- <br />ville was probably started in the 1870's by the Santa Fe and Rio <br />Grande Railroads as a waterstop for the steam locomotives. The <br />railroads made it possible to exploit the coal mining of the area. <br />Much of the coal was excellent for making coke and from about 1877 <br />to 1917 there was a gradual expansion of coke manufacturing. With <br />the advent of oil and gas fuels the coal and coke manufacturing <br />industry started on a decline to its present condition of only <br />the Allen Mine west of Trinidad still in operation. <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />!!!! <br /> <br />- <br />iii <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />!!!! <br /> <br />presently there are about 42 families within the town limits <br />of Starkvi11e. Of this total 23 are Spanish-American with an <br />average annual income of $4,128 and the aggregate income for the <br />community is only $5,270. The job market is the businesses in <br />Trinidad, the Allen Mine, and the agricultural industry of the <br />area. There has been a strong indication that coal mining will <br />again occur in the area to strenghten the job opportunities. <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />. <br />. <br /> <br />Starkville existed as a train waterstop and coal load-out <br />facility for many years. The SF and RG Railroad developed the <br />town's existing water system. When the town became incorporated, <br />the SF & RG Railroad gave the water system to the community. The <br />source of supply is from springs on the west side of Fishers Peak <br />in the Clear Creek watershed. The railroad installed over six <br />miles of cast iron collection line to supply water to the community <br />and their steam locomotives. This system was donated to the Town <br />of Starkville by the railroad after they incorporated in 1954. <br />A copy of the incorporation papers is attached as Exhibit "A". <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br />.II <br />