Valverde Glass Works, Valverde, Colorado

A Denver Glass Report.

Denver Republican.

There is a strong probability that the glass works built at Valverde, Col., ten or twelve years ago will soon be started up in full blast. M. H. Brigham, of Philadelphia, is endeavoring to make arrangements to have the works put in active operation.

They were built by Mr. Brigham's father, now dead, the intention being to make ware of different kinds, as well as window glass. The project was not a success at that time, on account of excessive freight rates, but Mr. Brigham thinks that arrangements can now be made whereby the materials required from the East can be landed there at such a price as will enable the glass to be made at a profit. The factory has ten pots. If they can all be started up there would be no difficulty in finding a market for all the product, provided that freight rates could be secured that would permit competition with Eastern factories. Employment would be given to a large number of men.

For some years H. C. Taussig has been operating four pots on flint glass products, principally druggists ware, with moderate success, but has not sufficient capital to keep the whole factory in operation. Mr. Brigham hopes to be able to interest sufficient capital to take hold of the works and keep them in operation.

The manufacture of glass in Colorado has been a favorite dream in Denver for many years. Fully twenty years ago an effort was made by Dr. C. S. Burdsall, owner of the soda lakes near Morrison, to utilize the product of those lakes in the manufacture of glass, but everything was against the proposition at that time. The population was small, restricting the market, and freight rates were prohibitory. Now, with a population of a million people, more or less, tributary to Denver, it is thought that the works could be successfully operated, with the necessary co-operation of the railroads.