The Colorado Midland had an experience back in the early 20th Century, and the lady who sought to protect some of her interests, backed up her determination with a Winchester rifle.

The row occurred near Florissant, a small station east of Lake George. It seems that the railroad company had prior rights to water in certain streams and during a dry weather season had been compelled to use nearly all of it. Not far from Lake George resided this mountain woman who had a small farm plot.

During the drought her crop of potatoes had been sorely in need of rain, but none came and the woman decided to irrigate the farm with water from the railroad company’s stream. Arming herself with a sixteen-shot Winchester rifle, she proceeded to a diversion dam and turned the water onto her field.

The railroad sent men out to investigate. The men found the diversion, but when she drew a bead upon them they were only too glad to escape. She was boss of the situation. In the meantime the water is running peacefully through the garden and the woman is assured of a full crop if she and her rifle stood the railroad off a few days. Such is life in the wild and woolly west!

Now you might not think potatoes were much of a crop, but in the day Teller County produced many train loads of them, as well as other unlikely crops. The crops were in demand all over the area.