Beginning with the earliest inception of the district, it has kept pace with the rapid development and championed the best interests of all.

The history of a community is the history of its newspapers. The growth of a town is indicated by the growth of its journals. When the one waxes strong and prosperous, the other may be found keeping step in the march of progress.

The Crusher, Fremont 1892.

No community, great or small, ever prospered unless it possessed a live, progressive newspaper. As the paper improves its facilities for the gathering and publishing of the news, the fact is taken by the world at large as indicating the growth of the community in which it is published.

A live mining district is never represented by an unprogressive paper; a dead district would not long be blessed by a pushing, energetic journal.

The history of the great gold camp is contemporaneous with that of its great newspaper. As the years rolled past, and the camp grew great in its mineral output and in its people, the paper has steadily progressed.

The transformation of a mining camp with its collection of shacks, into a modern city of handsome business blocks and cozy residences, was a great stride in the march of progress; but it was no greater than was the wonderful change which has taken place in the history of the pioneer paper which, from the most humble of beginnings, has grown to the magnitude of a metropolitan journal.

The pioneer paper, then known as the "Prospector," issued its first number from the old Carr hotel building, on what is now South Third street, bearing date of December 7, 1891. W. R. McRae, now manager of The Times job department, was editor and publisher.

The public evinced the liveliest interest in the new publication, and the office was besieged by crowds for hours before the forms were ready for the press, the papers selling for a premium.

In January of 1895, the paper was purchased by Thomas M. Howell, late of the Denver Times, and T. J. Maloney, of Colorado, who greatly augmented the plant, and changed the name to The Times, the paper coming out as a daily, and speedily gaining the reputation of being the best mining paper published in the Rocky Mountain region, a reputation which it has maintained to this day.

During the great fire, which all but swept Cripple Creek out of existence, The Times never missed an issue. Its plant destroyed, it sent its forms to Victor to be printed until an old job press could be rigged up, and this served until a new plant could be secured.

The growth of the paper, and its transformation into a modern institution, are matters of history, and the fine appearance of the paper of to-day, is its own claim upon public favor, which it enjoys in a liberal degree.