Ill Wind In Denver

Colorado's Land Board bought newspaper advertisements to admit that it planned to circumvent the law. It was scheming to sell five acres of state-owned land in Mountair, a Denver suburb, to a favored buyer at a fixed price--and it did not want the public to queer the deal by bidding. No one was outraged. For the customer was George Mitchell, 21, a veteran who had been blinded by a Normandy land mine explosion, now hoped to earn a living by building a group of court apartments in his home town. Mitchell could only afford $600 an acre.

When the auction began in Denver's ornate State Capitol, Mitchell's well-wishers held their breaths. Then they stirred angrily. The Mountair School District ; wanted the land for a playground; its President, H. B. Jaedke, had bid $650.

Promptly a Denver automobile dealer ; named Harry Leeman got out his checkbook, nudged George Mitchell, volunteered to make up the difference. Mitchell called: "$655." Jaedke made it $675. The bidding went on. Finally Jaedke reached $1,000 an acre.

"$1,025," called Leeman.

Jaedke shrugged. "That's as far as we can go."

"That's far enough," said Leeman, "you've done enough damage."

Jaedke tried to shake hands with Mitchell. The blind veteran refused. When Jaedke tried to explain that he was acting on orders, men in the crowd yelled: "We'll throw out the whole school board."

But before nightfall Denver discovered that Jaedke had done Veteran Mitchell a good turn. The Colorado State Flower Growers' Association contributed $800 to help Mitchell build his apartments. A friend added $325. By week's end citizens had sent $1,100 more to the Rocky Mountain News to be forwarded to him, and the fund was still growing.

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