USA > Colorado > Colorado pioneers in picture and story > Part 16
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At first Russell was the moving spirit of the enter- prise : Majors and Waddell thought the expense would be too great. Russell was laughed at by everyone, including his partners; Majors wrote to Russell's family that he had long doubted Bill's sanity, and this time he had gone crazy sure, and they had better come and take him home before he did anything dangerous. However, the plans for the pony express were perfected, and on the morning of April 9, 1860, 10,000 people gathered at St. Joseph to witness the start. A grand celebration was given in honor of the affair : speeches were made, cannons were fired and a special train arrived, with a messenger from New York and a "pony express extra" describing the enterprise. A beautiful black pony was brought out. saddled, a rider mounted him and stood in readiness. The mail bag was left open until the last moment. for dispatches; then, at a signal. he started. riding like a jockey at a race.
COL. W.F.CODY (BUFFALO BILL)
Election news.
a. Benham,
:EXPRI:56
for the Rocky mountain cheers Jules fury
NEWS OF LINCOLN'S ELECTION
Five hun- dred fleet AT Suver footed horses, of the tough and tireless ENVELOPE CONTAINING NEWS OF LINCOLN'S ELECTION kind, were se- PONY EXPRESS STATION cured for the pony express service; two hundred men were engaged, and eighty of them were selected as riders. The riders
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were chosen because of their expertness in the saddle, their hardihood to withstand the fatigue of the run, their bravery to face the dangers of their lonely routes and their judgment to get all the speed out of their horses and not overtax them. They were paid $125.00 a month and must weight one hundred pounds or less.
In order to keep the weight at a minimum, the arms of the pony express riders were limited to revolver and knife. Each rider had six to ten relays of ponies, making his ride sixty to one hundred miles. Day and night the mad race went on, until, at the end of ten days, a foam flecked pony dashed up to the telegraph office in far off Sacramento, where the news was again put on the wires and flashed to San Francisco. Messages carried by the pony express were required to be written on tissue paper. The rate charged was $5.00 an ounce, and the weight carried each trip was limited to ten pounds.
In 1860, Russell, Majors and Waddell were running their ponies into Denver.
President Lincoln's inaugural address. March 4. 1861. was whisked across 2,000 miles in seven days and seven- teen hours, which was the world's record for dispatch by means of men and horses.
Five of the original pony express riders lived in Den- ver for a number of years. J. G. Kelly, who recently died, gave the following adventure: "We were in the midst of the Piute War. and our instructions were. 'when you see an Indian close enough. shoot him.' One of our riders came into the station with a hole clear through him. He lived just long enough to tell us an Indian shot him, as he came through a quaking-asp thicket. about three miles back on the trail. Two days later I had to pass through this same thicket. The trail was crooked and narrow; the brush was higher than the head of a man on horse back, and it cut off all view. It was a decidedly uncomfortable place in which to anticipate
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an attack from a lurking foe. With my heart pounding against the roof of my mouth, I put my revolver at full cock, dropped the reins on the neck of my pony, put both spurs into his flanks and went through the thicket like a streak of greased lightning. At the top of the hill I stopped, and while the pony got his breath I watched the thicket. I noticed a shaking of the bushes in several places, and. as there were neither horses, cattle or large game in the neighborhood that might account for the moving of the bushes. I concluded that there were Piutes in the thicket, but I had come through with such a rush that they had failed to get a shot at me. I opened fire on the spot where the bushes moved; they ceased to shake, and I was convinced that I had run an ambuscade. A few days afterwards two men were killed by skulking warriors in this thicket."
Of all the pony express riders, Cody has become the best known. He obtained the name of "Buffalo Bill" while furnishing buffalo meat to the builders of the Union Pacific railroad, and by this name he is known through- out the world. When a mere lad he made the longest pony express ride on record.
Colonel Alex. Majors had great affection for him. and told much about his famous career on the plains as guide, hunter. Indian fighter and pony express rider. Among the stories, he told one of how Bill Cody, when he received his first month's pay, which was a consider- able sum for a boy in his teens to earn. took the money. spread it out on the table before his widowed mother. and joyously said: "Isn't it splendid. mother. that I can get all this money for you and my sister?"
Next to Colonel W. F. Cody, the most famous of the pony express riders was Robert Haslam, known through- out the West as "Pony Bob." He had many fights with Indians and "road agents" and had numerous hair- breadth escapes.
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He carried the news of Lincoln's election as Presi- dent, riding one hundred and twenty miles in eight hours and ten minutes, using thirteen relays of horses. He was ambushed by Indians, shot with flint head arrows through the lower jaw, fracturing it on both sides and knocking out five teeth.
The pony express was operated for over two years. It was the most unique and romantic mail service ever organized. While it was a losing business venture. it opened a way for the telegraph and railway. Alex. Majors was one of the organizers of it. He was called the "Kentucky Christian": he never drank, never swore. and made his employes sign a contract not to drink, gam- ble or swear, under penalty of being "fired" without the pay that was coming. and gave every one of his employes a pocket Bible.
TELEGRAPH
A citizen of Omaha. Nebraska. Edward Creighton. completed a telegraph line across the continent. and the swift pony express was super- seded by the swifter light- ning.
The wire reached Julesburg, May, 1861. The new company opened an office in Denver, using the pony express or stages to carry the messages to Denver. David H. Moffat was appointed the first agent.
An enterprising Den- ver man. B. F. Wood-
B. F. Woodward
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ward, built a line from Julesburg to Denver. The wire was strung into the office of Warren, Hussey & Company's bank in the autumn of 1863, and Judge Amos Steck, who was then mayor, exchanged congratulatory messages with the mayor of Omaha. From the time of the earliest settlement in Denver the pioneers suffered intensely from the feeling of isolation; they pined for telegraphic com- munication with the outside world; and the branch line from Julesburg completed October, 1863, brought great relief. The rates were very high. A message to New York of ten words cost $9.10.
The Indians called the telegraph the "white man's talking string," and when they went on the war path would often interrupt communication by carrying off great lengths of wire. The buffalo also made work for the telegraph company. They used the poles for back scratching. and a few rubs against the poles by the big animals would bring them to the ground.
The wind and lightning caused frequent damage. and it was thought at one time that the telegraph could never be successfully used in this country.
Benjamin F. Woodward, the builder and manager of Colorado's pioneer telegraph line, became identified with many other business enterprises that contributed to the development of Denver.
TELEPHONE
The telegraph was followed by the telephone. the other great public electrical utility in Denver.
F. O. Vaille opened the first telephone exchange in Denver. Henry R. Wolcott became interested in the en- terprise with him. This line was controlled by the Ameri- can Bell Telephone Company, but in 1881 the Colorado Telephone Company came into existence, with H. R. Wol- cott as president and F. O. Vaille as general manager.
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In 1884 E. B. Field succeeded Mr. Vaille as general manager.
Mr. E. B. Field came to Colorado in the late '70's for pulmonary trouble; a stranger in a strange land, he sat under the trees in the yard of his little home on South Broad- way, sick but hope- ful. He was a poor man then; it was necessary for him to work to support his fam- ily.
He knew nothing of tele- phone or electrical apparatus at that time, but from the moment he en- tered the service of the telephone company he gave energy, industry, experiment and ceaseless seeking to theoretical and practical tele- phone work. He E. B. Field forged rapidly to the front. and his present position is a brilliant example of the results that can be obtained by push and perseverance.
Mr. Field wrestled incessantly with rival companies. for he believes that the Telephone Company must be con- ducted as a unity to insure satisfactory results for the
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people. Under his management the Telephone company became a factor in the commercial growth and prosperity of Colorado.
Then came an era of expansion, reorganization and the fitting of the telephone for all demands that could be made upon it. Mr. Field was omnipresent at every stage, overlooking and controlling every movement. until the telephone system expanded to the "Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company." He is now the executive head of a corporation that controls the entire telephone systems of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, a territory repre- senting one-fifth of the total area of the United States, in which lives two per cent of our entire population.
Thousands of miles of wire connect cities, villages. mines, mills and ranches from El Paso. Texas, north to Santa Fe, New Mexico. then up to Trinidad. Pueblo and Denver in Colorado. and still northward to Cheyenne. Billings, Helena and Boise. then down again to Salt Lake City-all controlled by the one company. Some idea of the stretches of barren territory covered by Mr. Field's system may be gained when it is stated that the lines that have been constructed over mountains and plains were built to last, and. when once erected. are never removed. so that hundreds of once prosperous mining camps that are now deserted still get the highest grade of communication. The business men of the West ap- preciate his ability to organize. and his persistence in overcoming reverses.
E. B. Field is a man with a big brain and a big heart. The employes of the Telephone company are all attached to him because of his kindness and considera- tion for them. With intuitive insight he has worked his way over the hard trail to prosperity, holding out always a willing hand to help the weak in the race. He is public
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spirited, and, when called on to further any public move- ment, is never hesitating or slow to respond.
Mrs. Field is a woman of fine culture and great kind- ness of heart: she is active in philanthropic and club work. Her deep interest in human beings makes her benevolent. and no one will ever know the vast number of people who have experienced the re- sult of her generosity. On that subject she is silent. Mr. and Mrs. Field have one son and three daugh- ters, Mrs. Mary A. Fair- child. Miss Martha L. Field. Mrs. Grace W. Marvin and Mr. Edward B. Field, Jr., who is vice- president and treasurer of the Telephone company.
Mr. Field has been treasurer and director of Mrs. E. B. Field the Denver Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Denver Club. Denver Athletic Club and Denver Country Club, a Royal Arch Mason. a Knight Templar and a Mystic Shriner.
CHAPTER XVII
THE PIONEERS FACED THE QUESTION OF SUPPLY
WATER
An Auraria City Water Company was formed in February, 1859. The plan was to bring the water by a ditch from a high point up Cherry creek to a reservoir, which they intended to bank up as high as the ditch flow would permit. This project was never carried out, yet it was the beginning of the vital water question.
In 1860 the Capital Hydraulic Company was organ- ized. with A. C. Hunt, Andrew Sagendorf, John M. Clark, Amos Steck, Turner and Hobbs, R. R. Bradford. J. B. Doyle and F. Z. Salomon as promoters. This com- pany proposed to construct a hydraulic canal from a. point up the Platte, with reservoir near the mouth of Dry creek.
Work was commenced on the ditch in 1860. but the promoters became discouraged, and the Capital Hydraulic disintegrated.
In 1861 the pioneers again put their shoulders to the wheel. Their project then became known as the Witter ditch, and later as the Mullen Mill ditch. They aban- doned the reservoir plan and started the ditch directly from the river at Little's ranch. After many trials and difficulties the ditch was completed to Denver. It cost a large sum of money for those days, but nothing ever gave more relief and satisfaction as watering the town by the old ditch.
While the mountains and plains surrounding Denver
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were magnificent, the town itself was dreary-no trees, no grass, no flowers, no water for irrigation; all the water for domestic purposes was obtained from wells or hauled from the river. Dust laden breezes often swept through the streets. December 23, 1864, a terrific wind-storm com- menced, which continued for three days without inter- ruption. People were taken off their feet by the powerful gale, and the air was darkened with flying rubbish. Major J. H. Fillmore, a prominent citizen, was pros- trated by the storm, and death soon followed.
In 1865, winding its way from far up the Platte. around the bluffs of Capitol Hill, came what is now called the "old city ditch," and its coming marked the beginning of tree planting and lawn making. Clear. sparkling water flowed at the sides of the streets, trees grew rapidly and vards were beautiful with grass and flowers. The gurgling water at the sides of the streets continued until the coming of the asphalt pavements.
WALTER SCOTT CHEESMAN
In 1861 W. S. Cheesman, a man who was destined to wield a great power in the water supply, came to Denver. He had spent the larger portion of his youth in Chicago. and had learned his first lessons in finance there. He at once decided that Denver had a future similar to Chi- cago, and bent his energies to be part of the growing greatness. In 1861 he opened the first drug store in Denver, near the corner of Fifteenth and Blake, and ran a successful business there until 1874. when he sold out to enter another larger field of work. He became closely associated with David H. Moffat and John Evans. and the three men formed the life of commercial enterprise in Denver at that time.
In 1868 they united in building the Denver Pacific railroad to Chevenne. Mr. Cheesman was for several
10
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1
Walter S. Cheesman
years the president of this company. He was active in the building of the Denver Boulder Valley railroad and the South Park road. This railroad boom determined the destiny of Denver, and checked Pueblo or Cheyenne from becoming the metropolis that Denver is today. The Union station was built by a company organized by Mr. Cheesman for that purpose. He also determined the loca- tion of the court house. Owing to the price then asked
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for the present site, the old County of Arapahoe contem- plated building the court house further out. Mr. Chees- man bought the ground and resold it to the county com- missioners at a price that they could pay. When others hesitated, he dared. His young enthusiasm and energy overcame all obstacles, and he made money, because he believed in Denver and always, by word or example, was ready to show his belief that nothing could keep Denver from being the great city of the West.
He had the prophetic vision and the courage that bring great things to pass. His rare judgment and firm faith are shown in the success of the large enterprises with which he was identified. He was one of the organ- izers of the International Trust Company, and served as a member of its executive committee continuously for more than fifteen years, a director of the Denver, North- western & Pacific Railway Company; a member of the Denver Real Estate Exchange. He was the most san- guine of all the young men who came in the early days. and his faith in Denver never waned. He bought real estate in hard times and good times. He founded great financial institutions as necessary links between Denver and the money centers of the East. He reached out into the mining regions of the State and helped develop mines, which in turn helped to develop Denver.
There was a strong humanitarian side to Mr. Chees- man's character. He was president of the Colorado Humane Society for many years and often exercised his power as an officer of this society to stop cruel treatment to children and animals. He was known repeatedly to leave his carriage and stop blows on overworked horses. A child or animal unable to defend itself always received his sympathy and assistance. A gentleman said: "One night when I was making my way across the street through a raging storm I saw a man coming towards me, leading a poor old lame horse. As he drew near, I saw
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it was Walter Cheesman. .Where are you going?' I called out. 'I saw this old horse,' he replied, 'staked out in a vacant lot, and I am taking it where it can be under shelter tonight,' and the multi-millionaire tramped away through the slush and the rain on his mission of mercy."
It is said that Walter Cheesman hypothecated every foot of real estate he owned in the world to save a friend who was in financial difficulty.
Before Mr. Cheesman had quit active railroad work he became interested in a company formed to supply water to Denver. The company was organized October 30, 1870; the capital stock was $150,000; Colonel Archer was president; David H. Moffat, treasurer; R. R. Mc- Cormick, secretary. Forming the board of directors were : Jerome B. Chaffee, Wilson Waddingham. E. W. McCook. E. F. Hallack, F. Z. Salomon, Walter S. Cheesman and Daniel Witter.
The population of Denver at this time was about 6,000. ยท Ultimately there was a division of interests, which resulted in a consolidation of the two plants under the name of the Denver Union Water Company. It was or- ganized in 1894, and was controlled by a pool of stock owned by David Moffat, W. S. Cheesman and Thomas Hayden. The valuation of the company's property grew to $25.000.000. Mr. Cheesman was elected to the impor- tant position of president. He was young. alert and ener- getic, and entered into the business with determination and vigor, but soon found loads of trouble.
He built great reservoirs, he devised systems of filtra- tion and distribution: under his direction the famous Cheesman dam was built. This dam created Lake Chees- man, which is the deepest artificial reservoir in the world for the storage of water for domestic supply, and forms an important element in the life of Denver. It is a feat of hydraulic engineering. and restrains 30,000.000.000
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Cheesman Dam
gallons of water, enough to supply Denver for three years.
The nerve-racking trials and misfortunes which at- tended the obtaining and maintaining of a sufficient sup- ply of water for the city, and the struggle between rival companies, the various changes in the management, would form a book of itself. Few men have ever faced greater difficulties or fiercer oppositions than those which con- fronted Walter Cheesman through the long years when he was seeking with unconquerable determination to build an adequate water plant which would make it possible for Denver to become a great city.
When we compare the first part of Denver's exist- ence-no grass, no flowers, no water for irrigation-with the beautiful city of today, we can, in a measure, realize how much we owe to the energy and courage of Walter S. Cheesman.
He was extremely reticent about personal affairs, and
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no one but the beneficiaries ever knew of the money he gave away. His pleasure was in kindly acts, and he was always a willing co-worker with anyone whose object was the good of Denver and the welfare of his fellow man.
CHEESMAN MEMORIAL
Erected to the memory of Walter Scott Cheesman, by his widow and daughter, in Cheesman Park
THE PIONEER CATTLE GROWERS
The cattle grazing enterprise of Colorado was initi- ated by Colonel Jack Henderson. He reached Denver in December, 1858, with a load of groceries, whisky and crackers forming the largest part.
He gave two barrels of whisky for a little island in the Platte, which was called "Henderson's Island." and is known by that name today. He immediately commenced grazing cattle for the pioneers, and demonstrated the fact that cattle would live and thrive on the open plains all through the winter.
The alert pioneers were quick to see the opportunity. and for many years great herds of cattle roved the range. The "cow boy" and the "cattle king" were figures around which romance and history were woven in the early days of Colorado. John W. Iliff was one of the most success- ful in the stock industry. In 1859 he crossed the plains to Denver and opened a grocery store, which he closed
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out in about a year and invested his money, two or three thousand dollars, in cattle. He made himself familiar with every detail of the business, rode the range and fol- lowed the round-up with his men, slept with them in the open, ate out of the "chuck wagon," and was as keen to detect his own brand as was any of his foremen. He secured government contracts for dressed beef. and in a short time furnished meat to the soldiers at all the mili- tary posts along the line of the Union Pacific railroad and to many Indian reservations. He established a large trade in dressed beef to butchers. Working in this way. he soon found himself in command of a thriving busi- ness, and for several years made his headquarters at the old Planter's House in Denver .*
Mr. Leach says: "The enterprise controlled by John W. Iliff rapidly assumed enormous proportions. His herds numbered from 30.000 to 40.000. head of cattle. valued at over a half million dollars. His range extended from Greeley eastward to Julesburg and from the Platte river north to Lodge Pole creek. Of this vast territory he owned personally 20.000 acres. He could travel over this area for a week at a time, and always eat and sleep at one of his own ranch houses. The chief station in this princely domain was located about forty miles from Julesburg, where there were houses. sheds. corrals. chutes and complete facilities for handling and branding stock. There were sections of fenced land on the Iliff range. some twenty or more houses, mowing machines, wagons. farming tools and nearly two hundred head of horses.
"Few men have ever grasped the cattle trade as firmly to its least detail, and fewer still have been willing to undergo equal hardships in order to acquire as much knowledge as he possessed. Too close application to business undermined his health. and Mr. Iliff succumbed
*I have taken the facts of this sketch from R. E. Leach's Sketches of Departed Pioneers.
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to the ravages of disease at the age of forty-six. He had faith in the future of Denver, and while the larger portion of his time was spent on the range in active superintendence of his interests. he maintained his resi- dence in this city.
"The title of 'Cattle King of the Plains' was justly his through no chance or freak of fortune. but by virtue of his steady. persistent and intelligent effort."
He took an interest in all educational matters and made many substantial gifts to institutions of learning.
6
I.W. ILIFF
W .H.H .CRANMER
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STOCKYARD STADIUM
Among the men who aided much to forward the growth of the stack raising industry in Colorado was W. H. H. Cranmer. He was one of the larger owners of cattle in the Byon region. His herds numbered thou- sands, and he amassed great wealth.
In the early 'SO's he came to Denver to give his chil- dren better educational advantages, and invested largely in real estate. He was interested in the movement which resulted in the founding of the Denver Stockyards by Henry A. Clough in 1880. and was one of the organizers
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of the Denver Packing Company. He, with Mr. Finis P. Ernest, built the Ernest and Cranmer block.
Mr. Cranmer, like all of the men who took part in the making of Colorado, lived a strenuous life. He over- estimated his strength and capacity for endurance, and died at the age of forty-nine.
His widow, Mrs. Martha J. Cranmer, and six chil- dren are prominent in the Denver of today-Mrs. W. P. McPhee, Mrs. W. C. Russell, W. H. H. Cranmer, George E. Cranmer. Catherine H. Cranmer and Mrs. Grover C. Coors.
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