History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 34

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

field dividing its business, the Reveille was com- pelled to yield to circumstances, and ceased to exist.

In the fall of 1878, Mr. W. F. Hogan, owner of the Mount Lincoln News, a paper published at Alma, also removed his paper to Leadville, and, re-christening it the Eclipse, started in as a rival to the Reveille. The daily was started a few weeks afterward, also published in the morning. The editor, a young gentleman of talent, lacked the business experience neces- sary to success in this department of business life, and was without the means to keep pace with the most exacting community in the United States. Consequently, after an exist- ence of about a year, it was also compelled to give up the ship, after a transfer of ownership to Mr. George F. Wanless, who made an inef- fectual attempt, under the name of the Eclipse- News, to rival the Chronicle in the afternoon field.

In the fall of 1878, three enterprising print- ers, of Denver, all attaches of the Tribune of that city, conceived the idea that Leadville would be a good field for the establishment of an afternoon daily, and one of the trio, Mr. James Burnell, was sent up to look over the ground. The boom had commenced, and Mr. Burnell found that there was a demand for something more than was supplied by the two morning papers, especially the publication of the dispatches, and the facilities for turning out good job work. He, accordingly, returned to Denver, and made a favorable report, and a co- partnership was formed with Mr. John Arkins, the present manager of the Denver News, Mr. C. C. Davis and Mr. Burnell. The aims of these gentlemen were modest. Like all others, they had no idea of the wonderful growth that has since resulted, and, in taking into account the purchase of material, made allowance only for a five column, four-page paper. An effort to secure the Associated Press dispatches failed, mainly through the efforts of the pro- prietor of one of the Denver papers, but this was no serious obstacle to men of their stamp, and arrangements were made for the summar- izing of the dispatches published in the morn- ing dailies of Denver, as well as all that could be secured from the afternoon paper, together with the local news of Denver, and sending them up as "specials. " The expense of this was enormous, sometimes reaching as high as

$500 per month, but, in providing for this, the proprietors exhibited an appreciation of the de- mands of the camp and a faith in the ultimate reward of enterprise of this character. The material was purchased in St. Louis, and shipped by rail to Canon City, whence it came by teams to Leadville, the freight bill alone being more than the original cost of the ma- terial. The first paper made its appearance early in February, 1878, and, at a single leap, the Chronicle took the position which it has since maintained. Bright and spicy, it was a source of enjoyment to all classes, and, in a very few days, its circulation ran up into the thousands, and not to have read the last Chron- icle was to argue a neglect of a daily duty almost inexcusable. The editorial department was under the supervision of Mr. Arkins. Mr. Davis assumed the business management, and Mr. Burnell had charge of the mechanical de- partment, and all three were worked to the ut- most limit of human capacity. It was but a few weeks before they were compelled to add another column, and during the summer still another column was made necessary by their increasing patronage. During the sum- mer, Mr. Burnell retired from the partnership to engage in mining pursuits, his few months' work returning him a profit of from three to four hundred per cent on his investment. In the fall of 1879, the paper was enlarged to an eight-column folio, and in January, 1880, to a nine-column folio, making it the largest even- ing paper between Chicago and the Pacific coast. The paper is now in the hands of Mr. C. C. Davis alone, Mr. Arkins having retired in 1880, and taken an interest in the News, of Denver, of which he is now the manager, and where he has displayed the same energy and ability which made him so successful in Lead- ville. The remarkable success of the Chronicle is a conspicuous illustration of what can be accomplished by intelligent industry, backed by an enterprising community.

The rapid advances of the Chronicle attracted the attention of newspaper men in all parts of the State, and during the summer of 1879, a large number visited the camp for the purpose of looking over the field. The result of this inspection was the organization, early in Sep- tember, of a stock company, composed of a number of the leading men of the city, for the publication of a morning paper which should

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meet the growing demands of the city. The capital stock was fixed at $15,000, and at the first meeting enough was subscribed to justify the promoters in purchasing the material. The type and presses were purchased in Chicago, and on the 21st of October, 1879, the first copy of the Daily Herald made its appear- ance. It was also a success from its inception. Starting modestly, with a seven-column-paper, it was compelled, on the 17th of December, to enlarge to eight columns, and then, on the 3d of February, to make a still further enlarge- ment of a column. The business of the camp forced it to nearly double the material pur- chased within the first six months. A com- plete bindery was attached to the establish- ment; the newest styles of machinery and type were procured, and the entire office put in a condition to compare favorably with the best printing establishments in the country. At the end of a year, 30 per cent on the capital stock was divided among the stockholders, the undi- vided profits amounting to an additional 50 per cent. The Herald, like the Chronicle, is Stalwart Republican in politics, and has ac- quired a reputation second to none in the State, which fact is equally true of all its competit- ors. Like the Chronicle, it has from its incep- tion been under the control and management of practical men, trained to the business from youth, and, like the Chronicle, owes its success to this fact, as well as to the liberality of its stockholders, all of whom are gentlemen of business training, who have been content to leave the management unmolested-a rare thing among newspaper stockholders.

The success which had attended the Chronicle and Herald, and the fact that both these papers were Republican in politics, suggested to prominent Democrats the propriety of establish- ing a Democratic paper in Leadville. The originator of the idea was Mr. John M. Barret, the present editor of the Omaha Herald, then manager of the Rocky Mountain News, one of the most talented and versatile journalists in the State, who had in the short space of two years forced himself into prominence, not only in his profession, but as a leader of his political party, whose word went very far toward being the law to his party. He succeeded in inter- esting Hon. W. A. H. Loveland, the owner of the News, in the project, and a stock company was formed, Mr. Loveland taking the principal

interest, the remainder being taken by promi- nent Democrats of Leadville. Like the Herald, the stockholders were composed of the best men of the city, of a character which would in- sure the respectability of the paper. A com- plete outfit was purchased, and on the 1st of January, 1880, the paper, christened the Demo- crat, made its appearance, in size and make-up the same as the Denver dailies. The first editor was Mr. M. J. Gavisk, at the present time Private Secretary to Gov. Pitkin. The health of Mr. Gavisk did not permit him to re- main in the high altitude of Leadville, and after a few months of service he was compelled to resign, greatly to the regret, not only of his associates in business, but of his contempora- ries. The general management of the paper was vested in Mr. Barret, who directed its policy from Denver, and the business manage- ment in Mr. W. F. Robinson, a gentleman of large experience in the News office at Denver. During the memorable strike, a difference arose between the management and the Leadville stockholders in regard to the proper method of treating the efforts of the miners, and the ex- citing scenes which ensued. The result was an entire change of management. The Love- land party disposed of their stock, Mr. James T. Smith, now the editor of the Denver News, resigned, and the entire control passed into the hands of Leadville parties. The editorial con- trol passed into the hands of Col. J. L. Bar- tow, who still retains the position. The Democrat has from the start maintained itself well, and has been conducted with marked ability, all of its successive editors having been gentlemen of long journalistic experience and pre-eminent ability.

The next newspaper venture was the Times, an afternoon paper, started during the summer of 1880 by a stock company, under the man- agement of Mr. George F. Wanless. The en- terprise was short-lived, Mr. Wanless not hav- ing the necessary experience, and the field be- ing so completely filled by the Chronicle, and early in 1881 the material was sold for a news- paper enterprise in Durango.

There have been several other attempts at journalism in Leadville, but there is a limit to all things, and while no community in the West is more liberal in the distribution of newspaper patronage, the three dailies cover the ground so thoroughly that there has been

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small opportunities for profitable investment in smaller enterprises. The Zeitung, a German weekly, the Monday Morning News, the Carbon- ate Camp, and several other ventures have been established, and have successively dropped out of sight.

The gentlemen now corinected with the press of the city, in responsible positions, and who will doubtless continue, all being large owners in the papers they respectively represent, are

C. C. Davis, editor and proprietor of the Chron- icle ; J. L. Bartow, editor, and W. F. Robinson, business manager, of the Democrat ; R. G. Dill. manager and editor, W. P. Newhard, superin- tendent, and F. H. Conant, mining editor, of the Herald.

To the press of Leadville the city owes much of its present prosperity, and it is gratifying to record the fact that nowhere in the country are the newspapers more liberally sustained.

CHAPTER XIII.

PUBLIC CONVENIENCES AND INSTITUTIONS.

A COMMUNITY like that of Leadville, composed in the main of business men, fresh from the marts of the East, in which all of the conveniences of the nineteenth century were in operation, could not remain long in the rapidly growing camp without taking steps to secure these conveniences in their new location, and, consequently, very early in the history of Leadville pressure was exerted to bring into the city such public conveniences and institutions as would facilitate business. Among the first demanded was

THE TELEGRAPH.

The enterprise of the Western Union Com- pany was prompt in meeting the demand, and in the fall of 1878, the camp was in communi- cation with the outside world, and the quota- tions of silver and exchange, instead of coming from Denver by mail, were delivered directly to those interested. The construction of the line, and the keeping it in repair, was a work of great difficulty. The wire was brought from Alma across the Mosquito Pass, at an elevation of 13,000 feet above sea level, and required constant attention, owing to the fre- quent storms which visit that elevation. The work of repairing the line was fraught with great danger, and frequently the operators would be caught in a storm, and only find their way back with the greatest difficulty. On one occasion, one of the most daring of the con- struction corps made the necessary repairs during a storm of such fierceness, that he was compelled to work his way across the pass, a

distance of nearly two miles, by crawling along flat on the ground, in order to save himself from being blown over the precipice. The con- nections of the railroads, however, gave the city another line to the East, and the frequent interruptions which characterized the earlier history of telegraphy in Leadville are at end. Four operators, with several messenger boys, are now kept constantly employed, and the office is next in importance to that of Den- ver, and is one of the most profitable in the State. During 1880, the receipts of the office were more than $40,000, and the service of press reports alone, which commenced on the 1st of January of that year, amounted to 1,496,342 words.

THE BANKS.

The banks of Leadville are institutions of which any city of the size might well feel proud, and are doing a business which is the clearest indication of the prosperity of the city.

The first bank to commence operations in Leadville was the Miners' Exchange, which was organized and commenced business on the 15th of April, 1878. The bank is a partnership, composed of Messrs. James B. McFerran, George Trimble and A. V. Hunter, with a cash capital of $25,000. The bank has done a fine business from its inception, and is justly con- sidered one of the safest and most reliable in- stitutions in the city.

In October, 1878, the Bank of Leadville was organized, with a cash capital of $50,000, the of- ficers being H. A. W. Tabor, President ; August Rische, Vice President, and George R. Fisher,

TWIN LAKES, NEAR LEADVILLE.

MANITOU AND PIKE'S PEAK.

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

Cashier. Under the active personal manage- ment of Mr. Fisher, the bank has grown to be one of the most solid institutions of the West. The business of 1880 is a fair indication of its standing, and was as follows: Deposits re- ceived, $61,000,000 ; checks paid, $31,000,000; exchange bought, $16,000,000; exchange sold, $15,000,000 ; telegraph transfer paid, $1,334,- 000 ; telegraph transfer sold, $412,000. At the opening of the present year there were $50,000 of surplus funds on hand.

The First National Bank was organized on the 1st of April, 1879, with a capital of $60,- 000, and with J. T. Eshelman as President ; F. A. Raynolds, Vice President, and John W. Zollars, Cashier. Snbsebuently Mr. Eshelman resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. Raynolds. The business of the bank is large, and con- stantly increasing. The surplus on hand Jan- uary 1, 1881, was $15,000.

During the summer of 1879, Messrs. L. M. and L. J. Smith, two gentlemen well known in the financial circles of the State, started the Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank, with a cash capital of $25,000. Mr. L. J. Smith is the resident manager of the institution, which, like every other business enterprise properly con- ducted in Leadville, has been a handsome suc- cess from the start.

In June, 1880, the City Bank was organized under the State laws, as a stock company, in which a large number of the leading citizens of Leadville are stockholders. The capital is $50,000, and the business since its establish- ment has been of the most satisfactory character. The officers are : C. C. Howell, President; James Streeter, Vice President, and S. M. Strickler, Cashier.

THE WATER COMPANY.

Very soon after the growth of the city com- menced, the difficulty of getting water for do- mestic purposes, and the danger from fire, on ac- count of the character of a majority of the build- ings, attracted public attention, and a perma- nent source of water supply was demanded. A company was formed early in 1878, and in the fall of that year commenced operations. The water is taken from Big Evans Gulch, across which, at a distance of two miles from the city, a dam has been constructed three hundred and eighty feet long, thirty feet wide and thirty feet deep. From this dam eight-inch pipes conduct the water to the reservoir on Carbonate Hill,

located something over one hundred and fifty feet above the average level of the city. The capacity of the reservoir is 60,000 gallons, and in order to guard against possible accident, a well has been dug in the edge of California Gulch, with a capacity of 30,000 gallons and fed by a living stream from which, in case of neces- sity, water is pumped into the reservoir by a twenty horse power engine and a Knowles pump. There are at present about ten miles of mains in the city and along Carbonate Hill, many of the mines being supplied with water from this source. The pressure is so heavy that when the reservoir is full the water is forced through the pipes of the fire apparatus to the height of one hundred and twenty-five feet, and fires, oc- curring in the most inflammable buildings, have been dashed out even after having obtained ab- solute control upon the buildings. The city is supplied for fire purposes through forty-eight hydrants, properly located so as to bring all of the principal portions of the city under the con- trol of the water. Several hundred private dwellings are supplied with water by the com- pany. The company at its first meeting select- ed as President Mr. J. S. D. Manville, Secretary and Treasurer, H. W. Lake, and Superintendent, Joseph C. Cramer. These officers have been re-elected at each meeting of the company, and still have the management of the company. The company is now contemplating improve- ments in its works, and before another year has elapsed the water system of Leadville will be one of the most complete in the country.

THE GAS WORKS.

The formation of the Leadville Gas Com- pany dates back to March 18, 1879, when the articles of incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State. In the following May ground for the works was broken, and in Au- gust a contract was entered into with the city for illuminating the streets. The incorporators were Dennis Sullivan, C. L. Hall and George R. Fisher, Messrs Sullivan and Fisher being respectively President and Secretary and Treas- urer of the company for the first year. The work of construction was pushed as rapidly as possible, and on Tuesday November 18, 1879, the first gas jets in the history of Leadville illuminated the Tabor Opera House. Until the railroad reached Leadville in July, 1880, the coal had to be brought from Canon City by

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wagon, at an enormous expense, but the patron- age of the company justified the outlay, and nothing was allowed to interfere with the ob- jects and progress of the institution. Such an obstacle as the hauling of coal by a wagon over a hundred miles would have been insuperable in the East-here it was but a stimulus to ex- ertion, and the present financial standing of the company is a most ample justification of the extra expense at first incurred. The city has ninety street lamps, and something over three hundred` private dwellings are supplied with gas. The daily mannfacture and consumption is in the neighborhood of sixty thousand feet. The quality of the gas, since certain imperfec- tions in the construction have been remedied, is excellent; the lights being, on an average, fifteen candle power, sometimes reaching as high as twenty-one and twenty-two. The Com- pany is at present officered as follows : Presi- dent, H. A. W. Tabor, Secretary and Treasurer, W. H. Bush, and Superintendent, Charles L. Hall. It is said to be one of the handsomest paying institutions in the city, and is certainly one of which every citizen of Leadville is proud.

THE TELEPHONE.

The Telephone Exchange was organized early in 1879, with H. A. W. Tabor as President, and in a very short time became one of the permanent and paying institutions of the city. There are now in operation over sixty miles of wire, connecting in the neighborhood of three hundred instruments, and nowhere in the United States is this important invention put to greater or more constant use. All of the mines and smelters have telephone connections, and from morning till night and from night till morning there is scarcely an instant during which the warning of the little bell is not heard in some portion of the city. All of the instruments are of the latest, improved devices, and the facilita- tions for business in a city like Leadville be- tween such far distant points is one of the most important conveniences of the city. The com- pany is at present under the management of Mr. H. C. Clay.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The Fire Department of Leadville is another of those institutions, demanded by the necessi- ties of the situation, which have grown to full stature in the briefest possible time, and it is

not saying too much to say that for complete- ness, thoroughness of organization, perfection of discipline and general efficiency it has no superior in the State. But few large fires have occurred in the city, but those would have de- veloped into extensive conflagrations had it not been for the activity, energy and experience of the gallant young men composing the de- partment.

The first organization was that of the Harri- son Hook and Ladder Company, which was effected in June, 1878. The truck was presented to the company by Mr. Edwin Harrison, of St. Louis, in honor of whom it was named. For six months this was the only company in the city, the water works not being completed, rendering the organization of hose companies unnecessary. During that time, however, there were no fires of importance.

On the 15th day of March, 1879, a number of citizens held a meeting and organized the Tabor Hose Company, Mr. H. A. W. Tabor pre- senting the company with a hose carriage, and Mr. Mitchell Dawes presenting them with a jumper. The company has done excellent service, and is a favorite with the citizens, especially those whose property has been saved from destruction by them.

During the fall of 1879, the Bush Hose Com- pany was organized from among the residents of Leadville, formerly members of the fire de- partment of Denver, most of whom were from the favorite Archer Hose of that city. The company was in existence but a few months when they disbanded, most of the members be- ing young business men who could not spare from their business the time necessary to de- vote to the affairs of the company.

The organization of the Humphreys Hose Company, named after the Mayor of the city at the time, followed closely upon the disband- ment of the Bush hose, the organization bear- ing date August 6, 1880. This company is still in existence, the entire department consist- ing of two hook and ladder trucks, both in charge of the Harrisons, and two hose com- panies, each having a carriage and a jumper.

The city has on hand nearly 6,000 feet of serviceable hose, and is ready at any time to meet and conquer any fire. Two or three times during the past year serious conflagrations have occurred, and have been kept under by the efforts of the department, which exhibits

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a courage, energy, and perfect submission to discipline rarely excelled even by the paid de- partments of Eastern cities.

The fire alarm telegraph system was put in operation during 1879, and has proved a valu- ahle assistance to the extinguishment of fires. There are nine boxes properly distributed through the city.

The Chief of the fire department is paid a fixed salary, and with the assistance of his as- sistant, also under salary, acts as Fire Warden, having a care to the proper construction of buildings with reference to risk from fire, and all the other methods of protecting the city.

Leadville has been singularly free from the disastrous couflagrations to which mining towns so frequently fall victims, a fact that can only be explained by the unusual efficiency of its fire department.

THE MILITARY.

Among the most prominent of the military institutions of Leadville are its military com- panies, which are a just source of pride to the city. The list of companies comprises the Tabor Light Cavalry, the Pitkin Cavalry, the Carbonate Rifles, the Wolfe Tone Gnards, Com- pany E, C. N. G., and the Union Veteran Asso- ciation, an organization of Veterans of the late war, who have formed a military company from their ranks.

In point of seniority, the Wolfe Tone Guards are first, having been organized in July, 1879. The company has some sixty active members on the roll, is completely equipped, and is one of the best companies in the camp. During the strike, owing to some misunderstanding, they were disarmed by order of the Governor, and in a fit of natural indignation took steps looking to disbandment. The error was discovered in time, however, and the arms were restored. In the fall of 1879, when the Ute troubles arose in the White River Reservation, an organization, effected for the express purpose of service in the Indian country, took the name of the Car- bonate Rifles. When the excitement passed away, the organization was formed into a per- manent military company and regularly mus- tered into the State Service. This company is also fully equipped and officered, and numbers about sixty active members.

In April, 1880, the Pitkin Light Cavalry was organized and the officers elected. Being

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 34

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 1080

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080