USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume II > Part 40
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In the beginning, Chestnut street extending from the mines straight down through Leadville almost to the borders of the Arkansas
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River, became by a common movement, its chief thoroughfare, but in January, 1879, W. H. Bush, Col. John Arkins, and a few other intrepid spirits, forecasting the future with characteristic perspicuity, made a quick diversion of settlement to Harrison avenue. Six months later it became the principal business artery of the town. Bush had acquired some celebrity as a hotel manager in Kansas, and latterly from his conduct of the Teller House at Central City. When the triumph of the new district began to be apparent to every mind, he converted all his available possessions into cash,-which gave him at best only a small capital,-and with it repaired to Leadville. Plunging into the very thickest of the wild scramble going on there, he soon realized from fortunate speculations in real estate and mines, funds enough to justify him in carrying out his cherished plan for a large hotel, which he foresaw would yield him a golden harvest. Selecting an eligible site on Harrison avenue, he built the Clarendon. Lumber was worth in the market $50 to $60 a thousand feet, and scarce, even at those figures. The greater part, perhaps all of the lumber and other materials used in this structure had to be transported over the mountains,-mainly from Denver,-in wagons at the high tariffs then prevailing. Workmen were few and wages high. The hotel was completed and opened April 10th, 1879. All the luxuries of the table, and most of the staples were brought from Denver by stage express at heavy expense. It was no sooner opened than it was filled, and thenceforward a source of great profit to its owner. It was soon supplemented by the erection of the Tabor Opera House, just a few yards above, on the same side of the street. From the date when Mr. Bush commenced the Clarendon, the future of the avenue, as the chief business emporium of the city, became a certainty. The hotel became also the headquarters of mine managers, speculators and travelers. In an incredibly short time, Bush, by the rapidity and sagacity of his financial schemes, was recognized as one of the leading spirits of the town.
The enormous immigration, and the impossibility of providing all with mining claims, since the entire face of the region round about had
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been taken by prior arrivals, soon compelled a series of explorations across the divide in Summit County. Early in the spring of 1879, though the country was thickly covered with snow, multitudes turned their faces toward Ten Mile District and Eagle River. In a short time the town of Carbonateville was established, but being injudiciously located with respect to the better mines subsequently opened, it was soon abandoned and fell into decay.
The Robinson group of mines was discovered in 1878. These, with others, the White Quail, Wheel of Fortune, and great numbers of lesser value, stimulated the belief for a time that the equal, if not the superior, of Leadville had been found. The town of Kokomo, now a deserted ruin, was founded February 8th, 1879. The Robinson mines* were discovered in the fall of 1878 by Charles Jones and John Y. Shedden, who were sent out by Mr. George B. Robinson, then a Lead- ville merchant, who furnished the supplies, and was to be accorded one- half of each mine they might discover. In June following they found and located the ten deposits which afterward attained much celebrity under the designation, "Robinson Group." Toward the close of that year Robinson purchased the interests of his partners, and in April, 1880, organized in New York the Robinson Consolidated Mining company, with a capital stock of $10,000,000. The town of Robinson was founded the same year. Robinson built a fine hotel there and made the place the principal business point in Summit County ; estab- lished a banking house, erected quite extensive smelting works, en- couraged many public enterprises adapted to the locality, and became one of the public men of the day. In November, 1880, so great was his popularity, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of the State, though he had been a resident only two years.
Pursuing his meteoric career to its tragic conclusion, it may be stated that, owing to a dispute between his company and a party of contestants led by Capt. J. W. Jacque, over the ownership of a mine called the Smuggler, which threatened to terminate in armed conflict,
* From R. G. Dill's sketch of Ten Mile region.
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Mr. Robinson placed guards, with rifles in their hands, about his property with orders to keep out intruders, and to fire upon any one not authorized, who should attempt to enter the mine. On the evening of November 27th, Robinson, while on a round of inspection to ascertain if the guards were in their places, it having been reported to him that Capt. Jacque was about to take forcible possession, went to the door of his barricaded tunnel, but without making himself known. The guard stationed inside, true to his instructions, demanded to know who was there, but without awaiting a reply, instantly fired. The bullet struck Robinson in the side, and on the 29th he died from the wound.
Thus the State lost its Lieutenant Governor, and one of its brightest and ablest young men. In the height of their prosperity, or during the time of Robinson's management, and for a short time after- ward, these mines were very productive and profitable, but the yields did not continue. While they have been operated at various times with favorable results, their glory departed with the ephemeral fame of the Carbonate era, and are now but one of the traditions of that memorable time.
The Denver & South Park Railway reached Buena Vista early in 1880, but instead of proceeding to Leadville pushed on toward Gunnison, having made an arrangement for the use of the Rio Grande track, when it should be completed, for its connection with the Carbonate camp. After the cancellation of their lease to the Santa Fé, the directors of the Rio Grande pushed their road rapidly up the Arkansas River, arriving at Leadville July 20th, 1880. It was extended to Robinson December 27th, and to Red Cliff in March, 1882. The intro- duction of rapid transit was an important factor in reducing all things to a substantial basis.
During 1879 valuable discoveries were made in Chaffee, Gunnison and Pitkin Counties, each induced by the immigration to Leadville, from whose original population all these counties were largely peopled and developed. Much of the overflow extended to and rejuvenated the San Juan region. It led to the building of many new towns, to the
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opening of coal and iron mines in Gunnison, and to the exploration of a very large scope of country, that has since become largely productive. The first discoveries at Aspen and Ashcroft, were made by Leadville prospectors, as well as those at Red Cliff, Robinson and other portions of Summit County.
From 1879 until 1882-'83, the large population of the Upper Arkansas valley exercised a dominating influence upon the politics of the State. They sent down to the conventions at Denver overwhelming delegations, based upon their own estimates of numbers, which ranged between twenty and fifty thousand, present and prospective, and by persistent bulldozing compelled their admission to seats. As a rule, they accomplished their purposes in directing the nominations, securing for themselves a liberal allotment of the desirable offices. Though some- what more moderate in later years, Lake County still continues to exert, if not a controlling influence in State affairs, at least a very perceptible force in shaping its political ends.
As in every other city and town, the newspapers have borne a con- spicuous part in the general development and progress. The first journalistic venture was a weekly, called the Leadville " Reveille," pub- lished by Richard S. Allen, who had acquired some experience, first as solicitor and correspondent of the "Miner's Register" at Central City, and next as editor and proprietor of the Fairplay "Sentinel." In August, 1878, he moved the presses and material of the "Sentinel" to Leadville, and begun publishing the " Reveille." A short time after- ward Mr. W. F. Hogan, editor of the Mount Lincoln " News" at Alma, transferred his office to the same point, changed the name of the paper to the "Eclipse," issued it in weekly form for a few weeks, and then took the bolder venture of a daily.
The greatest newspaper ever established in Lake County, and the only one that has successfully weathered the crucial tests of time, which exercised greatest influence in moulding public policy, outstripping all contemporaries and ultimately absorbing their remains ; which still sur- vives, and still continues to exert a powerful control, was the "Chronicle."
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In November, 1878, three printers, John Arkins, Carlyle C. Davis and James Burnell, employed upon the Denver "Tribune," the first as foreman of the mechanical department, the second as compositor at the case, and the third as assistant foreman, were, by the circumstances subjoined, induced to form a partnership and establish a daily newspaper and job printing office at Leadville.
Burnell, younger and perhaps more impressionable than his associ- ates, had been made somewhat restless by the exciting reports from that direction, being weary of the laborious routine of the composing room, and fired with ambition to expend his splendid virile strength in a field where fame and riches were to be gained, resolved to explore it. It was arranged with Arkins and Davis that he should go there and "prospect," either for mines or an eligible business opportunity in their joint behalf, reporting from time to time the result of such investigations. Burnell took the South Park Railway to its terminus in Platte Cañon, proceeding thence by stage to the Carbonate camp, via Weston Pass. After looking over the situation, the mines and the general aspect of affairs, he was offered a third interest in the Robert E. Lee mine for $1,500, but scornfully rejected it as an extremely hazardous investment, since it was then but a mere prospect of no particular value, and thereby escaped the fortune of a millionaire, for only a few months later it developed into the richest mine in the district. He was not long in discovering, however, that a well conducted daily paper, with a com- mercial printing office attached, would be, on the whole, safer and more certain to men of his training than mining, therefore wrote his im- pressions to his partners, who, approving, wired him to return and report in person. He did so, and the organization of a company to perfect the scheme was immediately executed. The conference lasted most of the night.
Each had lain by from his savings about one thousand dollars, which, reinforced by a small loan, furnished the wherewithal for the purchase of type, presses and material. In the next issue of the "Tribune" their plan was announced, and the Ist of January, 1879,
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fixed as the date on which the Leadville " Daily Chronicle " would make its appearance in the new field. Although their anticipations were not fully consummated as to date, they were auspiciously fulfilled toward the · close of that month.
Mr. Davis started at once for St. Louis, and there purchased the requisite plant. Arkins proceeded to Leadville, secured a location on Harrison avenue, and erected a small frame building thereon, Burnell assuming his duties on the "Tribune" and managing them until the others should be ready for his co-operation. Their presses and material reached Colorado Springs January 8th, 1879, and were shipped thence over the mountains in the depth of winter. All the roads were buried in snow, and the weather was extremely cold. Several accidents occurred en route, which well nigh exhausted the patience and profane resources of the hardy freighters. Arkins had bought for two hundred and fifty dollars a squatter's title to the lot he held on Harrison avenue. As an illustration of the rapid rise of real estate in that quarter after the tide of popular selection began to center there, it may be stated that he was offered $3,300 for his title within six weeks after the transfer.
After many vexatious delays the office was put in order, and on the 29th of January the initial number of the "Chronicle" was issued. It was a small five column folio, and sold at ten cents a copy. Arkins assumed editorial control. Mr. Davis conducted the business depart- ment, and Burnell directed the other working forces. The first day three hundred copies were sold; the second, seven hundred, and within a month they were printing and selling twenty-five hundred copies daily. Finding their material inadequate to the demand, new supplies were ordered and the paper enlarged. Before the close of 1879 their circulation mounted to 5,000 copies daily. A weekly edition, made up from the daily issues, was published every Sunday morning, when the miners were down from the hills, and the streets alive with people, all eager to secure the latest news. The growth of this hebdomadal became one of the surprising features of the enterprise. The first edition of five hundred was soon increased to seven thousand.
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In reviewing the early struggles of the proprietors, Major Henry Ward, a veteran journalist, and one of the ablest and most venerated in the profession, wrote as follows: "Editorials were written on the ends of boxes ; local sensations were strung out on imposing stones, the writers meantime dodging the job printers, and paragraphs were constructed on the edges of cases. The bookkeeper prodded the com- positor as he moved his pen; the job foreman jostled the table of the editor as he sought a new font of type, the carrier boy squirmed around among the legs of printers, editors and all, as he came in after his papers; as the editor stretched out his feet he pied a case or two of type. At night (owing to the scarcity of lodgings elsewhere) the building served as a lodging house for the entire force, twenty in number. They corded themselves up on the floor, or laid themselves away on narrow shelves along the walls. Job work came in a literal avalanche to bewilder and almost overwhelm, and to tax type and presses and room beyond reason. Prices ruled high. Everything was. cash ; money came in rapidly."
The demand for the paper was so great, the presses were kept run- ning until 9 o'clock in the evening. Its success was assured from the first issue. Every inch of available space was crowded with adver- tisements at any rates the business manager chose to assess, and as his modesty rarely interfered with his judgment, the bills were fearful to contemplate. As a natural result they made money at a rate that astounded them.
On the Ist of July, 1879, Mr. Burnell disposed of his interest to Arkins and Davis, retired with a net return of $3,720 as his share of the profits from five months' operation, and thereafter engaged in mining at Red Cliff. He purchased several undeveloped claims in the mineral belt, among them the "Iron Mask." In September, 1881, he returned to Denver, and took charge of the mechanical forces of the "Rocky Mountain News," then owned by W. A. H. Loveland. May 19th, 1884, he sold the "Iron Mask" to W. F. Lay and associates for $25,000 cash, a claim which in its development by the new owners
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came to be the most productive in the region, and at one time was valued at $2,000,000. Here a second time Mr. Burnell missed the tide that led on to a colossal fortune.
Owing to ill health and excessive application to editorial work in the lofty altitude of Leadville, Mr. Arkins, on the Ist of April, 1880, sold his interest to Mr. Davis for $10,000, went east for a short vacation, and in June following purchased a fourth interest in the " Rocky Mountain News," of which he assumed the editorial and busi- ness management. Under the scandalous conduct of his predecessor, Barrett, the paper had fallen into a dangerous decline of patronage and character, but in a short time Arkins, by his fine abilities as a writer and superior business management, restored it to the front rank of western journals. Thenceforward the primal reputation of the "News" has been steadily maintained. On the 2d of March, 1886, John Arkins, his brother Maurice and James Burnell, purchased the entire establishment, becoming sole and equal owners. In August, 1887, Maurice died. His widow retained his interest until February, 1888, when it was purchased by John Arkins and James Burnell, the surviving partners.
As sole proprietor of the " Leadville Chronicle," Mr. Davis met with even greater success than had been achieved in the first years of its establishment, by directing his superb abilities to the conduct of his paper, and to the concentration of its power. Its rapid rise and unex- ampled advancement, however, soon attracted sharp competitors, the first of whom was Captain R. G. Dill of Denver, who organized a joint stock company, and on the 21st of October, 1879, began publishing the " Leadville Daily Herald." Like its predecessor, it advocated the prin- ciples of the Republican party, published a large amount of news from the mines, with other current intelligence, and soon became one of the most admirable newspapers of the State. In the heated political contests of the period, when that city largely dominated the conventions of both parties, the local Democracy, being without an organ, was placed at a disadvantage, hence Mr. Loveland, proprietor of the " Rocky Mountain News," inspired by his editor-in-chief, John M.
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Barrett, resolved to establish one in the Carbonate camp. A stock company was formed and the "Daily Democrat " established, the initial number appearing January Ist, 1880. Its first editor was M. J. Gavisk, a young man possessing superior capabilities as a reporter, developed upon the Denver press, but scarcely fitted for the higher duties of chief control. It may be stated to his credit, however, that no man in the profession enjoyed a larger share of the respect and esteem of the craft than he, for he was a gentleman whom to know was to admire and love, for the perfect purity of his life and character, as well as for his incom- parable excellence as a news gatherer and compiler. His delicate physique and feeble health soon gave way under the strain of these unaccustomed duties, and compelled his resignation. He returned to Denver, and became private secretary to Governor Pitkin, and soon after passed to his long account, and, it is hoped, to the eternal joy which he so richly deserved.
He was succeeded by Captain James T. Smith, an editor of much renown, capable of more hard work, perhaps, than any of his brethren, who has been more than twenty years engaged as principal editorial writer on the "News," and is to-day apparently unworn and as vigorous as when he began, and rarely known to take a vacation or suffer the slightest inconvenience from ill health. Mr. W. F. Robinson, now cashier and assistant manager of the Denver "Republican," also a graduate of the pioneer newspaper, the "News," assumed the business management. The enterprise made flattering progress under these auspices, until the great miners' strike which has been elsewhere epito- mized, when, owing to a division of sentiment respecting its attitude in that crisis, Loveland withdrew, and the Leadville stockholders assumed charge, employing Colonel J. L. Bartow as editor-in-chief.
A year or two later Mr. C. C. Davis absorbed both the " Herald" and the " Democrat," and consolidated the three establishments under his personal direction and ownership. While others have attempted to invade the field, his only competitor of importance at this writing (1889) is the " Dispatch," conducted by Mr. P. A. Leonard.
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A number of banks were organized during the booming period, and such as were managed by experienced and prudent men, who, by wise discrimination, knew when to grant credits and when to refuse, who avoided speculation and restricted their accounts to the basis of reliable security, were measurably successful. Three of these insti- tutions that sprang up and flourished ostentatiously when all things were inflated to their highest tension, fell into ruin through profligate management, and two of them were shipwrecked by the dishonesty of the controlling powers.
The Lake County bank was established in May, 1878. In April, 1879. it was converted into the First National, with a capital stock of $60,000. J. T. Eshelman was chosen president, F. A. Raynolds, vice- president, and John W. Zollars, cashier. Some time later Mr. Eshel- man resigned and was succeeded by Mr. Raynolds.
The Miners' Exchange, a private bank, with a capital of $25,000, was organized and opened for business April 15th, 1878, by James B. McFerran, George Trimble and A. V. Hunter, all of Colorado Springs.
The Bank of Leadville was organized in October 1878, with a capital of $50,000; H. A. W. Tabor, president, August Rische, vice- president, and George R. Fisher, cashier, and soon assumed the head- ship of financial affairs. Its business for 1880, as epitomized by Dill, showed total deposits amounting to $61,000,000; checks paid, to $31,000,000; exchange bought, $16,000,000 ; exchange sold, $15,- 000,000 ; telegraph transfers paid, $1,334,000; telegraph transfers sold, $412,000.
The Merchants' and Mechanics bank was established in the summer of 1879, by L. M. and L. J. Smith, with a capital of $25,000, and the City bank in June, 1880, with a capital of $50,000; C. C. Howell, president, James Streeter, vice-president, and S. M. Strickler, cashier.
The prodigious growth of the city, and the magnitude of trans- actions in ore, bullion and general traffic, frequently drained the banks of currency, when resort was had to those of Denver. Prior to the completion of the railways, when road agents haunted the stage routes,
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and banditti swarmed everywhere, it was a perilous matter to transfer large sums of money from Denver to Leadville. In many cases indi- viduals possessing honesty and courage, were employed to make the venture on horseback, or in light vehicles with swift horses. Notwith- standing the dangers apprehended, not an instance of robbery occurred.
Very few, if indeed any of the well established mines in this won- derful district can be said to be wholly exhausted, though from most of the celebrities of the first three years only a small tonnage is now pro- duced. The Maid of Erin combination, and the Iron-Silver-Mining company are still producing enormously and have immense reserves blocked out for future supply. It is estimated by the manager of the company first named, Mr. Eben Smith, that the value of the reserves in that property, in silver and lead, ascertained by trustworthy tests, is from five to six millions of dollars, and it is undoubtedly the greatest mine in the world thus far developed. The A. Y. & Minnie group ; those of the Mikado company; the Terrible, Silver Cord, Dunkin, Matchless and others on Fryer Hill, the Morning and Evening Stars, with many others, are still contributing considerable amounts of good ore.
The prestige of the Small Hopes combination, which for nearly four years paid very large dividends, the whole amounting to $3,- 112,000 over and above all expenses, has waned, and the payment of dividends stopped, but the owners are not without hope that the present system of extensive exploitations will be rewarded by the dis- covery of other bonanzas.
From 1878 down to the time of the removal of the Grant smelter to Denver, and the Billings & Eiler to Pueblo, Leadville was the chief smelting center of the State. At present writing only four concerns are in operation there : The American, with five furnaces; the Arkansas Valley, with seven ; the Harrison Reduction works, with four, and the Manville, with three.
According to local statisticians, Lake County has produced, from 1879 to 1888 inclusive, silver being reckoned at its coin value (129.29 per fine ounce), and lead at the average commercial rate, a total of
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$135,568,773, or an average of $15,063,177 annually, for the entire period. While it is impossible to obtain the exact figures, it must be apparent to those familiar with the facts, that in the sum total are included such of the products of Summit, Eagle, Park, Chaffee, and possibly of Gunnison counties that have been shipped to the smelters at Leadville, which in some years was quite large. My own opinion is, though it cannot be justified, for the reason that there is no way of determining the amount and value of the contributions from exterior sources, that a fair average for Lake County is about $12,000,000 per annum, or $108,000,000 for the nine years. Even this estimate gives a larger total than any other silver mining district of the world has pro- duced in the corresponding time.
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