USA > Colorado > Arapahoe County > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 29
USA > Colorado > Denver County > Denver > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
The winter of 1874-75 was one of unusual severity, especially in Denver. On the 9th of January, the thermometer dropped to 32° below zero, four degrees below the famous cold March of 1868. The January cold was accompanied by a big snow, which delayed trains in every direction, even worse out on the Plains than about Denver. Strange to say, very little personal suffering resulted from this intense cold, which lasted about nine days with little interruption. This rare good fortune must be largely attributed to the fact that cold is much more endurable in high altitudes than it is at or near the level of the sea or in moist climates.
During the nine days and nights in Denver, when the mercury seldom rose above zero, busi- ness was not suspended, and but slightly inter- rupted, except as a matter of course as to building operations. The people went about the streets day and night pretty much as usual, and the frozen ears or noses could have been counted on one's fingers. As usual in Colorado, the nights were much colder than the days, and the compositors on the morning newspapers suffered more, perhaps, than any other class of workmen. The cold type
Privesie Chariot
231
HISTORY OF DENVER.
metal benumbed their fingers, and even red-hot stoves failed to warm up the composing-rooms to- ward morning. Then, when their weary work was done, they were compelled to walk to their homes at the very hour when the cold was most intense.
The Kansas Pacifie road was blockaded for more than a week, and the others nearly as long. Four days passed in Denver without marking the arrival of a Eastern mail.
While Denver was freezing, however, Washing- ton was thawing, metaphorically. A political truce was declared at the White House. President Grant, always quick to correct a mistake when satisfied that one had been made, consented to dis- place Gov. McCook, but proposed, instead of re-ap- pointing Elbert, to select some outside disinterested and unprejudiced party, who might be able to heal dissensions and unite factions in the Republican ranks in Colorado. The lot fell upon Hon. John L. Routt, and the news of his appointment reached Denver February 8, 1875.
The appointment of Routt had more than a political significance. It was among the first steps in the State movement which ultimately proved successful. Mr. Chaffee had labored hard during his four years' service as Delegate for the passage of an enabling act, but his term was about ended, and success had not crowned his efforts. By mak- ing peace with the Administration, and by securing Routt's valuable assistance, he succeeded in getting the Colorado enabling act through Congress in the closing hours of the last session.
The glad news was received in Denver with wild demonstrations of satisfaction, and the praise of Mr. Chaffee was upon all tongnes, for both parties favored the admission of the Territory as a State, each expecting to control its political destinies. Delegate-eleet Patterson visited Washington in the interest of the enabling act in February, 1875, and contributed not a little to securing its passage. Gov. Routt's share in the good work was imper- fectly understood in Colorado at the time, but subsequently his efforts were known and appre- ciated.
The enabling aet provided for a Constitutional Convention, a vote of the people on the adoption of the Constitution when framed, and a proclama- tion by the President declaring Colorado a State if the Constitution was adopted.
Gov. Rontt arrived in Denver early in May, and was quietly but cordially received. Events have abundantly shown the wisdom of his selec- tion for his delicate and important trust. The people of Colorado in general, and of Denver in particular, were thoroughly tired of Territorial Governors, but, with trne Western hospitality and generosity, they were bound to “give Routt a chance." It was a critical moment, and had Routt not made a favorable impression at the first, he would have found his political couch no bed of roses,
Everybody now turned their attention to State- hood. A Constitutional " Association " was formed in Denver. Few persons appeared to know what a constitutional association could be designed for at first, but, finally, it appeared that its mission was to furnish a ready-made Constitution for the new State that was to be.
In the midst of all this political excitement, the grasshoppers came down and devastated the land. It was rather a dark time, financially, in Denver, for there had been but little substantial progress made during the past year, and now the farming population was getting discouraged. A meeting was ealled May 17, for the relief of grasshopper sufferers, and the money contributed went to buy seed for those whose early erops had been de- stroyed. But the grasshoppers were equal to the emergency, and ate up the latter as well as the former crop-very generally, at least. Denver has happily outgrown the effects of the grasshop- per year, but her business suffered severely at the time.
President Grant revisited Denver October 5, 1875, remaining but a short time in the State. Vice President Wilson had preceded the President and spent the latter part of May in Denver. People began to think that Denver had some special attraction for the Administration.
G
234
HISTORY OF DENVER.
most amiable gentleman, Dr. Buckingham was more lax in discipline than his predecessor, and the gambling-houses which had been much re- stricted by Mayor Barker began to bloom again under Buckingham, but not as they had done in former years,
Among the notable happenings in May, 1876, were, another Cherry Creek flood, which did con- siderable damage to property, the advent of silver coin in the Denver banks, and the first appearance of Colorado coke in this market, the latter coming from the coke ovens in Las Animas County. In June, all public interest centered in the approach- ing election and in preparations for a grand centennial and State celebration of the glorious Fourth of July.
This celebration was by far the most imposing civic pageant ever witnessed in Denver. The long procession embraced about every civil organi- zation and trades union in the city, in addition to the military and firemen, Knights Templar, etc., etc. Conspicuous in the ranks marched the " Pioneers' Association," the Argonants of '59, men like Capt. Sopris, William N. Byers, Judge H. P. Bennet, the Chever Brothers, Prof. Gold- rick and many others, who had seen the desert transformed into a magnificent city, the capital of the youngest but brightest State in the constella- tion. It was a prond day for the pioneers. Very appropriate exercises were held at Denver Grove, and addresses were made by several prominent citizens.
A few days later, Denver made another step toward metropolitanism by putting to work a fire alarm telegraph, now, however, nearly superseded by the telephone. On the 12th of July, the older residents of the city were inexpressibly pained by the intelligence of the death of John S. Jones, for long years a proprietor in part of the Leavenworth & Pike's Peak Stage and Ex- press Line, by which so many citizens of Denver had crossed the Plains. Mr. Jones, familiarly known as " Jack " Jones, was in many respects a remarkable man, and withal a popular one.
August 1, President Grant issued a proclama- tion declaring the result of the Constitutional election in Colorado, and declaring the State admitted into the Union. An election was imme- diately ordered for State and county officers, a member of Congress and a State Legislature, which should cast the vote of the new State for President and elect two United States Senators, besides framing complete statutes for State govern- ment, etc. The campaign in Denver was very exciting, and even the great Centennial Exhibi- tion at Philadelphia was almost forgotten in the political conflict at home. In the very height of the campaign, September 13, Gen. Sherman visited Denver, but the air was so full of politics that the General got only a passing welcome.
The newly elected State Legislature convened in Denver November 1. Its first act was to choose three Presidential electors, who cast the vote of the new State for Hayes and Wheeler. A canvass of the vote for State officers showed the election of Routt as Governor, by a small but sufficient majority, and Judge Belford was elected Rep- resentative in Congress. Hon. J. B. Chaffee was unanimously elected senior United States Sen- ator, a rare but well-merited compliment to the man who had done more than any other to secure Colorado's admission as a State. After a some- what protracted contest, Hon. H. M. Teller was chosen as the second Senator from Colorado. Upon arriving at Washington a month later, these gentlemen drew lots for the " long " term in the Senate, the long term extending to March 4, 1879, while the short term expired March 4, 1877. Mr. Chaffee drew the '79 term, and Mr. Teller was ac- cordingly re-elected by the same Legislature of 1876-77 to the full term of six years from March 4, 1877.
Colorado was now a full-fledged State, and be- ginning to feel her importance. Under the Con- stitution, Denver had secured a temporary lease of the capital, but with an express provision that its permanent location should be determined by a
r
It, Collins l 0
235
HISTORY OF DENVER.
vote of the people after five years. Under the circumstances, it behooved Denver to put forth every effort to outstrip her rivals during that pro- bationary period, so as to retain the capital when the critical moment came.
Business had been reviving slowly throughout the season, and building had commenced again with some spirit as winter approached, but it was cut short by an extreme degree of cold, reached early in December, and continuing throughout January. On Christmas Day, 1876, the ther- mometer dropped to 30° below zero, almost as cold as during the hard winter of the preceding year. Throughout the month of January, 1877,
the cold continued severe; the meteorological phe- nomena were most remarkable. "Sun-dogs," aurora borealis and other Arctic peculiarities were common that winter, and they attracted the atten- tion of the scientific world. The Centennial State was advertising her entry into the sisterhood in a truly wonderful manner. What with her “ sun- dogs " of 1877, and her total eclipse of the sun in 1878, Denver succeeded in getting the " Wise men of the East " to regard the new State in the midst of the Rocky Mountains as a species of wonder- land, and those who made pilgrimages in this direction were well pleased with what they saw and heard about Colorado.
CHAPTER XV.
DENVER IN 1877-8-9.
B EING an off-year in politics, and unhappily not | during the summer of 1877, it had opened another division-the wonderful La Veta Pass route over the Sangre de Christo Range, which was then the highest point reached by any railway in the United States, but which has since been exceeded almost a thousand feet by the South Park Railway over Kenosha Range. Both are Denver roads, and Denver is of course prond of both.
much better than an off-year in business, 1877 was remarkable for nothing except its blue-ribbon temperance excitement and an unprecedented rush of excursions to Denver from all parts of the country. First came the Kansas Legislature March 8, next the Illinois Press Association June 11, the Kansas editors on the 18th, Omaha Board of Trade November 13, and the Wyoming Legis- lature November 26. The tourist travel and new immigration was correspondingly large, and, alto- gether, Denver never before had as many arrivals in a single season.
The revival of railway business, in the State and out of it, revived talk of new roads in Colorado, and, to the surprise of Denver, the Colorado Cen- tral resumed building operations. Early in Novem- ber, the Longmont branch of that road was extended to a junction with the Union Pacific at Cheyenne, and a party of Denver people celebrated the opening of a new line to the Union Pacific by an excursion to Cheyenne on the 7th of Novem- ber. The Denver and Rio Grande road had been gradually extending its line south and west, and,
The old Denver Theater, the scene of so many histrionic triumphs and failures, of so many political excitements, civic pageants, etc., was totally de- stroyed by fire March 19, 1877. It was, indeed, an ancient landmark, contemporaneous with the Planters' House and the Broadwell. The Planters' had been partially destroyed by fire some time before, and had given way to a substantial block of brick stores and offices, but it was not until 1879 that the Broadwell House disappeared from the corner of Sixteenth and Larimer to give place to the Tabor Block, the finest building in Denver or the State. The site of the old theater, Law- rence and Sixteenth, remains vacant at this writing.
Among the substantial improvements of the year, the elegant Central Presbyterian Church,
5
236
HISTORY OF DENVER.
described elsewhere, was prominent. The first occupancy of this splendid auditorium, then in an unfinished condition, was by the Denver High School, on the occasion of the graduating exer- cises of the first class which left that institution fully fledged. Denver was largely and creditably represented on that occasion by her best citizens, who crowded the immense church to suffoca- tion.
The blue-ribbon temperance movement was inaugurated August 3, 1877, and continued almost without intermission for about three months, during which time the Murphy pledge was exten- sively signed and some substantial good accom- plished. The daily newspapers of Denver reported the temperance meetings very fully, and, for the time being, nothing was talked about but temper- ance. Even the arrival of the "solid Muldoon," the stone fraud from Colorado Springs, attracted little attention in Denver compared to the furore with which its appearance was greeted down East. In point of fact, the Denverites are not stirred by ordinary emotions of wonder. They have such unbounded faith in the natural resources of the State, that an ordinary stone giant makes no im- pression upon them whatever. If the Muldoon had approached the Tabernacle and talked tem- perance to them, no doubt they would have heard him politely, if not with patience.
The Muldoon was exhibited, among other attractions, at the annual fair of 1877, but failed to draw any better than the big snakes or the fat woman. But the fair itself was moderately suc- cessful, and the managers, who had lost money in previous exhibitions, began to be hopeful that they might in time emerge from the financial embar- rassments by which they were surrounded.
The year 1878 opened rather inauspiciously in Denver, the month of January noting the first bank failure since the Erlanger swindle, in 1873. The People's Savings Bank, which for several years had occupied the corner room in Evans Block, corner of Lawrence and Fifteenth streets, closed its doors January 6, and an examination of
its assets by Receivers showed so nearly nothing in the way of cash or other property, that the depos- itors never realized anything at all, and even the Receivers were poorly paid. Fortunately, the bank was only a small affair, and the aggregate loss was small, though, of course, it fell only more heavily upon the poor men and women who had intrusted their little savings to the managers of the institution. The managers were well-known citizens, not, perhaps, intentionally dishonest, but criminally incapable of conducting a banking busi- ness.
The early part of 1878 was also marked by a series of deaths and calamities. The depot of the Colorado Central Railroad, at the foot of Sixteenth street, was burned Jannary 7, with considerable loss to the Company. January 31, Mr. J. W. Shackleton, an old and highly respected citizen, dropped dead in the street. February 9, J. W. Iliff, the cattle king of Colorado, and an upright and amiable citizen, died at his residence in Denver, after a long and painful illness. March 22, a little girl named Ethel Cummings, whose parents resided in North Denver, fell into the Platte while returning from Sunday school at the Railway Mission Chapel, and was drowned. Her body was not discovered until long afterward, having been hidden in the treacherous sands of the Platte River. April 24, John Armor, another prominent and public-spirited citizen, and Secre- tary of the Industrial Association, died at Pal- myra, Mo., while on a visit to relatives there. Finally, on the night of May 22, occurred the greatest flood known in Cherry Creek since the avalanche of 1864.
The flood of 1878, like that of 1864, came down in the night. The sullen roar of the waters aroused everybody within a considerable distance of the creek, and its banks were soon lined with anxious spectators. The waters rose very rapidly, and soon, as always happens in a Cherry Creek flood, floating timber and debris began to roll down from above the city. This accumulated against the piles supporting the bridges in the
2
237
HISTORY OF DENVER.
upper part of the city, and presently one after another " went out " with the flood.
Before giving away, however, each of these pile bridges became transformed into a temporary dam, against which the water quickly rose to a height of from five to ten feet or more. If the bridge and the debris lodged against it did not soon give way, the waters soon rose above the level of the banks and broke across the contiguous country, often inundating houses that ordinarily should have stood high above the highest flood. When the bridge gave way, it was carried down with tremendous force against the next below, where the same process was repeated, and so on till the Platte was reached. Every bridge over Cherry Creek was carried out in less than two hours, but as soon as they were gone the flood began to subside, not so much because the volume of water failed, as because it had a free and unobstructed channel in which it could be carried off to the Platte.
Though the loss of property was considerable, but one life was sacrificed-that of a man named John Taylor, who was sleeping in a box-car on the track in West Denver. The car was over- turned by a rush of water, and Taylor was unable to escape from it. A little boy was car- ried away in the flood, but was fortunately res- cued.
As the flood of 1864 revealed the folly of building houses on the Cherry Creek sands, so the flood of 1878 convinced Denver that it would never do to obstruct the channel of the creek by piles driven to support wooden bridges. An iron bridge of a single span was afterward thrown across the creek at Larimer street, and similar bridges will be erected at the other crossings here- after. There has been no flood during 1879, but it is not now believed that any considerable dam- age will result to the city or to individuals by future floods in Denver's chief nuisance, as the creek is called.
The total eclipse of the sun, July 29, was the occasion of a large influx of scientists from all
over the habitable world. Denver was crowded with professors ; astronomers were thick as black- berries. The leading Eastern journals were gen- erally represented by special commissioners, and such newspapers as the Chicago Times and Tribune sent out eclipse " expeditions," including not only scientists and historians, but expensive instruments and all the paraphernalia of a small- sized astronomical observatory.
Perhaps the most complete " expedition " of the many which visited Denver at that time was from Princeton College, which included not only several Professors, but a number of students as well. The Princeton party went into camp on Cherry Creek, a short distance above the city, early in July, and the most elaborate preparations were made for viewing and recording the eclipse. Temporary buildings were erected, and the large solar tele- scope of the College was carefully adjusted for the occasion, while the photographers of the expedi- tion arranged their instruments so that continuous negatives of the eclipse could be taken from its opening to the close. Great fears were enter- tained lest all these expensive and tedious prepa- rations should go for naught by reason of a " bad day " for the eclipse, as a few clouds would so obstruct observation as to render them unsatisfac- tory, if not worthless. But Colorado, which never does things by halves, and which can always be depended upon for fair weather, fairly outdid her- self on the occasion of the eclipse. The 29th of July was a perfect day, and the observations of the eclipse were highly satisfactory. Even the Government party stationed at the Signal Office on Pike's Peak had a clear sky, and at Denver only a few cirrus clouds were visible in any direction. Business was almost entirely sus- pended, except as to the sale of smoked glass, and the entire population appeared to have turned out of doors to view the eclipse, Capitol Hill and the adjacent bluffs being the favorite resort of those who could not command the elevation of a roof, while the latter were crowded with observers. The Denver newspapers showed great enterprise
238
HISTORY OF DENVER.
in reporting the eclipse, and were not far behind the ambitious Eastern dailies, either in the volume or accuracy of their reports.
The political campaign of 1878 attracted much attention in Denver and elsewhere throughout the State, by reason of the sharp contest between rival candidates for Governor, that being the highest office voted for. The Democratic State Convention met at Pueblo in July aud nom- inated Hon. W. A. H. Loveland for Governor, with a full State ticket. August 7, the Republi- can Convention met in Denver, and put in nomi- nation Hon. Frederick W. Pitkin. The con- test for Representative in Congress was between Judge James B. Belford and Hon. Thomas M. Patterson, who had made a similar race in 1876.
Seldom has a campaign been more warmly con- tested anywhere, each side having put forth its strongest men, and making the most strenuous efforts to elect them. The Denver News, hitherto a Republican organ, had been purchased by Mr. Loveland, and was doing yeoman service in its new capacity, as organ of the Democracy. Moreover, the conflicting railway interests of the State were involved, Mr. Loveland being closely identified with certain railways toward which certain other roads were hostile. It is unnecessary to revive the campaign in this connection, more than to say it resulted in a disastrous defeat for the Democ- racy, Denver contributing a large Republican ma- jority to that result.
During the summer of 1878, Leadville began to take shape, and to assume importance as a mining camp, and many citizens of Denver were among the first to cast their fortunes in the carbonate country. Long before the East fully recognized the importance of the Leadville discoveries, Den- ver was delving in California Gulch, or doing busi- ness in the new mining metropolis. Thus it hap- pened that the interests of the two towns were cemented by an early friendship, and to this day they are bound together by a thousand ties of con- sanguinity and affection. A Denver railroad
connects them, four-fifths of the Leadville travel passes through Denver, and next to their pardonable pride in their own city, Denverites are proud of the Leadville which they have done so much to develop. In turn, Leadville looks upon Denver much as Americans are said to look upon Paris, and hundreds of her successful miners have made Denver their home already. The men and money which Denver contributed to Leadville have been returned, the latter a thousand fold, at least, and probably much more.
Among the most notable successes of Denver men in Leadville, may be mentioned the follow- ing : Ex-Gov. Routt, went into the carbonate camp early in 1878, and began work upon an undevel- oped mine. It is now easily worth a million dol- lars, and pays so well that the lucky owner has no thought of parting with his veritable bonanza. Ex-Senator Chaffee did not visit Leadville until after the election of 1878, but no sooner arrived in the wonderful camp than he began to invest, in behalf of himself and his invariable associate in all business enterprises, Mr. D. H. Moffatt. Both these gentlemen have made anywhere from one to three millions out of Leadville within a year. It is said that Mr. Moffatt, who had never seen Lead- ville, lacked entire faith in its future, and mildly objected to carryiog half of Chaffee's first pur- chases, whereupon the latter gentleman offered to draw his check in favor of his partner for a large amount, if the latter would assign to him the future profits of the " deal." This generous offer Mr. Moffatt declined summarily, saying that the property was worth as much to him as to anybody else, and he would hold it. Had he sold out, it is safe to say that he would have lost and Mr. Chaf- fee would have made a round million dollars the first year, and how much in the future it is quite impossible to estimate.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.