Just bits of Information

Arapahoe County

Perhaps no portion of Colorado is gaining as rapidly in population this season, as this county, and especially the Queen City of the plains. The quiet but vigorous growth of Denver in wealth, business, importance and population, is fully up to the expectations of the most sanguine, and not surpassed by any other Western city. The completed and contemplated railroads make her a business centre which cannot be rivalled west of the Missouri or east of the Mountains, and the foresight of her capitalists, in inaugurating manufacturing enterprises, will give her additional importance. Among the manufacturing industries, already prominent, are the extensive woolen mills in West Denver, and the carriage manufactory of Woeber & Company, also in West Denver. This latter establishment turns out work equal in strength, durability and finish, to that of any Eastern manufactories, and has sufficient capacity to supply a large trade.

The Denver Ale Brewery is also an establishment worthy of more than passing note. The ale brewed here is as fine flavored and as good quality as that of the best English or Eastern breweries, and is made from Colorado barley. The proprietors of this establishment assure us that the malt from Colorado barley is superior, and that shipments of this can be made to St. Louis and other cities east of us, with profit.

Denver Theatre

The citizens of Denver are especially a theatre-going and amusement loving people. The old Denver Theatre is an honored, and if anything in this new country may be so termed, ancient institution. In the early days of '59, a theatrical company, under the veteran manager, Charles Thome, crossed the plains to Denver, engaged the building known as Apollo Hall, and for one week gave a series of theatrical performances. The experiment was peculiarly a failure, and Mr. Thorne returned to the States, leaving the company to winter in Denver, and give occasional exhibitions. The year following, J. S. Langrishe arrived with his company, rented the hall previously occupied by the Thorne troupe, and played a successful season of eight months. Subsequently, some parties, anxious to embark in the dramatic business, and encouraged by the success of Mr. L., built the Platte Valley Theatre, and opened it with a company from the East. This enterprise proved unsuccessful, and the property was sold to Langrishe, who immediately took possession, and under the new title of the Denver Theatre, inaugurated a genuine temple of the drama, which has since been well sustained.

For three years, Mr. Langrishe was associated in partnership with Mr. J. Dougherty, a favorite actor and genial gentleman, who died at Central City, in 1865, much regretted by a wide circle of friends. About this time, Mr. Langrishe purchased the Montana Theatre, at Central City, and has conducted it, in connection with the Denver Theatre, up to this date.

The Press

That power which shapes the destinies of nations, and dictates failure or success to all enterprises, is ably represented in Colorado. The daily and weekly journals of this new country will compare favorably with those of older sections east, and they are generally liberally sustained.

To the press of Colorado we are largely indebted for our present success, and cannot finish our arduous labors without making suitable acknowledgment; and first to the Denver News the pioneer journal of the Territory, which promptly aided and encouraged us in our legitimate effort to advance Colorado interests, we are especially indebted. John L. Daily, then one of the editors and proprietors of this journal, was the first in the Territory to bid us God-speed in our arduous undertaking. Wm. N. Byers, formerly of the firm of Byers & Daily, and now editor and proprietor of the News, and his associate editor, W. R. Thomas, Esq., have also, at all times, given us valuable aid and generous encouragement. These have our grateful acknowledgments and sincere thanks. Messrs. Woodbury & Walker, editors and proprietors of the Tribune, have also afforded us material aid, by liberally advertising our work and explaining to the public its scope and importance. In return, we make suitable acknowledgment, and tender honest and hearty thanks. O. J. Goldrick, Esq., editor and proprietor of the Rocky Mountain Herald, though not in the advance ranks of the supporters of the Gazetteer, has been a reliable reserve, and wheeled his fresh and dashing columns into line in time to do us good service, for which we are ever grateful.

Prominent among those who have been steadfast friends and earnest and able supporters of our work, are D. C Collier, Esq., one of the editors and proprietors of the Central City Register, and Samuel Cushman, his associate editor. These were not slow to note the value and importance of the Gazetteer, and at an early day predicted our present growth and success, and have done all in their power to make these a certainty. Beside public service, we are indebted to these gentlemen for personal courtesies, which are kindly remembered and gratefully acknowledged.

To Thomas J. Campbell, Esq., (always generous to a fault) editor and proprietor of the Colorado Herald, of Central, Judge Baker, who was the able leading editor of this journal, when our work commenced and Frank Fossett, Esq., the present editor, we are also largely indebted for valuable assistance from first to last, and offer sincere thanks and acknowledgments To "Frank" we are under personal obligations for unusual favors, the grateful remembrances of which will ever fill the coziest corner of memory.

Away up the valley of South Clear creek, at the base of towering mountains, nestles the beautiful young city of Georgetown, the home of the Miner, a journal devoted to the advancement of the mining interest of the Territory. Its editor and proprietor, A. W. Barnard, was among the first editors to place his columns at our disposal. His mining editor, Stephen Decatur, Esq., an earnest and able supporter of all enterprises having for their object the advancement of Colorado mining interests, has rendered us efficient service, and has our grateful thanks and acknowledgments.

To B. F. Napheys, Esq., the local editor of the Miner, we and the public are indebted for many important statistics and a valuable article on the present resources of Summit County. Mr. Napheys is an experienced journalist and practical miner, and does his district good service.

From George West, Esq., editor and proprietor of the Transcript, an ably conducted and flourishing weekly, published at Golden City, Messrs. Lambert & Co., editors and proprietors of the Pueblo Chieftain, a "chief" among Colorado weeklies, and J. B. Smith, Esq., editor and proprietor of the Trinidad Enterprise, an enterprising weekly journal, which ably advocates the agricultural interests of the southern counties, we have received generous encouragement and support, and return sincere thanks.

Across our southern borders, in our neighboring Territory, New Mexico, A. B. Sullivan, Esq., of the Daily Santa Fe Post, and Messrs. Manderfield & Tucker, of the Daily News Mexican, have taken a lively interest in the success of our exhibit of Colorado resources, and we take this means of making suitable acknowledgment.

The Boulder News, at Boulder City, and the Tribune, at Greeley, are ably conducted journals, devoted to the advancement of Colorado interests.

Mountain Ranches

We have frequently referred, in this work, to the fertility of the soil of the mountain valleys and parks of Colorado. Actual experiments have proven that this soil produces large yields of the hardier cereals, vegetables and hay, and that the cultivation of these is a profitable industry. The yield of potatoes on Hall & Banta's ranch, in Elkhorn gulch, averages over 200 bushels per acre, and that of other vegetables is proportionately large. In 1869 these gentlemen sold over $19,000 of produce, from 62 acres under cultivation, besides supplying two families and the laborers requisite to do the work of the ranch. The land of this ranch is easily cultivated, and, notwithstanding its elevation, nearly 9,000 feet above sea level, the season is sufficiently long for all vegetables to mature, and the loss from frosts is trifling.

Wm. Queen, one of the pioneer miners of the Territory, owns an adjoining ranch, which he is cultivating with equal success. Mr. Queen expects to have over 50 acres under cultivation this season, and his prospects for a large yield are excellent. We visited both of these ranches in the fall of 1870, and examined vegetables and cereals grown away up among the higher ranges of foot-hills; which cannot be surpassed in size, quality or yield, in any of the prairie or valley regions of the country. The soil is prepared for cultivation without any unusual expense. We observed on Mr. Queen's ranch the process of "breaking" new land, which was done with two pairs of oxen, and a plow with shifting mould-board adapted to side-hill plowing. The soil is peculiarly rich, free from weeds, and not unusually rocky. We visited also, in the fall of 1870, Hill's ranch, in Grand Island District, Boulder County. This is one of the largest in the mountains, and its location is remarkable for the beauty and grandeur of its surroundings. It is on the North Boulder, about four miles from Caribou City, and includes in its limits Grand Island, a remarkably beautiful island mountain, which gives its name to this mining district. The valley of the Boulder, at this point, forms a beautiful park, nearly one-half mile in width, which is clothed, in its natural state, with luxuriant grasses and flagrant flowering plants. At present the greater part of this is under cultivation, and the hay and vegetables produced yield an income of over 85,000 yearly to its fortunate possessors, besides all cost of tillage, etc. Mr. Hill says he is satisfied that winter wheat can be grown successfully here, and intends to make the experiment.

Orvis' ranch, Jones' ranch, and De Land's ranch, all in Boulder County, and none of them more than five miles distant from Caribou City, are also beautiful valleys with rich soil, which produce largely. The proprietors of these find the business of raising hay and vegetables extremely profitable, and never have any serious losses from frosts or storms.

Besides Hall & Banta's and Queen's ranches, in Gilpin County, there are many others equally as productive-among these, Hickox's, Cochran's and Connor's, all near the above and beautifully located. All the other mountain counties have numerous ranches under successful cultivation, but space forbids further descriptions.

Tunnels

The Quartz Hill Tunnel Company, who are running a tunnel under Quartz Hill, near Central, Gilpin County. Its length is about 600 feet; several veins cross; good prospects. This is entirely a Colorado enterprise. The following are the officers:

President, C. Nuckols;
Vice-President William Jones;
Secretary, H. Jacob Kruse;
Treasurer Herman Heiser

The Burleigh Tunneling Company, of which Charles Burleigh is president and General Superintendent, and Henry A. Willis, Secretary and Treasurer, has done more, perhaps, than any other company or individual to illustrate the advantages of tunnel mining. The company was organized in 1868, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, with a capital of $150,000. They are driving a tunnel in Sherman Mountain, about two miles above Georgetown, using the Burleigh drill, the inventor of which is the President of the company. The success of this company has fully demonstrated that true fissure veins penetrate our mountains to great depths, and continue to bear rich mineral deposits.

In Griffith mining district many other tunnel enterprises have been inaugurated, backed by large capital and conducted by efficient miners and business men, among them the Marshal tunnel, in Leavenworth Mountain; the Nash tunnel, also in Leavenworth Mountain, on the west slope; the Helmic tunnel, Leavenworth mountain, south slope; the American, Douglas, Montezuma, Hiawatha, Alvarado, and many others. A tunnel-mining enterprise of considerable magnitude, having at its head Mr. Anker, of Denver, has been started for the purpose of fully developing some of the richest mines in Leavenworth mountain, Griffith district, the most prominent of these, the Tom Thumb, Argentine, Peep o' Day, Creole, Troy, and H. P. Rhoades. They have started two tunnels, the Faughn and Croston. The location of these are well chosen, and, without doubt, the Anker Silver Mining and Tunnel Company will develop some of the richest mines in the Territory, and have well-merited success.

Pike's Peak

Is a new town on the line of the Denver & Rio Grande railway, seventy-six miles south of Denver. It is appropriately named, and will soon number its population by hundreds. A large hotel is being constructed and other improvements contemplated by the above railway company.

Rocky Mountain Directory & Colorado Gazetteer

Source: Rocky Mountain Directory and Colorado Gazetteer, 1871, S. S. Wallihan & Company, Compilers and Publishers, Denver, 1870.