Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-02-05
For the Freeman.
Letter from cheyenne.

CHEYENNE, Wyoming, Jan. "A, 1873.
Mr.. EDITOR OF the many travellers
crossing the continent but few of them,
when passing through Cheyenne, can ex-
plain how such a place came TO exist, and
what supports it. 1t is without agriculture
manufactures, or a mining population, end
it may transently interest your readers if
attempt short history of the town, some OF
its resources, and a slight description of its
present situation.
CHEYENNE was first " Railroad town,
made populous by the large force of men
engaged in constructing the Union Pacific
r. R., during the summer and fall OF 1867.
Simultan eously they were assisted by the
location near by of Government Depot
for mlit ry supplies, and garrison intend
ei to ACCOMMODATE six companies of cavalry,
and the same number of infantry troops. Six
hundred civilians were at once employed, at
high rates of pay. A large portion OF them
were mechanics engaged IN constructing the
necessary warehouses, stables, shops, &c, at
the depot, and in erecting quarters for the
troops At this time there were five
military posts. forming line running near
ly north from here, as far as Montana, and.
when in the spring of 1868, three of these,
Forts Reno, Phil Kearney and c. F. Smith ;
the most remote, were abandoned by treaty
with the Indians, Cheyenne lost its best re-
source.
bo hatf bxy
a slight explanation. The remaining Forts,
Laramie, 90, and Fatterman, $50 miles
distant, together with two Indian Agencies,
require about 100000 pounds of supplies
transported annually, by wagons. This
keeps large number Of teams and men en-
ployed !; (they use six yoke of oxen and hau
5000 lbs. with one wagon,) provisions and
other necessaries being obtained from
Cheyenne When the Upper Forts were dis
continued, the freighting was decreased by
two-thirds, and the anticipated traffic and
through travel to Montana was also lost.
The garrison and depot having been COM
pleted, the number of men employed by
government, were soon reduced to one hun
dred, which is about the number now at the
depot. This was another loss to the
population, as these men had to seek
pastures new. there being no employment
in this section. Thus Cheyenne in great
measure derives its support from the mill
tary stations adjacent and north of it. Stock
raising also demands some of the attention
of the people, and this business is each year
increasing.
The town has now about 1900 inhabitants,
portion of whom are railroad hands. 1t
has fine brick courthouse, a school build
ing, and dozen stores of the same mater
iaI In erecting the court and school hou-
ses, the people, not caring to invest their
own money, it being worth two per cent per
month here issued county bonds (which |
understand were negotiated at lower rate
OF interest, somewhere east.
A milo from town they have reservoir or
natural basin, holding large body of water,
fed by ditch connecting with a stream
about a mile above. A contract has been
made with gentleman from Massachusetts,
by which the town will be supplied with
water from this basin When the country
north is opened for settlement (it is now one
great Indian reoervatioD,l the place will
as you see have something as foundation to
Its growth.
Three thousand tons Of hay, $500 tons of
coal and several hundred cords of wood, are
annually put in by contract for use of the
depot and adjoining post A Branch R. r.,
runs from Cheyenne to the depot, and all
other supplies besides those mentioned
above, come via Omaha (5l6 miles east.)
The future is uncertain as so much de-
pends upon the action of the government in
its Indian policy. But one thing certain, is,
that the people of Cheyenne would be glad
to have an Irdian war. AS is generally the
case their pecuniary interests overbalance
their humanity By a war their business
would be increased tentold, and afterward
their prospects would be better than now
Comparatively no snow has fallen this
winter, that which fell remaining day, or
little longer. The horse epidemic has finally
reached us, and suppose causes the same
inconvenience as was felt elsewhere ! have
not exhausted my stock of nformati ton, but
| don't like long letters, aud with this plea
will conclude, promising more next time.
C. F. P.