The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-11-26
LETTER FROM LEADYILLE.
A Lengthy Letter iron a Lady at that Lively
Point.
LEADvILLE Col. !
Nau % 1919

ROM.
I4nu.c
Nov % Ja5s
To the Editor of the Lender.
Feeling lonely this dismal morning.
and feeling that a few items from His
mining camp will be interesting to your
many readers. 1 will devote ashort time
to a description of the town.
It is located on the left bank of Calf
fornia eulch on a broad. gently slopinu
bench, and contains a population var
iously estimated at from q. 900 to 5000
The location is ratbera sight
ly one and quite picturesque. the SNOWY
range being visible ON ali sides The
low hills, in which arc the noted car
Donate deposits slope upward from the
corporate limits to the east. while ON the
west beyond the Arkansas stretches the
range which is truly grand.
The elevation Of the town above sea
level, is about 10. 500 and during the
winter months the snow lies quite deep
In and about the town, although last
winter was an exception, there being
but little snow.
The buildings, both business and
private, are but temporary; made of
logs, slabs and green lumber, although
a few quite substantial structures
that would be a credit to any town of
ten times the age of this, have been
built.
The main street (which is called
Chestnut), is the principal business
street. On this we find business houses
of every kind and every one seems to
be rushed in their especial kinds of en-
ployment.
The sidewalks are crowded, yes L
might say jammed. The streets are
filed with vehicles Of various kinds.
express and delivery wagons, and in
Vulnerable heavy ones loaded with rich
ore from the various mines, lying with
In two miles Of the town.
Leadville Is poorly supplied with wat
er, there are but few wells, and the
water Is not generally very good, al
though 1 have drank SOME good water
here. The most of the water used, is
hauled from a large ditch at forty cents
per barrel. Should a fire break out, l
fear that the whole town would be con
sumed in q short time, lowing to the
scarcity of water and the fact that the
buildings are all built of pine. n
Leadville is thought to be the best
mining town in the United States at
present. The mines are turning out
large quantities and richer ore than
any mines now known.
There is every species of vice carried
to a great extent; vet we have a very
efficient police force.
We have two churches-Methodist
and Catholic. The Episcopalians and
Presbyterians use the former church
for their service. Both of the latter
denominations have contracted to have
churches erected soon. James Adams,
from Laramie City, was employed to
draw the plan of the Presbyterian edi-
fee. We have a public school house,
which is attended by about one hun
dred scholars. taught by two very COM
petent teachers. We have good music
teachers, and the facilities for a good
common school education are superior
to that Of any other mining town, for
Its age, in the west.
\ There are two newspapers-the
Eclipse, published by Mr.. Hogan, and
the Reueille by Nj. Allen, both being
good papers and well supported. There
are four smelling works In the town
and vicinity, each doing a good BUSH
ness.
The people are supplied with vege-
tables, -four, honey, etc., by ranchmen,
who make regular trips to the town
every two weeks. Flour ranges from
80 to $3.50 per sack, potatoes three
cents per pound, butter forty cents,
eggs forty cents. 1t is difficult to pro-
milk, as those who own cattle take