The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-05-15
LEADvILLE.
A Picturesque Account of the Place by a Re
turned Visitor.

A Picturesque Account of the Place by a Re-
turned Visitor.
from the Cincinnati Commercially
John II. Rutherford, who has re-
turned from a business trip to Lead
vile, gives, in ten minutes talk, a
better idea of the place than could be
had out of dozen ordinary letters.
He went there to sell pipes for water
works and gas-works. From Webster,
the railroad terminus, seventy miles
2 from Denver, the traveller must stage it
100 miles to Leadville. And rough
staging it is, over the mountains, in
Guiding $500 feet rise of the timber
line. Leadville is II, 600 feet above the
sea- On first reaching that altitude one
has great difficulty in filing the lungs.
It takes day or two to get over the
feeling of suhocation. A snow-storm
brought great relief, the atmosphere be-
coming denser. .,t5o-l ..3
A few months ago Leadville had 800
inhabitants; now it has $4,000, the
large majority miners There are about
$50 prostitutes in the place, and fifty
decent women. Mr.. r. saw funeral of
a prostitute. The place boasts one
hack, in which were conveyed the
body, in it's coffin, and two women. A
long string of men followed, two abreast,
falling in from the saloons with hands
g in pockets, pipes and cigars in mouths,
but all orderly. After planting the
body in the graveyard they returned in
the same way. esea5 Gnt a0~@ 5a".
Toe hoo oh
ties and two streets. There are only
two brick houses in the place. At
night, when work is done for the day,
these streets are packed with people.
Long lines of men form at the postofice
when the mails are distributed. The
principal and first class accommodations
are at the Grand Central Hotel and the
Tontine Restaurant; board So per day,
with good food and plenty of vermin.
Although the superintendent of
mines are constantly calling for men at
So and $3.50 per day, there are 5000
idle men in the place. A mine calls
for fifty men at $3.50 per day and half
dozen only respond. The superin-
tendent appeals to the authorities, and
Immediately fifty men are picked up as
Migrants and put to work on the streets.
They cannot be forced to work in the
mines, but they can be made to do the
city some service. The result is that,
under the influence of this warming, q
lot of them are induced to go to the
mines and commence work. And 50
with the next call.
While Mr.. Rutherford was in Lead
"A 11 />4Co 1E
for property that cost its owners about
100000. Senator Jones and associates
offered that sum for three mines, one of
which cost $50, another 10000 and the
third $4,000. The owners held off, de-
handing $5,000,000. 3.
The first Chinaman arrived while Mr..
Rutherford was there. No sooner had
he alighted from the top of the stage
than he was surrounded by lot of men
and marched off to the graveyard, where
he was told he could not remain in
Leadville save as "stiff." He i'm
mediately and cheerfully started for
Fair Play" The Leadville people
have sworn that they will not tolerate
John.
Whisky, some good and some very
bad, sells at Is cents per drink; cider at
Is cents per small glass; lager at ST. per
quart bottle. Water-works and gas
works are progressing.
Leadville is well governed. In the
midst of all these rough men and bad
elements order prevails. The police
re efficient, and there are two well-or-
ganized vigilance committees. A bunko
man had robbed miner of $138. He
was pointed out. With half dozen
pistols at his head he threw up both
hands and quietly took sitting. His
gold watch and chain, pistol, keys, ETC.,
and $3.50 were taken from him. The
$138 having been returned to the miner,
the balance was handed over to the
chairman of the vigilance committee.
The bunko man was then given start
of fifty yards through the principal
street and the $50" was given him
Then he started, with a dozen pistol
bullets tearing up the grot nd behind
him. 1t is supposed he is still running
This xuoo ballad show, i1,o+,oo