The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-07-15
LEADYILLE IN 1880.
The Wonderful Progress ofCOlOrado's
Magic City.
New y ork Tribune.


About year has elapsed since Mr..
White wrote his admirable series of
letters from this camp 1t has been a
very busy year. The population of the
city is said to have doubled. Estimates
Of the present number of inhabitants
range from $4,000 to 10000. The bust
ness area of the city has also doubled.
A year ago Chestnut street was the prin-
cipal thoroughfare. 1t is still M i'm
portant street, but has been eclipsed by
Harrison avenue. A year ago the hill
sides bore wilderness of cabins, each
set down where to the owner seemed
good. To-day the city is laid out rs
regularly as Philadelphia Harrison
avenue and Chestnut street cross at right
angles. The streets leading from Har-
rison avenue are, respectively, East or
West Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, etc.
Streets leading from Chestnut are Pine,
Spruce, Hemlock, etc.
Some Of the streets are conspicuous
mainly by their names, but every new
cabin does something toward Wheeling
the street it is on into line. The streets
are not only named, but the cabins are
numbered. The rudest shanty has it's
bit Of numbered tin over the door, The
numbers run well into the hundreds,
and some of the cabins boast numbers
in four figures. Beyond the regular
streets lie what are called the suburbs,
the cabins on the hills. Com paratively
few Of the cabins are painted. A paint
ed cabin is sure sign that the over
has brought his family to Leadville.
There seems to be passion for lace
curtains in Leadville. shantics built
of logs with the bark on, and having
only one window, will have that window
draped with lace. It is not uncomm on
to see grand piano in a cabin that
cost less than One-ffth as much as the
piano.
The character of the buildings has
improved materially within the year.
A fire limit has been established within
which only buildings of brick or stone
can be erected. There has been some
deviation from the rule during the past
winter, on account Of the inadequate
supply of brick, but practically Harrison
avenue is becoming an avenue of brick
and stone. Very many more contracts
for buildings have been let during the
past six weeks than were let during the
corresponding six weeks last year.
The city government was organized
April II, 1879. In addition to the work
already mentioned, the city has macad-
amized Harrison avenue, Second and
Chestnut streets; has established fire
department introducing a fre-alarm
telegraph, and created a good police
force. A system Of graded schools has
been adopted, affording instruction for
about l 500 pupils, and a new school
house, to cost $4,000, is soon to be
built. A plentiful supply Of pure water
has been secured, having head of 165
feet Of Harrison avenue. There are
thirty-two street lamps lighted by gas,
and the principal public and many
private ediices have the luxury of gas
light. The city, in it's work, has gone
on the pay-as-you-go principle. The
rate of taxation has been 2 cents on a
dollar. The city has no funded debt,
and the floating debt varies from $40,
600 to $4,000. City warrants are worth
about 80 cents on the dollar.