The Elk Mountain pilot., 1880-12-30

der OF the Etgley boys in our lis: OF
mortality, as it occurred on the Ute
Reservation, outside the limits Of this
mining district.
BUILDINGS.
BY actual count We find that Irwin
can boast of SAG houses, many Of
them being large and commodious
stores two stories high, fitted up with
elegant plate glass fronts, while
their interiors are furnished in the
most tasteful manner. It seems as
though the glass front styles obtain
more extensively in Irwin than any
other. Most conspicuous among the
store houses of Irwin stands that Of
Harding Bros, our leading hardware
firm, it being the largest and tallest in
town.
Many of our residences are also two
stories in height and fitted up with
that luxurious comfort, the memory
of which makes SO many of us sigh for
a return to the old home in far off
"America. But in the wake of
prosperity follows comfort and luxury
and ere many months shall have
passed our camp will be universally
possessed of it all.
Indeed, the change which has been
wrought in our camp within few
short months, has been so miraculous
that mad Aladdin hovered over us and
rubbed his magic lamp, the metaphor
phoses could scarcely have been
greater. From a few mud-covered
log huts and tapping tents we grow
into thriving city.
Although seven mills have been
plying their saws both night and day,
like poor little Oliver, we still are cry
ing for more-lumber and shingles.
Our artizans are equal to those of
any town of our size any where, of
which their handiwork bears ample
proof.
SNOW.
The 6<te n0ir of those who have de-
sired to live in Irwin, has been the
depth Of snow. Individuals have tax
ed their inventive genius in compos-
ing stories of the snow fall that would
put those of the illustrious Baron
Munchausen completely in the shade.
As consequence, when the first few
fakes began to fall in October, those
transient settlers, who like army fol-
lowers stay close around the camp till
the fight begins, commenced to pre-
pare I" for to light out, and ere the
snow was yes few inches deep the
stampede had begun. Many like the
King of France, with forty thousand
men," rushed down to Gunnison and
then ran back again. And many
others, like the survivors of the first
battle of Bull Run, are running bully
yet. That there was no necessity for
such "scare" everybody now knows.
The fall of snow last winter was un-
precedented in the history of this
, country. The memory of the oldest
trappers in this section fails in afford
ing any comparison to it. The snow
last winter at this time of year was
seven feet deep around the postofice,
which is situated near the bottom of
our gulch, and of course much Of it
was drift, steps had then to be cut down
through to the postoffice door, but
to-day there is not more than six or
eight inches of snow before the door,
and the average depth OF snow
throughout our country is not more
than three feet.
ROADS.
Last winter we had no roads on
which to travel in and out of camp.
Now two splendidly built toll roads,
one to Gunnison City via Crested
Butte, over which the mail is daily
carried, and the other down Ohio
Creek, the most direct route to Gun
nison City, is being daily traveller by
wagons heavily loaded with freight
coming in and ore going out, by hacks
carrying passengers to and fro and by
travellers on horseback and afoot.
This noad will be kept open by SUBJ
scription, if the ordinary travel upon
it fails to keep the snow packed down,