The Elk Mountain pilot., 1882-01-26
CRESTED BUTTE'S DRAWBACK.
On the Wing.

CRESTED BUTTE, Jan. 20, 49,.
Special to the PILorl
Somewhat over an hours ride from
Ruby Camp, brought us to the busy
and thriving town of Crested Butte.
Here change has come as wonderful
as an Arabian Night tale. In this
once dull and unpromising place
streets have been laid out, buildings
have grown up like mushrooms and a
hotel the best equipped that have
slept in Colorado outside of Denver
gives an air of business and thrift to
the place as little like the wonted
dullness as we could we'll imagine.
To 20 into the streets of an evening
and to look at the line of fires that
surrounds the town, where a large
number of men are employed in cox
ing the bituminous coal, one car hardly
persuade himself that he is not in the
midst of blast furnaces and manufac-
lures.
The view of the long line of freight
cars, the arrival of trains and all the
other bustles of a railroad terminus,
was as welcome a sight to your cor
respondent as the mysterious waters
of the Mississippi to the jaded spirits
of the adventurous Spaniards.
l have not been here long neither
shall I remain sufficient long to form
other than the most casual impression
as to the place and its future. The
slightest observations, however, can
not fail to find many reasons why
there should not be at this point a
large and thriving town. Nature has
done her part with an open and gen.
erous hand in planting her immense
fields Of the finest Of coking and an
thracite coal, forest of excellent tim
Der, water of the finest, a delightful
climate, pasturage in abundance for
animals, and proximity to the largest
mineral producing regions Of the
Gunnison valley, and with all these
practical bounties, Crested Butte is
placed in one ofthe most picturesque
spots of mountain scenery, valley and
woodland, it has been my lot to see
this many day. Knowing and seeing
all these things ones mind almost
enthusiastically accepts the great and
prosperous future of the place, and
yet upon reflection another impression
comes quite as strong. The material
is here, the tools are here with which
men may build something of worth,
but there is the shadow of a bancful
influence over the place. All their
natural resources are likely to be fet-
tered by the narrow grasping spirit of
corporation, or an association of men
Of contracted views, whatever be the
form in which it has appeared here.
This power alone is sufficient to para
lyze the possibilities Of the town,
however great and varied may be its
natural resources. That the place
will grow, that a large amount of cap
ital will be invested here, and that it
will present opportunities for making
moneyin a small way to the many that
will come here unconnected with the
corporation or ASSOCIATION of men
who seem to overshadow everything,
is not to be doubted. 1t is possible
that in time the rigor of the outside
population may in measure counter
act,or entirely overcome this unhappy
influence. The chances are, however,
that the power will wax stronger and
stronger, until 1t completely absorbs
all. Under such conditions there are
very strictly defined limits to the
growth of Crested Butte, and it would
be an unwise man who would come
here and identify himself with the
place in opposition to this domineer-
ing power, hope to reapa great reward.
A corporation or an association Of
men looking solely to their own i'm
mediate profit and utterly blind to
those broader and more lasting sources
of wealth may with such material as is
found here establish point of indus
try that will in measure answer the
argument ofthe situation, even though