, 1885-09-05
ID
. Live Town of Four Weeks Growth.

|
A Live Town of Four Weeks ,.rowti
In talks with Judge James Bean an
DR.. Gray, who have Just returned fror
Chadron, a LEADER reporter obtaine'
some points which show that there Is
magic country up at the terminus of|th
Chicago & Northwestern road, and in th
direction which il is pointing. A littl
more than four weeks age a great expans
OF territory, about where Chadron nov
stands, was destitute of all indications o
business life. Not a building, not a tent
or even a stick of building material wal
to be seen upon the site of the present
town. To-day it teens with life and bust
pess enterprise. Over $50 buildings have
been erected or are in process Of erection.
to make no mention of numerous tents.
Many other buildings are projected and
will be completed as soou az lumber can
be obtained in sufficient quantities to dc
so. There is now great scarcity in build
ing material. The railroad company is
unable to deliver the material last enough
to supply the demand.
The music of the hammer is deaiening
aud laboring men, especially carpenters,
are in great demand. The banking inter
est is represented by iour strong banking
institutions. All are nov dong business
in small shauties erected in II day for
temporary use. The heaviest institution
occupies quarters l0xl2, onc-third Of the
space being occupied by a safe. This
building was erected in one afternoon, it
being the first on the town site.
The first banking tranction was the sale
of a draft on Chicago for over $4,000.
The other banks are now occupying SINH
lar but somewhat larger quarters, An
are erecting substantial two-story build
ings, which will be occupied very soon.
Every other branch Of business is also
represented here, all occupying Temporary
quarters, many simply tents. Hotel nc.
commodations are yet very rude and
primitive, but a large hotel is rapidly ap-
preaching completion, and many smaller
restaurants and sleeping ooms are being
erected with all the expedition possible,
Saloons and gambling houses are numer-
Gus, but the town is very orderly. The
cowboys amnse themselves by running
their ponies through the streets and firing
their revolyers in the air. but as yet no
one has been killed or hurt.
In the outskirts of the town some en-
terprising individual has put up n large
tent, bearing the sign in front in large
letters. Gospel tent, preaching at . p. II.
and Sunday school at A. Everybody is
busy. Very few loafers are seen on the
streets. The railroad company is erect
ing large buildings here. Notable among
these are a freight house, a passenger
depot, eating houses, round houses, and
the ground has been staked off for ma
chine shops.
All these improvements appear TO be
upon a large scale. indicating that the
railroad company intends making this a
permanent division terminus. The road
is being pushed towards RAPIDS City, and
the expectation now seems to be that at
least fifty miles will he completed before
the winter obstructs operations. The
grading is already completed the greater
portion Of this distance, and the laying of
iron will mex week.
The great interest that has been sub.
served by the extension of the road to
thus point is the cattle interest. Large
consignments hat formerly have been
made over the Union Pacific and Northern
Pacific roads are now comingto the Ere
mont, Elkhon & Missouri Valley rail
road at this point. Large and convenient
stock yards have been provided nerc, and
the large stockmen Of Northwestern Ne
braska, Eastern Wyoming and Sluth-
western Dakota find it to their Advantage
to ship from here. Trains have been run
ming since Aug. p, during which the
over 400 carloads Of cattle have bea
shipped 1t is expected tina. at least
200 more carloads will 60 ont before
cold weather sets in.
Great expectations are INDUCED in con
corning the future Of Chadron. The
great railroad improvements and the
large stock interests around here are ex-