, 1886-09-10
OUR G LETTER.

"h".s. w was bought by the First Ma
tIonal bank for 81 200. Mr.. Baxter, a
Cheyenne attorney, who bought quite a
number OF lots, sold a lot during the bid
ding for 800, which had been knocked
down TO him a few hours before at sos.
This is only a sample case. Fully sixty
lots were purchased by parties from Chey.
enne.
Five days have now elapsed since the
closing OF the sale, and over a hundred
buildings are up or in process of construc
ton. Cattle shipments have begun, al
though the competition of the Union Pa
ci6c is surprisingly lively. The Northwest
ern people are comparatively new to this
cattle business in the very far West They
have relied upon the advantage ofdistance
to give them a lot of cattle which there is
some danger they will lose.
There is much discussion here OF the
question whether the Cheyenne 4 North
ern will make Douglas a point. Could
the decision be positively made in the af-
frmativc, lots would almost instantly
double in value. On the one hand, it is
urged that the Union Pacific will not help
to build up a northwestern town, and that
Cheyenne will not consent to the entrance
OF her road into a place that may prove to
be a rival. On the other is the fact that
the Cheyenne & Northern already posses
es a right of way through this own. which
stands in the name of the former Union
Pacific survey, called the Cheyenne,
Montana & Pacific. From where the
former strikes the Platte, twenty miles
below Douglas, TO a point a few miles
above Fort Fetterman, the course is from
southeast to northwest. or precisely the
route a north and south road should take.
1t is the direct road from Cheyenne to the
Powder River country. Most important
of all, this route can be built along the
Platte for the t~hirty-fve miles in question
for $4,000 per mile. whereas the same
distance built through the hills so as to
avoid Douglas. would cost at the average
Of ST5.0O0 a mife.
Furthermore, | respectfully contend
that both the Union Pacific and Cheyenne
will lose much traffic, and gain Lothing,
by avoiding Douglas. If the Cheyenne
train could steam into this town to-day,
now that the Northwestern is here, it
would haul to us, and to the people far
beyond us, the majority of the supplies
we consume. 1t would bring us all our
-four, potatoes, onions aud oats. 1t could
charge as much for a 200 mile haul from
Greeley as the Northwestern might charge
for a 400 mile haul from Nebraska, and
yet ii would get all this business. In
such products Nebraska can not compete
either in price or quality with northern
Colorado. Next year the Northwestern
will build from Douglas to the western
edge Of central Wyoming, if not farther.
These Colorado products. handled at
Cheyenne, may be shipped direct to the
new stations west Of here. Or they may
be sent to the numerous branch houses
which Cheyenne merchants are establish
ing at this point and be thence distributed
westward. IL either event Cheyenne
commerce will reap the benefit of an en-
larged trade.
That the Northwestern intends to make
Douglas It's Wyoming distributing point
is settled beyond all doubt. 1t has already
given us as good a rate as Cheyenne and
! Denver enjoy. This cannot be prevented
By patting any other Northwestern station
on the back and saying it would be a bet
ter place for the main town than Douglas.
The best town in Central Wyoming is al
ready here and what Cheyenne most needs
is rail connection With it at the earliest
moment. The instant your rails reach us
you can force an equal division Of the
traffic TO and from the east and have an
inn ortant local traffic besides. This will
be of more Importance to the road, and to
Cheyenne merchants, than a few thou
sand dollars worth Of lots in a separate
townsite.
The talk of rivalry is very crude. 1t
emanates from small minds. Douglas
is to Cheyenne what Cheyenne is to Den
yer. The intervening distance is fifty
miles greater. 1t would be as absurd for
Cheyenne to be Jealous of Doul las as for
Denver to be worried about the growth OF
Cheyenne. Cheyenne has the Denver
rate and cuts Denver of from somt
wholesale trade. And yet Cheyenne's
patronage does Denver more good thar
her competition does harm. Were ar
earthquake to engulph Cheyenne from
the face Of the earth Denve- would be Q
great loser. Other towns would quickly
take your trade, and prevent it from going
to Denver, while the latter would wait
long for successors to the patronage she
has in your city.
All the noise you have been hearing
about the vengeance Central and North
ern Wyoming have in store for the south
ern cities and their snap judgment com.
oination to gobble the public buildings
comes from a few scattered old timer
who have had tussels with you in the
past. The newcomers find it difficult tc
get mad on the subject, and | happen tc
know that the Northwestern officials dis.
countenance the agitation. We know
that none of US would fail to take in 8
capitol or university for the benefit Of our
towns if the opportunity offered. Instead
of making an idiotic row over this matter,
it IS our obvious policy to cultivate Chcy-
enne and Laramie City, to induce them
=, 49,, a.. fo..i,. Ill. 80 - Ill