, 1888-02-23
JNO. r.. CARROLL. $50 Editor,
THE FUTURE OF CHEYENNE.

JNO. n. CA Editor.
THE FUTURE OF CHEYENNE.
No one who visits Wyoming and makes
a study Of its but comes to the
conclusion that we have here mineral
wealth in an abundance and variety such
as few sections of the country can boast.
The amount of advertising which Wyo-
ming is receiving must inevitably attract
the general attention of capitalists and
beginning mex summer the work of prac-
teal development will be commenced
with a great deal of enthusiasm. The
future of the territory is already assured,
but at this juncture the very interesting
query presents itself, Is the future of
Cheyenne equally well assured?
This is a question which the people Of
Cheyenne owe to themselves to meet
frankly If they wish to always maintain a
position Of commanding importance in
the territory. What has the town to rely
upon to maintain its prestige as matters
now stand?
While the town remained the end of
the Union Pacific road it naturally en-.
ioyed a great degree of fleeing
prosperity, but the railroad was
built westward carrying with 1t
all Of the city's fictitious import
ance. A period of depression followed.
Then the city became the supply point for
Indian agencies. Ultimately this source
of revenue vanished. Then the Black
Hills excitement succeeded. This mining
boom reviyified the town Just as the rich
strike at Leadville threw fresh vitality
into Denver. The difference, however,
lay in the fact that Cheyenne did not long
remain the basis of supplies Tor the hills
country. Abusiness that might always have
been ours had We had railway connections
was transferred to Pierre, Oak. and the
East. The extraordinary rise in the price
of cattle gave us the next great impetus
and lett us as pretty n city as one often
secs. Bat unfortunately our prosperity
was again based upon the prosperity of a
single industry which, in the nature of
things, could not be permanent in char
acter on the lines on which it was origi-
inally conducted. Therefore when the
temporary set back came to the cattle
business Cheyenne was severely pinched
All of this leads back to what has IRE
quently been preached in these columns:
We must now have well established and
permanent sources of revenue or be ulti.
nately outstrippcd in the race.
We all applaud the building of rail
roads into the territory and are reioiced
at the evidences of development which
follow in their trail. And yet the cues
ton with us here is Of what benefit will
the increasing wealth and prosperity of
the rest Of the territory be to Cheyenne.
AS matters stand now the territorial de-
velopmcnt may be injurious rather than
otherwise to us as d city.
Cheyenne is Just as favorably situated
in its relation to this territory as is Den
yer to Colorado or Omaha to Nebraska.
One great desideratum is accomplished.
We have now two independent, com
petlng lines of railroad to the east, but
on the other hand how much of the 100
square miles of territory comprised within
Wyoming is tributary to Cheyenne2 West
wardly we have a line of road along the
entire southern border of the territory;
southwardly a line to Denver: north
wardly we have a road lbs miles in length
which ends very romantically in the Platte
canyon. This suns up our railroad re-
sources in Wyoming.
If Chcyenne's growth is to keep pace
with the development of the territory the
energies OF the entire population
must be directed toward the
building of manufactures here and
the construction of railroads from this
point to ramify throughout the territory.
1t should not be forgotten that no matter
what the development of the rest OF the
territory may be, unless we have railway
connection with it we are benefited not
at all,
There is no fear that Cheyenne will not
always be an important town, but if it is
to have a really great future before it
must depend entirely upon the energy,
enthusiasm and far ~sightedness of its peo-
pie.
More railroads ramilying the territory
and centering here and a few local manu-
factories will establish the city so pros
perously and permanently that VIC VII.
continue to be what We always have been,
the most important town between Omaha
and Salt Lake.
PITH IN PARAGRAPHS.