The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-08-30
BOOMTOWN'S COLLAPSE,
Ii c. VI. HARGEH.

You remember, no doubt. the "boom =
that struck the West midway in the SOS
You remember how towns sprung up
with greater rapidity than was dreamed
of in the days of Aladdin; how what was
yesterday "A prairie became to-day vii
lagc, and tomorrow city; how spccu-
lation ran riot and fabulous fortunes. on
paper. were made almost in night
You recall how companies, or rather, syn
dictates. were formed in every city of the
nation for tn" parpoSc of taking advan-
tagc of this wonderful growth of towns
by buying w land, planting it into city
lots. and selling again. You rccoilcct
how the older cities of the plains extend
cd their limits almost indefinitely, until
1t seemed a. though the saving of an old
farmer friend or mine would be realized.
Goodness. he used to remark, - if you
town fellers keep on layin' out editions
to yer cities there won't be any land left
for farmin It'll be all cut up inter
buildin' lots and railroad right o. ways"
Boomtown was simply and purely "a
creature of the speculative form. 1t had
its origin in the back parlors of Henry
Manleys law office, in the city of Phila-
delphia. it was the result of coOlly and
carefully conceived scheme to make for
tune easily. And TO Henry Manley must
be given the credit for the plan.
Gentlemen" he had said. when the
half-dozen of his fellow capitalists in
vited to his Office one February afternoon
had taken their seats, there is money
in this tide OF town-building. II we can
raise sufficient funds, We can make a for
tune as well as the rest of them. have
looked over the ground. We will buy
four sections of land, favGably situated.
lay out one section in city lots. erect some
buildings, advertise the thing, have an
auction sale, and sell enough to more than
pay for our outlay; then we will dispose
of the remainder at our leisure as clear
profit. What do YOU sayl"
They were agreed as to the feasibility
of the scheme, and by the middle of sum
mer Boomtown was in the height of
prosperity, with houses, stores, sites for
schoolhouses, churches, and even the
State capitol, and other public buildings
and first of all the Boomtown Syndi-
cate QimitedD of Philadelphia had more
than realized the amount of the invest
ment, and was gathering in the profits.
Then came lull. Somehow, lots did
not sell quite as rapidly rs before and
some of the stock holders were becoming
"a little uneasy.
n meeting was held.
"Tll tell you what is the matter, said
Marley, the president of the company
Boomtown needs "a paper"
That's it exactly" said the spruce
little bankers son, who was secretary
THE people must be informed, you know,
Of BOomtown'S existence"
1--WE must let folks know that there is
such place" translated Manlcy for the
benefit of the Others.
"Haven't we advertised" asked one
stock holder.
Yes. but. you see. it has all been out
! side places 10 get people there. Nov We
must keep up their courage, so that they
will not 90 away"
ordered the officers to arrange for starting
a paper in Boomtown.
1t was done. In answer to an adver-
tlScmcnt, one A. I. CheltOn was engaged
as editor, and money enough furnished
for the plant"
! Henry Manley, as he correspondent with
the future editor, became much impressed
with the vigorous character of that indi-
vidual. and actually longcd to leave his
/ law practice and go and assist in getting
out the first number of the Boomtowr
Hcrald-for he had stuck type" once
! upon Il time himself
Six months went by. II Boomtown
bclicd its name. and did not boom, it was
not the fault of the Herald. There never
was paper which did so much arguing
for its home city. Vigorous editorials,
pithy locals, sharp criticisms, all told OF
a mind alert to the best interests of the
place. The paper had not made money,
but it pushed" the town.
Manley watched for its weekly coming
! with as much avidity as he did for his
meals. He read it before he did the
metropolitan journals. He formed lik.
ing for the editor, and often wished he
could meet him face to face.
If did not know otherwise, l should