The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-06-26
BOOMTOWN'S COLLAPSE.
Accelerated by the Loss of Both
It's Paper and Editor.

that struck the west midway In the 50 s.
You remember how towns sprung up
with greater rapidity than was dreamed
of the days of Aladdin; how what was
yesterday prairie became to-day will
age, and tomorrow city; how specula-
ton ran riot and fabulous fortunes. on
paper, were made almost in night. You
recall how companies, or rather, syndi-
Gates, were formed in every city of the
Nation for the purpose of taking ad-
vantage of this wonderful growth of
towns by buying up land, planting it
into city lots, and selling again. You
recollect how the older cities of the
plains extended their limits almost in
definitely, until it seemed as though
the saying of an old farmer friend of
mine would be realized. "B'gosh," 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 all be cut up inter buildin' lots and
railroad right o ways"
1t was, indeed, awe-inspiring-or
would have been if it had not been so
pitiful-the boundless hope indicated
by these additions which stretched out
in every direction from every hamlet,
like so many octopus feelers encroach-
ing upon the rich leagues of prairie
earth that lay in biIlowy folds spread
ing away to the far horizon.
Boomtown was simply and purely a
creature of the speculative form. 1t
had its origin in the back parlors of
Henry Manley's law-ot1ice in the city
of Philadelphia. 1t was the result of a
coolle and carefully conceived scheme
to make fortune easily. And to Henry
Manley must be given the credit for the
plan.
'Gentlemen," he had said, when a
half-dozen of his fellow-capitalists in
vited to his Office one February after
noon had taken their seats, there is
money in this tide of town-building. If
we can raise sufficient funds, we can
make fortune as we'll as the rest of
them. l have looked over the ground.
We will buy four sections of land, favor
ably situated, lay out one section in
city lots, erect some buildings, adver-
tise the thing, have an auction sale, and
sell enough to more than pay for our
outlay; then we will dispose of the re-
mainder at our leisure as clear profit.
What do you say?'
They were agreed as to the feasibility
of the scheme, and by the middle of
summer, 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 Boom town
Syndicate Qimited) of Philadelphia had
more than realized the amount of the
investment, and was gathering in the
profits.
Then there came lull. Somehow,
lots did not sell quite as rapidly as be-
fore and some of the stockholders were
becoming little uneasy.
meeting was held.
"fll tell you what is the matter"
said Marley. the president of the com.
pany; "Boomtown needs 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"
I'VE must let folks know that there
Is such place." translated Manley for
the benefit of the others.
Haven't we advertised?" asked one
stakeholder
Yes, but you see, it has all been out
side places to get people there. Now we
must keep up their courage, so that they
will not go away"
This was good logic, and the directors
ordered the officers to arrange for start
ing paper in Boomtown.
1t was done. In answer to an adver-
tisement, one A. c. Chelton was en-
gagged as editor and money enough fur
nished for the plant"
Henry Marley, as he corresponded
with the future editor, became much
impressed With the vigorous character
of that individual, and actually longed
to leave his law practice and 60 and as
sist in getting out the first number of
the Boomtown Herald-for he had
''stuck type" once upon time himself.
Six months went by. If Boomtown
belied her name, and did not boom, it
was not the fault of the Herald. There
never was paper that did so much
arguing for its home city. Vigorous
editorials, pithy locals, sharp criticisms,
all told of mind alert to the best in
terests of the place. The paper had not
made money, but it pushed" the town.
Manley watched for it's weekly COM
ing with as much avidity as he did for
his meals He read it before he did the
metropolitan journals. He formed q
liking for the editor, and often wished
he could meet him face to face.
eff did not know otherwise, I should
suspect thai you had sweetheart out
in that Western village" said his
mother one day, when her bachelor son
was porting over letter from Chelton.
II have he replied, "the Herald.
I'm in love with it, and I'm going out to
cal upon it next week."
He was a. good as his word. and, ten
days later, as the overland express
halted at Boom town. a elegantly