St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-07-20
FROM THE WEST.
A 81. Johnsbury Mans Impressions
of a Growing City.

Correspondence OF the CALEDoNiAN'J
SHERIDAN, Wyo., June 21-l hope
it is not presuming too much to
think that many of my old Gale
donia county friends will be glad to
hear from me as to my impress
sions of this "New Northwest. |
will be as brief and moderate as
possible.
The rapid growth of this section OF
Northern Wyoming is remarkable
Only few years since it was the
home of the warlike Sioux and Crow
tribes of Indians and this was their
favorite hunting ground, Astounding
in unnumbered herds of buffalo, elk
and other wild animals. When my
son Lyman made his first purchase
here in 1882 Of 160 acres there
were not 100 white men in all this
region
1t will be remembered that the
bloody Indian war, which was
waped from 1876, was only brought
to a successful issue in the fall OF
1879 when through the heroic
bravery of Gems. Crook, Terry, Miles,
and Custer, Sitting Bull and his fol-
lowers were finally defeated.
Six years since, Johnson county
was sub-divided and its northern
half one hundred miles long and
thirty wide became Sheridan county.
The present town or city, as it
really is, of Sheridan, became the
shire town of the new county and
this was an important element OF its
future growth. The town site IS
beautiful for situation, located upon
a rich section of land about four
miles square. The morning and
evening twilight are prolonged and
surprisingly beautiful. The sun
beams with a radiance rarely seen III
the dense atmosphere of the East,
and westward rises the mighty wall
of the Big Horn Mts. The loftiest
point of the range, Cloud Peak, seem
ing to touch the cerulean hued
canopy Of the sky, its white apex
standing in bold relief against the
blue armament. The snow line, I'M
der the influence of the solar rays,
CLEANS like mother silver, and all
this taken in conjunction with the
green fore and the dark middle
ground produces an effect of dazzling
grandeur.
The population of Sheridan has
doubled in the last six months, now
reaching 2000 Hundreds of new
aad a ae 9 at tins sp p4esent tine at
least so families dwelling temporar.
lily in tents and rude log huts, wait.
ing a more permanent home when
building materials and mechanics
can be provided.
Many of the more recent buildings
are substantial structures, notably
the Sheridan Inn built by the
Sheridan Land Company at an
expense of $4,000, with $50 rooms
Go of which are airy and comfort
able bedrooms, the others being
elegant dining rooms, parlors, bath
rooms, etc.-are perfectly ventilated
and lighted by an electric plant, be-
longing to the building but apart
from it. There are already thre,
church editices completed free from
any debt and supplied with pastors
two more soon to be erected. Thre,
banks, one national and two privat,
institutions; two large houring.mills
one running night and day with al
output of 100 barrels daily; two
weekly newspapers and a thirc
soon to be added issuing dali,
edition; a public high schoo
with five grades and an attendanc
last year of 239; city hall building
is being erected, also plant for tn
Electric Light Company and a fin
new Court House is soon to be built
The streets are broad, from 60 to 8
feet, with ample sidewalks construct
ed of plank, and avenues through a
parts of the city, very liberal reserve
tions being made for public park
A public meeting is called early
July to see if the citizens will vote t
bond the city for $4,000, ITO pre-
vide suitable water for the extil
guishment of fires and for supplyin
the inhabitants with water ft
domestic, manufacturing and 9th,
purposes" This will undoubted
be carried by unanimous vote
male and female citizens. TT
metropolitan dry goods, grocerie
drug, hardware and clothing stor
would be creditable to much old
places.
OF course, weeks temporal
residence will not enable me to spe;
from personal acquaintance OF t
charactar pf tho c;t;,ape &c Cla.:J -