The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-06
''COIN" A LAND BOOMER
W. III. HARVEY's ATTEMPT TO MAKE
A METROPOLIS OUT OFPUEBLO.
How Ho Tried To Boom City and Suburban
Eosi Estate In Coiorado-His Mnrdi
Gras Festival aud Mineral Palace.

BOOK, or that he is the same individual
who tried TO make metropolis OF Puepio.
Harvey made his headquarters at the'
Grand Hotel here and kept his ONCE IN
his hat most OF the time. lie came Win
the first overflow OF Kansas real-estdte
boomers who had swung things so Drlshy
in Kansas City, Wichita, and, later IN III
terror Kansas towns. Inc easy-golns
residents OF Pueblo did not know what
10 make Of the methods introduced Dy
the new arrivals, but they were not SLOW
TO believe all the wonderful things sald
OF the glorious possibilities Of the place,
and finally they pitched in with zeal 10
assist the real-estate boomers.
The first public appearance or Harvey
was in connection with two experienced
boom writer's who had obtained permits
sion 10 have their stuff printed In the only
morning newspaper OF the town. Har-
vey wanted to circulate the paper
Throughout the length and breadth OF
the land. so that investors might Know
that Pueblo was the only proper I5ace
In which TO purchase real estate. Hdt
Ney wanted a fund OF money subscribed
10 defray the expenses OF the Two boom
writers. whom ne proposed 10 SEND mo
the Eastern states WIN pdslsls' D ian
board literature, and ready maze ln'eI-
Views for unsuspecurg newspapers 70
publish end By these several means 10
advertise the merits of the graf future
metropolis Of the Rocky Mcunl am us
trct. He secured fund OF $500 .os
his purpts Sc. and the missionaries started
off brass band and a street paiaue
signalled their departure. They staSh
thousands OF blue pastors bearing. w
word Pueblo" upon freight cars, NO. ,.oI
registers, sidewalks. and even upon W
hicles standing in the streets. lney
pasted big sheets upon bare walls. us
tributed boom editions or the locdl pap,ia'
ard occ. siOnally managed 10 DC hhltl
viewed. They were heard OF In several
Eastern cities. but IT was not opser H t,.,
that the influx of strangers seeking fu-
eblo real estate was materially augment
ed by the missionary scheme.
1nE BOOM STARTED.
Meanwhile Harvey had secured posse
SIGN of a great tract OF anoue ug ,eiilS
several miles east OF the cIty, worthle5s
as grazing or farming land, but FaluaDie
az a basis for boom real-estate purposes.
The land was marketable az ABOUT - 81.
acre when he made his iirsi pay iasii,1
mon n lie had the ground plotted, ana
beautiful charts were printed showing
how delightful IL would be as SUBURBAN
property when improved. lie let Jon
tracts for landscape gardeilns, nau a
boulevard built leading from. the city 10
the land and several natural alhau slhhs
ne had designed as pretty lakes; re mar
a start upon the boulevard py having wy ls
Board OF County ComHlssloileis P'oa "a a
up and grade a road 10 his property, anu
tie spring rains being UNUSUALLY n.dss'
his lakes bore semDlance or moisture
Next ne built a hotel TO occupy tht cen
tire OF his suburban residence i oi1 asnd
This cdifice was constructed OF DITCH an st
stone with wide Verandds anu pedu''A"'
gables and turrets. -.
Harvey succeeded in selling a great
number of lots at $50 apiece 10 Eastern
buvers through mail correspondence. Inc
buyers may have reasoned tnat II Wds
not much money 10 risk, even II the pro
fits should be a long time I'D dIlNHls'
But when the boom was up nOthing re-
NAMED hut the beautiful hotel, which
stands to-day out among the pleah diu
barren hills just as far as ever from
town. while the wide verandas are oStJ,i.
pied only by an occasionel jack iaDDlt
seeking shelter from storm. Nol
single house was ever built theFe 10y put
chasers of lots. and one by one tne liiul
vidual holdings were sofa ior taxes ~
purchased by Eastern investment Svil-
panies that do business by wholesale III
tax titles without investigating the merits
OF their purchases. s. a..
During the boom Harvey interested ,ne
Pueblo citizens in another project lie
argued that the Mardi-Gras festivities III
New Orleans and the Yelled Prophets pa
rade in St. Louis brought annuaiiy tno ,.is
ands OF dollars into those citles from W.
TORS and that were Pueblo 70 inaugural
the same plan, the city would pe peaul1
fully advertised. and many sales OF Ieal
estate would follow. Mass meelinss
were held TO consider the subject ana
there Harvey made his first attempts at
nuhlic debating. The Pueblo citizens
contributed quite literally. leaving 10 mar -
vev and his returned missionary pOoih-
writer's all the details OF the AFFAIR IA
cursion trains were planned 70 run , lou
chicago. ST. Louis Denver and san ffdn-
cisco. beautiful autographed posters were
prlnfed: magnificent floats were suggest
ed. and the citizens declared a holiuay
week for the event. -. 49,.
hungry for Mardi-Gras festivals, ana the
excursions from without the state tallel
to matorialiZe. Harvey iound III Denver
a king Rex and a queen rex Wno
If -
one evening In great mystery at the pr
cpal hotel Of that city. ,.-, ..,. -,
What does all this foolishness mean
was asked: but Harvey said, Mystery j.
desirable. my boy; keep your eye on Us
For two DAYS king Rex" ana queen
Rex" lived Ike real mOnarchs IN Denver,
their expensive retinue OF servants eating
rapidly into the subscription iuhu i i-
nished by the people or fuepio' n iSn
the enecial train came 20 Pueblo with me
ruler OF the carnival and people WHO
Rad received free passes. ArrlVihS III .nt
city. q street parade was iornel pu' w
eoats failed to materialize ana an .,i LA
appeared was a string Of delivery Va
CONS OF local merchants. The nlsht page
ant proved, still greater iaiiure'
DIsyIsstD KING REx.
"Kine Rex" now seriously indisposed
nv his several DAYS OF revelry, had TO be
held steady upon his triumphal car. ana
the wicked driver toward the emo OF the
procession turned down a dark alley uh-
hitched his horses and drove OF. leaving
king Rex" slumberng peacefully upon
his high perch. When King Rex aWohe
late at night he swOre loudly ana COM
manded his minions TO move on. but no
one appearing he tumbled of his car
and wended his winding way toward the
hotel where he created a scene by swear
ing at Harvey In several languages. har-
vey paid him OF and dismissed him from
further duty as a carnival king. ne
ball that same evening proved a fallufe
likewise What became OF queen Rex
no one ever knew.
This fasco disguised the citizens ana
reduced their faith in Harvey, HIS SUD
seGuenr magnificent conceptions were
fTOwned upon with one exception. Har-
vey conceived that an exposition or some
kind would be clever advertising plan
for the city 20 adopt and as the palace
idea was abroad in the West, ne wanted
one for Pueblo Sioux City had done vel
with its corn palace. Fort Worth with
its cotton palace had been a financial sue
cess, and he believed a mineral palace
ought TO 90 in Colorado. This plan met
with general approval. A company was
formed. and the palace was erected In the
midst of a luxurious growth of sage brush
IN an unimproved part of the city. The
interior OF the mineral palace was dec
Grated by New York artists, and made
an imposing appearance. The structive
still stands, and is admired by the visitors
Hn ell re