Kansas City daily journal., 1896-01-18
WONDERFUL CRIPPLE CREEK
ITS roPULArloS HAS GROWN IN FIVE
YEARS To 10000.
In the Midst OF Ono OF tho Richest Gold
Districts of the Norid-Firc limits
Established WIN soon Have
Gas Plant.

When in the spring II 1s2i Bob wo-
mack struck the FL Paso. or Gold King
lead at Cripple Creek most people
Thought it would not amount To more
than the various reported finds of gold
in the same field which had been made
periodically ever since early i'm the 10s
and not man could he found who would
nave been willing to rrophcsy that in
I'VE short years Cripple Greek would be
hustling and substantial city of l5.000
people. with hundreds being added To the
population weekly. and that the terri
tory Immediately surrounding the Coi0-
:ddo mining camp would in that time
have zoo developed mines and hold forth
the prospect Of becoming the richest
sold field Of the earth
But all this ana more has happened
IN That space of time according to Manor
Hugh +. Steele. Of cripple creek. who
spent yesterday in Kansas City. Mayor
steele accompanied by Mr. !. l.. Lind
say, cashier ~ the First National bank.
of Cripple Creek has been looking into
the merits Of various methods Of manu-
facturing gas for the purpose of figuring
ON putting in q gas plant In that city.
The city is now lighted by electricity but
the officials believe that gas would be
more satisfactory.
Mayor steele talked last night to
journal reporter about the DEVELOPMENT
and resources Of Cripple Creek with q
Eardonable enthusiasm. Prior to the
time Womack made his discovery in
1871 the present site of Cripple Creek was
farm, or rather a grazing pasture
taken up under the homestead law with
no thought that under it was the richest
body Of mineral in the country Mining
experts We're steptigal about there be-
ing gold ait Cripple Creek in quantities
which would pay to mine. They said
that the rock formation was not right
and some Of them went SO far as to
maintain that the Lord never intended
that gold should be found in any such
formation as that which existed at
Cripple Creek. hut il was there and the
people have found it out and are finding
out more every day about the wonderful
richness Of this Eldorado. The gold at
Cripple Creek is found i'm q formation
of phOnolitc. or ClnCstOno as the com
mon name has Il. Appearances there arc
so deceptive that of two pieces Of rock
which look exactly alike one will con-
tain gold and the other none, SO that
even the most expert of the mining men
cannot always tell without the most
careful investigation.
The district around Cripple Creek
which has been partially developed thus
far is about five miles in length by two
miles In width. I'm all this district there
are not more than five shafts which arc
down more than 400 feet. and as the uni
Ncrsal experience with all the rich veins
has been thar he deeper the shaft the
richer the vein IL can ready he seen
how vast are the possibilities for de-
vclopment i'm the district.
Mayor Steele believes that I'm the near
fut are the district viii be extended by
the rapid process of development now
gof on until it will be twenty miles
long by eight miles wide, making the
district four times as large as at PRES
ent, There are now in Cripple creek i'm
the viclni s~t l5,o0O people and Mayor
steele says they a., coming in 50 fast
hat t1 -srfl
track Of his aCIuantpnccs. I'm the dis
tflct there are now not loss than $4,000 |
people. There are nine Incorporated |
,'Hwns, OF which Victor, with 5000 popu-
shtlon, is ting mfSt important aside from
Cripple Gee, G.
The disttet Y. stlll part of III Paso
COUNTY bit there is no question but that |
there will be separation In the near
future when Cripple Creek will be the |
county seat Of a new county The in |
fluX of population has been greater in |
the last ninety days than ever before |
and the, streets are crowded night aud |
day. While the city up 10 date has been /
built Of wood principally. n fire limit has /
recently been fiNcd and in future all |
buildings within that limit must be of /
brick or stone and already there are /
number Of substantial brick structures |
in the city, an excellent quality of brick |
being manufactured right on the ground. |
Asked as To his opinion on the ultimate |
future Of Cripple Greek, Mayor steele |
SAM inat ne c1lit 90 no tftttE IMAM give |
the opinion OF CS-tioNeruor Grant, prcs!- |
dent of the Grant smelling works and
one of the best posted men In the coun-
try. Governor Grant says that ICadyille /
in seventeen years has produced a Sl00,-
0n0 600 worth of gold and ne believes that |
in the same lcngtn Of time Cripple Greek
will produce i've times that amount.
Mayor Steele said that he wanted to
give some advice II those seeking in
vestmcnts in Cripple Greek mining
properties. Before they put any money
into mining stocks they ought 10 be
sure they are investing i'm real property, |
Bogus companies have sprung up which
are trading on the reputation of the dis
trict and are putting on the market
shares in mines which have no existence
except on paper. Mayor Steele believes
that the best way TO do away with these
frauds is To have some reputable COM
pany in every important city, in which
the people have confidence. list the good
stocks of the district So that WOuld-hc |
investors may know what stocks are
worth putting their money into He
stated that the Missouri. Kansas and
Texas Trust Company Of Kansas city, |
was going 10 do this and that the Inter-
national of Philadelphia. was arranging
To do the same thing. Recently there
Cripple Greek Gold Investment Com
pany, which offered shares at s. each
in alleged Cripple Creek mines and re-
ferred 10 the output Of the well known
Portland mine as an example Of the |
value Of the property offered, when in
fact no such company owned a dollars
worth Of stock in the Portland.
Speaking Of the political situation In
Colorado, Mayor Steele said that the |
state would send delegates to both CON
Nentions instructed 10 demand free |
silver plank in the platform and that if |
neither party put in such a plank the !
state would be "A free lance in politics. |
only men who are known To ,
he friends Of silver. Mayor Steele and !
Mr.. Lindsay will return TO Cripple Creek !
this morning.
VIII Take Ip Hyandotie Street Franchise. | :
The lower house streets, alleys ana grades |
Will meet to-day 10 again take |
uu the ordinance granting the Mest Side |