Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-10-05
KANSANS In CRIPPLE.
THEY LARGELY DOMINATE THE
COLORADO MINING TOWN.
MANY HAIL FROM WICHITA.
WHETHER PROSPECTING OR IN BUS
MESS, ALL ARE PROSPEROUS.
Went There to Recupernte, Liked the
Country and Staycd-Sunfower
State Furnishes Produce
for the Miners-knnsas
Colony Reviewed.

Cripple Creek, Col, Oct. 4.-(SpecialD The
former inhabitant of Wichita largely
dominates the Kansas colony here. 1t is
probiematic whether this is because the
boom habit is a thing that cannot be
shaken off and that compes its victims to
go wherever the clarion voice of the real
estate man proclaims new city of destiny.
or whether the large Wichita-Cripple
Creek population is to be accounted for by
the very simple theory of an envious To-
pekan, that as Wichita had 10000 people
and now has only 1900. it isn't at all
puzzling that most any small Western
place should be flied with subjects of the
eX-oeerless princess.
Whatever the explanation, the Wichi-
takers are undoubtedly here, and in a num-
ber of instances they have undoubtedly
made their influence felt NJ. w. Levy has
been among the most successful operators
in Cripple Creek securities, and George
Steinmetz. also of Wichita, is in fair
way to become a bonanza king, through
the development of the McGinty mine
Two months ago Steinmetz bought the Nc
Ginty for s5,o0o cash. Since then, ore rum
ming $4,000 to the ton has been taken from
present the mine, like the more famous Nc
Ginty, is badly under water. When this is
pumped out the property will have a
strong commercial value. 1t is one of the
few absolutely sure things in camp. E. NJ.
DOdd, of Wichita. is associated with Mr.
Steinmetz in the McGinty management.
Mr.. Levy's work has for the most part
been confined to enlisting Eastern capital
IN the development of the camp. Since
brought more money into Cripple Creek
than has any other man. He is recog-
nized as an authority on local investments.
same prominence in the financial affairs
OF Colorado that he held for SO many years
in Kansas.
A. B. Montgomery, of Goodland makes
an excellent second in the investment field.
Mr.. Montgomery was one of the numer-
Gus scientists who attempted the impos-
sible by operating rain machine in Sher-
man county. If he was not successful, his
attempt was at least no more of a failure
than were the efforts of Melbourne and
the other rainmakers. who did so little for
weeklies. Mr.. Montgomery did not appre-
ciate the free advertising that he obtained,
and he immigrated to this country, where
no one cares whether it rains or not. Most
OF the Philadelphia capital invested in the
district came here through his efforts. He
spends but little time here now, doing
most of his work in the East.
These cases, however, are exceptions.
Few of the Kansans here have gone into
mining. and Of the few that have none
Is Is from the mining corners of the state.
have spent their lives in mining commune
ties accounts very largely for the slight
success of the kansans. A few have made
fair stakes, but most of them have come
into town and worked at anything that
promised living, preferably produce and
politics. The only successful prosrectors
In the colony are Louis and Jake Olinger,
OF Goodland. George Collins, also. of Sher-
man. who has worked with the Olingers;
Marion f, McLain. OF Lincoln county; /;
James Howard and Hyam Goldberg. of
Wichita. and Sam Gould, of Valley Center.
kansans are very much at home in the
produce business. All poultry here is
shipped from Kansas, and so is all the
fruit consumed. except little raised by
this state. This condition is of advantage
not only to the producers across the line,
but to the mer here who are acquainted
with the commission patrons in Kansas.
The proprietor of the only large non-Kan-
sas produce house in camp has said that
his business was being ruined " the -
Jayhawker establishments" Whether or
not he was correct, the produce business
here is almost entirely in the hands of ex-
kansans. and without exception, they
have been successful.
R. S; coolbaugh, Of Stockton. occupies a
large building on Carr avenue. Nearly all
of his goods are imported from Rocks and
Osborne counties. Gus Reddish, of Wich-
ita, in addition to being alderman of West
made more money in the commission bus-
ness than any other man in the. district
Ben Reddish. also of Wichita, is with him
McGinniss & Highbarger. composed of
John McGinniss, formerly agent of the
Missouri Pacific at Eldorado. and c. B.
Highbarger. druggist for number of years
at the same point have worked up a good
business, making a specially of farm prod
ucts. which they have shipped exclusively
from home, and leaving out the business
of irrigated fruits. Among their employees
are ID. j. Dougherty, of Atchison, and Jud
McGinniss. of Eldorado.
The largest commission house in the
Cripple Creek district-one of the largest
in Colorado-is exclusively a Kansas con-
Germ. Its name the Interstate Commission
Company, Is as decided misnomer as it
is possible for a name to be. Not only the
owners. but the teamster and even the men
who are building an addition to the ware
house, hail from Kansas. Not unnatural
ly, the place is A sort of headquarters for
kansans. and TO visitors 1t presents the
ment where Topekans and Wichita people
live together harmonously and even ami
cably.
secretary, The two, other directors are
Steve Wilcox. of Topeka. and Charles
Schiffbauer., of Arkansas City: Frank Z.
Hopkins and c. While. of Wichita and F.
d. King, of Sherman county, are in their
employ.
The colony is not without representation
Il.
Norton. is police Judge and in West Grip
pie Creek-a distinct municipality. divided
by an imaginary linc-C. H. Lewis. of Ness
City. is mayor; Gus Reddish. of Wichita
alderman and the night marsb,, is se'i!ta, Ren
Daniels, whose record on the police force
of Dodge City forms a very slight founda-
ton for some of the lurid stories of cattle
trail days. with which Ford county people
have made reputation for entertaining
tenderfeet This Kansas contagion of Of
ficehoidlng has extended TO the nearby
Of lott
Leavenworth, is city attorney. J. L. Wal
lace, who was for three terms clerk of
Norton county. is practising law in Grip
pie, and has received more than a cas-
ual mention for the county attorreyship.
George Wasson, formerly snerIff OF Has
ker county. is mining west of here, and
that man who has held the shrievalty in
a boom county of Kansas will always re-
tain longing for further public service
A l.. Parker of Wellington. has an ey-
cellent practice as a member of the firm
OF Seids d. Parker. and so far has abstained
from politics. Salisbury & Salisbury
George and John c. Salisbury. of Wich-
ita,, have large practice on mining liti-
CATION, and are themselves heavily inter-
ested in the on Time lode a property that
has SO far paid no dividends. but has the
low grade proposition.
The only Kansas physician in camp is
DR.. kanayel: of Sedgwick. Besides large
ty physician to attend 10. which are
neither light nor unremuneratiye rbe
passing of the picturesque element from
Cripple Creek will make his Office loss
profitable. but his reputation as a surgeon
makes kanavel easily the leading nhvsi
clan in camp. whether his reputation is
added to by the prestige of office. or yhatb
er he is simply a private citizen working
in a public way.
On the principle OF locking the stabIe
door after the bicycle has come into use
people here have bought a great deal of
insurance against fire during the last five