New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-10
A CITY BUILT TO ORDER.
MODELLING A CALIFORNIA TOWN AFTER
PULLMAN, ILL.,
From The San Francisco Chronicle.


From The San Francisco Chronicle
In the last three weeks there has sprung into
eXsience up in Sierra County. close by the
Nevada line. another such town as Pullman
city built upon and around a great Industry
Overton is the nar!c of the tOvr-a con,nlin,nn,
l" captain James Is. ONerton. who will be the
magnaie of the mountain muncipality-and
every men OF its area. every splinter OF IT'S neat
new buildings belongs to the Hobart estate
captain OVcrton has been for years the super.
lntendcnt of the Sierra Nevada Wood and Iuni-
Der Conn any, which is one OF the Hobart enter
prisos and he will be the representative of the
estate III directing the affairs of the mountain
city which bears his name
The town is the result Of the proposed ex-
pioitatlon cf the immense timber tracts in the
vicMlty, which were acquired by the late Walter
= hobart during the last thirty years Of MS
lifetime and subsequently by his executors
lheN comprise no less than 1000 acres Of
Whlte. yellow and sugar pine and iir-al virgin
forest or this vast area If timber 900 acres
are To BE- cut sawed and manufactured. an
operation which 1t is estimated Will occupy the
tme OF large force Of men ami the employ
m'nt OF much machinery f)r sixty years to
como. In this area of land il is estimated there
ar" I.r"'.ODHO feet of lumber. which will be
worked up at the rate of 2,WO.'Do feet year
I-otO'Nh feet going into lumber. which Will be
marketed principally in Nevada ard Utah.
S.0",W1 feet in frui, boxes for the California
trade and the remainder in building material.
ali turned out on the spot Even when this is
done tract OF "oon acres will be left for the
children.
Overton. as it has now taken shape was the
pet project Of the late MIR. Hobart. and has been
carried cut thus far and will be perfected on
tn" lines which n himself laid down
The beginning was made last year. hu, it has
only been within three weeks that the town
has sprung into existence. Already. however.
4 broad gauge railroad has been built to
Fruckee on tho Southern Pacific. distance Of
seven miles. as' well as a standard spur OF two
miles to the timber belt. and seven miles of mar
NJ r:l,E fe l4 llil Ina. n
logging road into the ncghbJrins hills and
m"Untain
The new town is model Of its kind in add
ton to its industrial importance. Every loot Of
lard is owned by the Hobart estate. which will
not sell an inch. IS /; desires 20 maintain com
pi'tc control over the place in the interest Of
temperance and good order. Not a saloon or
dr!nkHg-placc viii be permitted to ogcn it's
doors in Overton. and all that can be provided
for the comfort and health and intellectual i'm
prUycmcnt Of the residents. whose number will
approximate a thousand. will be carefully looked
out for. Broad. wcll-scWcrcd streets have been
laid out. running at right angles. Thu water
system Is ample and complete and many build
ings have been completed or are under way.
The water is carried "A distance OF two and ono
half miles through siX-inCh pipe from a noun
tain stream. and hydrants. with hose attached.
are located throughout the town. and especially
IN the yards and buildings used for manufacture
ing purpose 50 that tn fire risk is reduced to
minimum. sawmlll. one If the largest in
California. capable of turning out lHiWD feet
IS in operation.
a box factory and factory for the making
of sashes. doors. blinds and mOuldngs are under
way. and VIII be finished in 4 few weeks. resi-
dences have been constructed for the suprrin-
tendcAt and the assistant superintendent. as
well as comfortable homes for the workinEmen
having families. and bunk houses FOR the bache-
Tor contingent. In addition a twO-stOry hotel
will be finished in few days. a store Will bc
Luilt where the employees Will be able to obtain
their supplies at the lowest rates. and a school
house is projected for the education OF the chill
dren.
1t is expected that the box and sash and bind
factories will run from May to December
each year. while the sdWmill will be kept in
operation throughout the twelve months giving
employment to at least three hundred mrp and
supporting a population OF a thousand souls
The Improvements in course Of construction rep
resent an outlay Of $50 900. and. taking into ac-
count the timber lands which are to feed the
new town. the value of the property Is csli-
mated at S2.UOOOO