The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-11-18

of it's two principal streets reads: 'FThe
| first stake OF the Fountain Colony was
driven here July 81, 1871" FIom this
point, near the business center. the city
mas folio we'd the lines of the surveyor,
and has become a model of system and
regularity. From this point, too the
city is numbered, by the block system,
and the term EAST" "West," "NOrtn"
or "South," being given with the num-
| Der, before the name Of the street, the
exact location of the house or holding,
and its distance from the first stake OF
the settlers, are at once understood. The
streets are nearly north and south, ana
east and west. Those of each direction
are smooth and broad (from 100 TO 100
feet wide9, and straight and parallel rs
| the strings of harp. Between every
two streets is an alley, to accommodate
| the rear of each lot, aud for the laying
of water mains and the erection of Gele-
| phone poles. But the
REGULARITY AND BEAUTY OF THE TOWN
would not have been possible, were it
| not for its ideal site, which is plain or
moderate table land, running from the
north, like a tongue or peninsula, into
the valley formed by the Rocky Noun
| tain range on the west, and mountain
ike prairie bluff on the east. This plain
| or natural platform, reckless and smooth
| as the deck OF a great ship, with its
gently ascending grade from the north,
seems admirably adapted to the building
of city, to its water supply and sewer
age, and to the modern c0nvenieDces of
life.
Outside the business portion, which is
composed of brick structures and not
| large in extent, the town, excepting pub
| lie buildings, Is almost entirely built of
wood. 1t is a city Of dwellings, of de-
| tached houses, almost every one of which
| Ia set upon lawn, more or less ample,
| which is kept at it's best condition
through the summer by the unlimited
water supply from the mountains. Ey-
erything seems new. In the erection OF
buildings architecture has striven to pre-
sent every variety of new style ana form
consistenG with comfort and convenience
and the getting the most out Of air and
sunshine Southerly exposed piaHzas
and verandas are made TO catch the force
of the winters sunbeams as they warm
and witty the air, and broad and out
reaching windows take in the first and
last rays OF daylight. For the heat of
summer, corresponding thought is shown
in the provision for breezes and shadows.
There is scarcely q white building of
any kind in the town. Colors vary from
paints dark and heavy to those Of neutral
and delicate tints-some presenting the
idea of substance and durability, and
others displaying good taste and produc-
ing pleasing effects. Shingles cover the
sides as well as roofs of majority of
the houses, and almost without an ex
ception the roofs are painted black, or
very dark color. The feature. when
looked upon from the slopes of the
mountains or the prairie uplands, gives
the city the appearance OF 3 vast checker
board. Riding or walking through the
city, az the observant and critical tourist
meets the diversity Of beautiful houses
and homes, he is constantly challenged
to find his choice or his ideal in the assert
ment that includes everything from the
pretentious villa TO the modest cottage.
But one OF the most pictures que We've,
to be found in this or any other city, Is
that which is had when one stands near
the north end of one of it's longest streets
and looks two or three miles down It's
straight and wide space, bordered with
cottonwood trees. In the bright and
pure air of this region it is an urban vista
that can seldom be equalled.
1t will be seen from the described sur
face of the city, and the scarcely percep-
tible grades of its principal streets, so
straight and smooth-that il must be q
Joy to the wheelmen. There are no pave
ments here. Nothing could make a better
track for the bicycle or carriage than the
natural soil OF the surface. 1t is, by use,
packed hard and smooth, SO much SO,
that one of the original colOnists informs
me he has, at times, been able to write
upon it with pencil. It will not be
wondered at then that the wheel is 10
evidence everywhere and always. It is
estimated that of the Is 900 inhabitants,
40 per cent of all who are old enough and
young enough and stror g enough to ride.
are wheelmen, and it Is claimed for it,
that Colorado Springs Is probably the
leading bicycle town OF the world. Men,
women and children, OF all ranks, seem
at home on the wheel as much as bird
on the wing. Among other curious
thir ga, man with but one leg may be
seen daily taking his place In the general
procession, where everything is carried
IN the wheel from hymn-boOk and
grip-sack to pot of paint and ladder
What Is most interesting, Ia to see fam. |
ilY,
MOTHER AND CHILDREN, FORM |
ING A CYCLE SQUAD
on the wa to church, and again It is q |
novelty to a stranger to see during the |
hour OF services bank OF wheels, extend
Ing from one end to the other of the ex-
terror OF the church edifice. It should |
not be concluded that the prevalence OF
the wheel leaves no place or use for the
carriage. The streets OF the city and L
the roads OF the adjoining prairie are
equally good for either, and there is plen-I
~ of room for both. All sorts OF road
Rigs may be seen. The donkey cart,
irawn by the burro, suggests fun, but 1t
~ often means real business. 1.-The dom
KEY here IL called burro). The very