The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-29
IN A MODERN OIL TOWN.
The Growth OF Beaumont, Tex, Since the
First Well Game In"
From the Hsv orison. Time.-DemocrGt

From the New Orleans Timss-Demoerat.
Beaumont has grown 90 rapidly and stead
ily within the past few months that the stages
Of that growth have almost escaped pub
lie notice. The present boom Is not like
that which occurred when oil wsa first dis
covered. IL Is not a boom OF speculation
but a boom which has material evidences
behind 1t to vouch for its strength and real
ity.
To properly understand tho growth witch
Beaumont has attained at the present time
II Is necessary to revert TO its condition az
the time oil was first discovered and during
the few months when things were In such
confusion that man turned not his attention
to practical upbuilding.
AZ the time oil was struck Beaumont was
= thriving lumber town. being the centre also
Of a large rice district. II had a few ho,oL
Of very moderate capacity. a barn OF an
opera house, In which the science OF acoustics
had not been applied. and a goodly scatter
i,g OF stores and dwellings. During the
speculative boom, n few more ex tenpore
saloons were erected. but the large influx
Of stran gers had TO content themselves mainly
with the existing facilities, as buildings could
not he erected In a day; and. Therefore hotels.
boarding houses and dwellings wore crowd6d
b be- dcttSd With white tents bcnca,b
which cots rented for n dollar a might
A. that teWpestuous time when even
relieved only by a few dcrrlcks. men were
value. e think sbou, providing ne prlc-
perma-on, homes for 'hons"lv"s
nut to-day Spindle Top Heights and tbs
At both plS ces il is evident that things hays
settled down and that the progress is now
strong and conservative MAI. ,. ,
self During the daytime IL swarms with
workmen and at night ~ bright llghIs may
be sesn a s1stio away and Zoe Ies eahs'' RACKS ptPs n tSat
have been laid and erected there IN Them.
selves have meant the expenditure OF vast
railroad receipts and the giving OF employ
ment to many hundreds Of men. These
men en- 0t sGG iN %ov Tish The the ol fris5, nns o ona m nnGrs
Of them. on the field. and as restaurants
and eating houses ,lhayc been put ny there.
in ine ne nm immediate Vicinity Of their working
In beaumont itself the crowded condition
tiers has been relieved within the past three
months. The time when q man WAS GAO
to pay a big price f fGo des sTe aSpm qn'f Bui ide
ing, In Pearl street, is modelled alter its name
sake in London, and though not as larse, Is
a very capacious oflce building. ana Is oc-
cupied by railroad men. oil men. lawyers
The large modern brick building in which
tUt Optld lOh~f ~
out TO Beaumont's Social Club and other
firms and persons desiring Offices, The opera
house portion was fnished first, but the rest
Of II is now about ready for occupancy one
Of the old hotels has lust about competed
a large extension. and a new hotel has been
completed in Calder avenue Another one
is being built in that portion. OF the town
near the Neches River Brick store buildings
are being erected in many places through
out the business section
The growth Of the residential district at
the north end Of the town has been %nothing
short Of marvellous. Three months ago
North street was the boundary OF the town
In that section. Pevond II was n barren
stretch of fields, frlneed in, the distance by
woods To-day this field has been, neatly
cut into streets and is covered with frame
dwelling houses. one. two and three stores
high, The houses have sprung up like mush-
rooms and were rented al good figures before
the foundations were laid
All branches Of business have PARTICIPATED
in the prosperity. Although two new banks
we're organized recently, all of the banks
have ali Of the business they can handle
Building. supply and hardware men nave
made fortunes. and there is no industry,
however small. that has not reaped profits
from the large increase In business ana pop
,1aftpn