, 1902-02-26
LARAMIE CHAMPION
MR.. COLTS SPLENDID STORY IN
CURRENT ISSUE OF CAMP
AND PLANT.
Tells Of the City, the County, tire
State. The Rolling Mills, The
Schools, The University. The Fish
ing and Shooting. Railroad Build
ing and Mining and Other Indus
tries.

people. AT an attitude OF I,l43 Ieet is
situated in the south-centrai part of
Albany county, Of which it is the coun-
ty seat. By way of the Union Pacific
railroad. Laramie is 163 miles north
and west of Denver, and 81 miles west
Of Cheyenne. In population. Laramie
is the second city in the state, only
Cheyenne. the capital. being larger.
While Albany county is the smallest
county in Wyoming. it is nevertheless
one of the most important in regard to
wealth. learning, manufacturing. stock
growing and mining. It has more
money invested in stocks and shares
in corporations than all the other coun-
ties put together.
In addition to the plant of the Lar
annie Iron and Steel company. which is
affiliated with the Colorado Fuel and
Iron company. there are manufactures
of stucco. cement. glass, soda, soap and
flour, not all OF which. however are
working full blast at the present time
owing to various causes
The Laramie plant of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company or. as it APP
pears in the company's handbook
1.-The Laramie Iron n Steel Compa-
ny's plant stands easily at the head Of
all the manufacturing establishments,
situated in Laramie. and in fact in the
whole state of Wyoming.
Up to about seven months ago the
Union Pacific had maintained repair
shops at Laramie. and upon removal,
many Laramie people seemed to think
the town was doomed to a period OF
hard times and depression. but their
fears have not materialized. as the
merchants declare that very little
difference has been noticed between
this last years trade and that Of form
er years. This fact has been due in a
great measure to greater activity at the
Rolling Mills" as the plant has
always been known locally. The mills
have worked more steadily. employed
more men, and have had fewer shut
downs this past year than for many
years. and, it would be safe to say. in
no other years of their existence.
The plant was first established in
1874 by the Union Pacific Railroad
Company. the main purpose of the
railroad being to manufacture its own
track supplies. such as angle bars,
bolts and spikes and the bar iron used
in repairs. Located Is it was in Lara
ME, almost midway between Omaha
and Ogden, the two termini of the
road. scrap iron mt rails for the man
ufacture OF the finished product could
be shipped in easily from both east and
west. The Union Pacific's W coal
supply vas but a few miles west.
The plant at that time consisted OF
one building, a large stone structure,
with three foot walls built of rubble
masonry. and covered with roof Of Yer
mont slate. The inside dimensions
were 231kx107 feet.
During 1884 and part OF 1885. not a
wheel was turned.
In the spring Of 1885, T. E. Scrynes-
er secured a lease from the railroad
company, and began operations on a
small scale. During the five years and
a half that Mr.. Scryncser operated
the plant. he increased the scope and
magnitude Of his business until at the
time Of his death he was counted
as one Of Laramie's strongest and
most reliable business men. Begin
ming in a modest way. he made the
plant a financial success almost from
the start and died leaving quite a large
estate.
October 16, 1890, was one OF the
darkest days the mines ever saw. Mr..
Scryneser. and Mr.. Dawson. cashier
for the Wyoming National Bank had
built a boathouse on the shores Of
Hutton's lake. about twelve miles from
town. and on this day were trying a
new sailboat for the first time. when a
sudden gush of wind overturned the
boat, and the two occupants were
caught In the ropes and drowned. Mr..
Scryneser's remains were found that
evening. but Mr.. Dawson's body was
not recovered until the next spring.
( nearly seven months later.