Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-04-21
THE CITY OF SUNSHINE
DESCRIPTION OF COLORADO
SPRINGS AND SURROUND
ING COUNTRY.
o. o. Lomen Writes Interesting Let.
ter !:bOut the Magnificent Noun
tain Scenery, the Climate
and the Public Build
ings of Colorado
Springs.
Springs.

Colorado Springs, Col, Apr. II, 1909.
Mr.. Editor:
AS requested / will write a little
letter about this well-known health
resort, also known to contain more
wealth than any city in the United
States in proportion to it's size. More
than forty millionaires reside here,
mostly on account of climatic con-
ditions and agreeable surroundings.
The city has been planned with a
view to preserve the air pure as 1t
comes from the mountains and TO
reap the full benefit of sunshine.
Nearly all streets are from $50 to
200 feet in width. Some of these
streets, North Cascade and others,
are parked in the middle about 35
feet in width, extending for miles,
containing flowers, trees, etc. Also
about II feet of parking between
sidewalk and driveway, and the gut
ters are of cement. The population
is about $4,000 The cost of the
water system $3,500,000.
Among the improvements going
on can mention, Swift & Co. S plant,
S100,000; Home for the Poor, gift
of the late Mr. Stratton, S5OO,OO0;
post office building, $27 200; i'm
proving golf and polo grounds, $780,
600; addition to Printers Home,
100000; a new Sanitarium, $780,
0O0; Deaconess Hospital, $4,000;
National Bank and stores, 100000;
Aliens residence, $4,000. The
grandest building in the city is The
Antlers Hotel, built by the late Gen.
Palmer at a cost of over $1,0O0,OOO.
1t has a grand park on two sides
extending to the RI. depot, also a
statue and monument of Gen. Pike,
the discoverer of Pixies Peak.
The court house cost over $1,000
600.
The city has excellent schools, nine
ward schools besides the high
school, 63 graduates from the latter.
The teachers are paid salaries for the
entire year. Colorado College, five
large buildings, 600 students; Deaf,
Dumb and Blind Industrial School,
six buildings, $50 students, besides
several Normal and Business Insti-
tutes. There are many very large
hospitals and sanitariums here, some
located Ill Ine HIS.
People are generally very busy
now getting ready for $4,000 tour
lists, who come from all parts of the
country to spend the summer months
here. Rent is unreasonably high ;
one drug store on the corner op-
posite the National Bank, pays $500
per month for the first story. The
city has no open saloons, never had
any The founders of Colorado
Springs 33 years ago banished the
saloon forever by inserting clause
to this effect in all deeds and in
order to clean the place of all liquor
traffic in the future, the people by
an overwhelming majority voted on
the 9Th inst. not to grant any more
licenses to the druggists, which
places a seal on the already estab-
lished reputation of Colorado
Springs.
Having been a member of election
boards for many years, l made it a
point to observe the method used
here. AS women have the same
rights as men it is more interesting.
Nearly every election board was
composed of men and women, some
ladies were clerks and some were
judges. Gray-haired women and
young girls came and voted the same
as men and boys. The quiet atmos-
phere, the respectable looking sur
roundings, neatness, ETC., at the
polling places, think was due TO the
presence of ladies. The system used
was nearly like ours. The idea SEEM
ed to prevail that women usually
vote the same as the male members
of the family they belong to, eX-
cepting on questions pertaining to
the liquor traffic the women are
mostly on the right side, regardless
of the opinion of their husbands,
while some husbands are on the
wrong side regardless of the opinion
of their wives.
There are many points of interest.
The Printers Home, erected and
maintained by the International Ty-
Union, is great insti-
tuition, the main building costing
$4,000. Printers over 60 years old
can spend the balance of their lives
here in comfort and pleasure free of
charge. Consumptive printers can
come and stay as long as they please.
and receive the best of care, all
free. Twenty nice Holstein cows
furnish milk, all of which is used
fresh by the $50 occupants. Hun
dreds of Plymouth Rock chickens
furnish egs and their own green
house plants and flowers for the
gardens and park which covers many
acres. The reading rooms contain
5000 volumns and many periodicals
from every state. The home Is
built on high ground overlooking the
entire city, with a magnificent view
of the mountains. Street cars at the
door.
The great attractions Of Colorado
Springs are the suburbs. Broad
more, a few minutes ride from the
s, Oh nf Chau-