Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-23
Sunshine and Prosperity
BY Frederic J. Haskin.

Pueblo. Colo, Aug. 20.-Many cities,
ike people, seem to acquire sudden pros
pcrity only at the expense OF their DIS
positions, but not Pueblo. Although an
important industrial metropolis, burdened
With the responsibility of supplying a tire
mcndous variety of manufactured articles
tn the rest of the world. Pueblo Is as m
formal, as unpretentious and as friendly
as in the days when il was but tiny
trading post-and almost MS picturesque.
>Pucblo's main street is the only one
We have encountered in our western traV-
ELS which can anywhere nearly compare
with the stirring brand of western thor
oughiares occurring in the movies and IN
some of our most popular fiction. Even II
Is rapidly succumbing to the modern lh-
1uencc OF five-and-ten-cent stores, c-
trola shops, movie palaces, interior dec
Grating parlors and soda fountain lunch
rooms, but few traces OF the bold, bau
west of old still survive. Among the most
thrilling of these are dozens oi iunnS,
little pawnshops, whose windows contain
not the usual assortment oi discarue9
jewelry, but formidable collectlons OIL
high-class revolvers, daggers, bowie knives
and 'jimmies.
Anparcntlv il is as easy to buy dan
attacked with one in New York, and yet
Pueblo has never vet had to be quoted
down hv visits from the State militia
These stores cater chiefly TO the Mexican
population we are told, the MeXlcans
being particularly fond of carrying valu-
able weapons. although they are generally
o,,ite pcaccful. Thus, while the stock IS
largely ornamental, it gives Pueblo.
rather reckless air, especially since few
of the shops are in direct and sinister line
with impressive undertaking establish
ments r
The appearance Of large number oil
mon in Khaki shirts, brcCches, and boo's'
some of them on horseback, suggests
mining atmosphere. but IN reailtN many
of them are foremcn and supcrntcndehts
Of plants producing nothing moie
startling than bricks or saddles. And many
az the Ncxicaa Don Juars who stroll
gracefully up the main street on saturday
nights. wearing broad-hrimmed, black
fclt somhrcros recalling Spain OF the SIN,
tccnth century, are laborcrs ~ the locai
steel plant.
A WESTERN PITrSBtRG-
For Pueblo. in spite of ITS exotic touches,
l. d typical American industrial city con-
tanning over 100 factories and proud OF
Nest This is usually an amazing piece
Of news Ia eastcrncrs whose idea Of Pucb-
los industrial or geographical status IS
distinctly visionary "Gcc whlz. lhlS IS
\ regular town. exclaimed New Jersey
manufacturer who happened TO change
trains here about n wear ago. And.
always thought il was an Indian village
Ns II Ia make up for this injustice, this
manufacturer has row opened a factory
here and become n confirmed Puebloite.
Pueblo owes its spectacular industrial
riSc 10 its admirable location, which Is IN
n basin on the eastern foothills OF the
Rockies and on both sides OF the Arkansas
river. 1t is not only surrounded by the
richest agricultural country IN the state
of Colorado. but IL IS also IN the vicinity
of large coal and oil fields, and provides
the nearest, cheapest downward haul
from the gold. copper and iron mines. As
a strategic railroad point, with hve trunk
lines stopping at its back door; It mas ne
come the greatest receiving and distribute
ing center west OF the Mississippi. In
other words. il is the logical point for re-
ceiying raw materials, reducing them TO
the smallest bulk IN the form of manu-
factured articles, and shipping them out
again.
Most OF the city's growth has occurred
during the past ten years, in which perlod
the population has increased 5I.S per
cent, while scores Of new factories have
been added Pueblo now has the largest
steel plant west of Chicago. II Is great
smelling center 1t has giant flour mill
with a storage capacity of 100000 bushels
of wheat, which ships -four to every part
al the globe, a large shipment recently
going forward TO Egypt.
WHERE SADDLES ARE MADE.
Two large saddle houses are located
here, which specialize in the western sad
die. and distribute il not only throughout
the west but in South America, Mexico
and Canada. Pueblo tents and awnings
are shipped over an equally wide term
tory. while one tent and awning firm