94 ID4H7I University of California Berkeley DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO, IN SEARCH OF HEALTH, WEALTH OR RECREATION, SEEK INFORMATION REGARDING "THE QUEEN CITY OF THE PLAINS," THE METROPOLIS OF THE JIOCKY MOUNTAIN REGION. -- * , olopado, TI?e Queer; City of tlpe |(j|HO, among those rough, and in many instances, I ragged miners, and adventurers, who built their '~V~'' shanties around that of General Larimer at junction of Cherry Creek and the Platte river, in the the fall of 1858, could have imagined that the year 1890 would see surrounding that spot one of the handsomest, busiest and richest cities of the Union? We will venture to say that the most sanguine among them would have laughed in the face of any one who would have had the audacity to prophesy such a thing. And yet, had such a prophecy been made, how true would have been its fulfillment. Yes, such has been the history of the now famous city of Denver. In October of the year 1858, General Larimer built a log hut on the east bank of Cherry Creek near its confluence with the Platte river. Soon a few straggling huts surrounded him, and the town grew to quite a settlement of miners, who panned the sands of the creek and river for what gold they could obtain. Larimer christened the new town St. Charles, but soon after,, owing to the rivalry of a settle- ment across the river, the place changed hands. (The first recorded real estate transaction in the history of the city). Then the two towns were united in 1860 under one name, that of Denver, given in honor of General J. W. Denver, at that time Governor of Kansas. From this the town grew slowly until the Leadville excitement be- gan in 1879, then she made some wonderful strides. From that time there has been a fluctuating growth, now fast, now slow, but always in a progressive direction. In 1885 began the most prosperous season Denver has ever known, and the last five years have shown a more rapid and solid growth than any city in the country, until to- day, in 1890, Denver has a population of 150,000, and is a city of wide and beautiful streets, elegant residences. and magnificent public and business buildings. The question naturally arises in view of the forego- ing statements, as to what makes and keeps up such a city as Denver; what will be her future support, and what resources has she? To answer these questions we will devote a few pages to a resume of the resources of the State of Colorado, and show what has been their growth, for in whatsoever Colorado is rich, so is Denver, she being the capital and metropolis of the State. View on Sixteenth Street, from Arapahoe Street. DENVER, COLORADO. Industries. The mining of the precious ores has been and always will be, the chief wealth of Colorado. Since the first striking of ore in Clear Creek, there has been a wonderful increase of mines all over the State. Leadville became the most famous milling camp in the world, and since that time Aspen, Ouray, Telluride, Silvertou, Durango, Red Cliff, Silver Cliff, and 'many others have come to the front with wonderful rapidity, until to-day Colorado^ stands at the head of the gold and silver producing sec- tions of the country. The past year has shown a production of precious ores exceeding in value 135,000,000. The sources from which this production was obtained are the smelters, the mint and the ore buyers who shipped out of the State. The following figures show the amounts from each source: SMELTER. GOLD, ozs. $20.67. SILVER, ozs. 930. LEAD, @ J 3.80. COPPER, @I2C. r^ TV^fi 82,001 84 15.792 57 39.748-00 ig.nr oo 10,600 oo 4,223 oo 5-677 oo 2,886 oo 5.210 oo 1,859 oo 4.43 oo 6.096,600 3,319,547 3,367,41-' 2,318.009 1 ,600,000 1,182,345 2 , 2O4 , 2oS 2,312,499 1,187,106 525,568 683,775 33,493.341 19,6,; 2.966.6*6 "l.4oS. 5 6 Boston and Colorado Smelting and Refining Company Philadelphia Smelting Company Colorado Smelting and Refining Company 16,.;,. 11,250,000 5,300,000 18,475,060 21,346,307 8,868,000 5,602,909 2,680,768 Pueulo .->meltni, anci Kenning ^ompa y American Smelting Company Manville Smelting Company San Juan Smelting Company 256 . ooo 191.538 41 i 24,797,069 oo 7,5OO OO ; 600,000 OO 62,922 OO : 16,173 oo 142,986,720 1,000,000 5,679,010 1,000,00* Mint Deposits Total Quantity 261,960 41 25,413,242 143,986,720 6,679,010 Total Value $ 5,414,721 67 $ 23,634,31506 J 5,471,49536 $ 801,481 20 GRAND TOTAL, $35,322,013.29. DENVER, COLORADO. Although to-day the milling of precious ores is the greatest source of wealth in Colorado, yet she has other mineral resources of vast and growing importance. The coal fields of the State, it has been estimated, cover an area of more than 40,000 square miles ; an area as large as that of the whole State of Pennsylvania. These fields comprise both anthracite and bituminous coal, and of the very finest quality. Coal mining is yet in its infancy. The last year saw between two and one-half and three million tons taken from the earth, which at an average of f 2 per ton (the price paid at the mines on board of the cars |, reaches a value of between f 5,000,000 and $6,000,000. The best known and most extensively worked mines are located in Boulder and Las Auimas counties, while large veins and strata are found in Fremont, Garfield, Guntii- son, La Plata, and Huerfano, and smaller and less devel- oped properties exist in Bent, Routt, Grand, Elbert, Weld and Pitkin counties. The veins of bituminous coal average about five feet in thickness, and are of a bright, shining black. Semi-bituminous veins are, as a rule, not so thick as bituminous or anthracite, and are lighter in color. The lignite coal seems to be peculiar to the plains districts, and is considered among the finest in the market. It is if anything less dense, and contains more moisture than other bituminous coals. The anthracite fields, although existing in wide ranges of locality, are at present worked less than anv others. fficial 5tatis:i:=. The following are the official statistics of coal produced in this State for the last twelve years: YEAR. TONS. 1878 200,630 1879 322,732 1880 375,000 882 1,061,479 881 1,220,593 884 1,130,024 88s 1,39^,796 886 i, 4tf>, 211 S8? 1,791,735 888 2,185,47- 889 2,500,000 The average price paid to miners throughout the State is 71 cents per ton of 2,000 pounds for mining and tim- bering their workings. The area of coal-bearing sections in the State is now said to exceed, somewhat, 26,000,000- acres. The coke production for last year, from Crested Butte and El Moro ovens, was 116,500 tons. The iron fields of Colorado are only equalled in extent by those of precious metals. As yet but compar- atively little has been done in the way of development, as there is so small a local demand for the ore. How- ever, there is now in operation in the State the largest iron working company west of the Missouri, manufactur- DENVER, COLORADO. ing pig iron, steel rails, sewer pipe, bridge material, nails, etc. This company The Colorado Coal and Iron Company own and work some of the richest mines. The analysis of the ore from Calumet mine gives an idea of the quality: [ Iron 6v2S Silica 7.04 per cent. Alumina 1.90 per cent. Peroxide of iron 59.76 per cent. ), Protoxide of iron 26.88 per cent, j Bisulphide of iron 1.14 per cent. Sul. 0.61. Urae 1.59 per cent. Magnesia 1. 70 per cent. Phosphoric acid 0.016 per cent. Titanic acid trace Total 100.026 Lead, zinc, copper and other metals are produced in paying quantities all over the State, while limestone, marble, granite, red and brown . sandstone are found in unlimited quantities and of the finest qualities. Tne i! fields. One of Colorado's youngest, though by no means smallest industries, is found in her oil fields. Within the last two years the oil wells of Fremont county have been developed until to-day they supply not only Colorado with oil, but also Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming and Montana. There are several companies in operation, the largest shipping about 1,000 barrels daily. Trie Cattle Business. All departments of stock raising have had a prosper- ous year through 1889. Cattle raising has advanced materially. A few years ago the cattle business was con- fined to running herds on ranges of native and Texan stock. To-day it has greatly changed. With the open- ing up of agricultural lands, there has been more atten- tion giver, to fine breeds of cattle, until in 1890 Colorado can show some of the finest herds of fine bred cattle in the west. 1890 finds 2,500,000 head of the best breed of cattle in the farms and ranges throughout the State, reachiuga valuation of $25,200,725. It has been estimated that the number of cattle killed for shipment and home consumption in 1889, was 210,000. The revenue from this source alone was $3,500,000. Add to this the dairy product and the value of the hides and live cattle shipped away, and some idea can be gained of what the Colorado cattle business is to-day, and it is still in its infancy. The day will come when Denver will be the market of the vast West for dressed beef, canned beef and all other products of the bovine. The present status of the cattle trade is altogether satisfactory and the future is full of grand possibilities. Sheep and 'Wool. The sheep and wool growing industry has grown up in Colorado to its present proportions in the past fifteen years. Prior to that the flocks of the State were few and of diminutive size. In 1870 there were but three flocks of fine wooled sheep where there are now five hundred and upwards. The industry that to-day represents thir- teen millions of wealth dates from the introduction of the railroads in 1869. Possibly no other pastoral industry has accumulated wealth so rapidly as has that of sheep and wool. STATE CAPITOL BUILDING. DENVER, COLORADO DENVER, COLORADO. ^(gri culture. It has often been said that Colorado has no farms nor farmers. However true this may have been in the past, it is far from the truth to-day. The fact is that thous- ands on thousands of acres of what was supposed to be arid land, have, by the introduction of irrigating canals, become rich and productive farms. No soil in the world exceeds in richness the soil of the plains and valley's of Colorado, and what was once considered the Great Amer- ican Desert, is now covered with waving fields of grain, rich garden tracts and flourishing orchards and vineyards. The wheat, oats and barley of Colorado have no equals in the vast territory of the United States. The kernels are more plump and heavy, while the flour produced is of the finest quality. Fruit raising is yet in its infancy, but the Arkansas, San Luis, Poudre and Grand River Valleys, can show some of the finest young orchards of apples, pears, peaches, plums and apricots to be found in the country. The orchards in the Poudre and Arkansas Valleys are the most advanced. Colorado fruit is far superior to that raised in California, being more juicy and of much better flavor. The vineyards of the Arkansas Valley are the pride of the State. Grapes of all varie- ties are raised and grow as luxuriantly as in California, and far exceed those varieties in flavor. As yet no wines are manufactured, owing to the great local demand for fresh fruit. One of the most productive crops in the State is alfalfa, a very nutritious grass, which grows luxuriantly and produces from three to four crops a year. The I'reuch and Spanish name is lucerne, while it has been called for many years in the south-west, Chilian or Cali- fornia clover. Its roots strike very deep for water, and is thus especially adapted to arid countries. It often yields as high as $80 per acre. All other varieties of grass are grown with success, but alfalfa is the best pay- ing crop. Vegetables of all kinds flourish exceedingly, and Denver markets are never without them. Railroads. The history of the railroads of Colorado is almost the history of the State, and to give that is not the purpose of this review, which is intended to show only the pres- ent growth and future prospects of the great systems of railways that have made Colorado an empire and built a city at the foot of the Rocky Mountains which is the marvel of mankind. The railroads of Colorado, whether built by local enterprise and capital or extended from the East across the intervening and almost uninhabitable places, stand to-day as the criterion of Colorado's great- ness and the guaranty of her material worth. Their iron trails have stretched across the wide plains and wound their tortuous ways through all the dark defiles and gloomy canons of her eternal mountains, distributing her hidden wealth among all nations of the world. Ground was broken for the first railroad in Colorado May 18, 1868, on the old Denver Pacific, now a part of the Union Pacific, and to-day the State contains nearly View on Lawrence Street, from Fifteenth Street. II DENVER, COLORADO. 5,000 miles of track, with hundreds more under con- struction. The end will not be reached until every valley in the State shall be accessible to the iron horse. Colorado to-day has eight main lines of railroad which, with their branches, aggregate 4,503 miles within the State, as follows: ROAD. MILES - Union Pacific ..................... : > 2 7 2 Denver S: Rio Grande ................. I >54 6 Santa l-'e ....................... 4*3 Denver. Texas ft Fort Worth .............. 253 Burlington ...................... 4^3 Colorado Midland ................... 2 53 Missouri Pacific ................... ! 75 Rock Island .................... l68 Total ...................... 4,5<>3 There are also forty-six miles of the Rio Grande Western within the limits of the State, which makes a gratid total of 4.549 miles of track. Strictly (Lolorads THE DEXVKR S: RIO GRANDE R. R., "THE SCENIC LINE OF THE WORLD." The Denver & Rio Grande Railway is in every essen- tial a Colorado enterprise, and Colorado is indebted to it for a great part of its prosperity. It has been the aim of this railway to reach all the mining districts and other centers of industry within the field of its operations. From its main line, north and south, it has deflected to the west and south-west with its numerous branches until it has extended itself like a fan over these portions of the State. The northern extremity of the Rio Grande is Denver, and the southern Santa Fe, New Mexico. \Vest- ward, it extends ria Salt Lake to Ogden, where it con- nects with the great railway lines of the Pacific slopi". liy its various extensions its main stem is connected witn Leadville, Glenwood Springs and Aspen, Guiitiison, Grand Junction and Ouray, Lake City, Alamosa, Duran- go and Silverton, and many other representative towns in the agricultural and coal and mineral mining regions of the State. The company is now engaged in broad guagiug its line through the Grand Canon of the Arkan- sas, and canons of the Grand and Eagle rivers, and when completed will run through broad-guage trains to Salt Lake and Ogden via Leadville and Glenwood Springs, and will have through car service with the Burlington, Missouri Pacific and Rock Island Railroads. This line offers the tourist more of scenic attraction by way of mountain passes and canons than any other line in the world, and the new line now being built for the broader gnage will pass through a country equally as attractive as that which gave the old line its world wide reputation of "The Scenic Line of the World." THE COLORADO MIDLAND. The Colorado Midland Railway is a local enterprise. Starting from Colorado Springs westward, coursing its way through the rugged mountains, passing under the brow of the famous Pike's Peak, thence running west- ward to Leadville and Aspen, it crosses the Continental DENVER, COLORADO. Divide and drops down into the great coal fields of Gar- field county, of which Glenwood Springs is the capital. Its traffic is confined mainly to the coal and mineral mining industries of the sections above named, but with the early completion of the Grand Junction Railway, arrange- ments will no doubt be made by which the trains of this road will run through to Salt Lake and Ogden. With the exception of the Rio Grand and the Mid- land, the mileage of the roads as enumerated above con- stitute but a very small proportion of their total mileage. It is estimated by competent railroad men that the roads entering Denver embrace a total mileage of 28,400 miles. In other words, Denver in 1890 has that number of miles of road directly tributary to her commercial demands. This mileage may be approximated as follows: MILES. Union Pacific 7,ooo Santa Fe 7, Missouri Pacific 4,oo Rock Island 4,000 Burlington 3,ooo Pan-Handle Route 1,500 Rio Grande 1,600 Midland 3 Total 28,400 And the railroad business does not stop here; for hundreds of miles are now building forming branches to those already in operation, and 1890 will see a vast in- crease in mileage over 1889. (Colorado's dlimate. Colorado is not unknown for her sunny and health giving climate, and although so much has been said and written in regard to the subject, we feel that too much can not be said in its favor. Often has she been com- pared to Italy, and even far-famed Italy can not boast with truthfulness of such a sun-shiny and health-giving climate as Colorado. Situated at about the same parallel of latitude as Washington, Colorado has the benefit of the warm Southern sun throughout the winter, while during the summer its fierce rays are tempered by the high altitude and ever present breezes from the snow- capped mountains The table given below is an extract from the meteorological summary for the year ending December 31, 1889, showing the temperature and aver- age cloudiness for the year: DENVER, COLORADO. MONTHS. TEMPERATURE. Mean Temperature. 6 a. m. 6 p m. Number of Days. Month- ly. Below 14 Below 32 Above 4 i Above 50 Above 59 Al>ove 6S Above Above 90 16.4 22.4 32.1 31.2 34.9 51.2 58.0 61.5 70.2 79-9 70. i 68.0 58.1 34-0 42-5 27.2 29.6 43-3 51.' 55-5 64.3 72.0 72.8 60.0 51.8 32-4 40.5 O 4 o o o o o o 4 28 16 . I o o o 13 4 o 17 25 27 29 31 31 30 27 4 17 o o o 2 II "9 29 3! 16 8 2 o o 2 II >9 2 9 31 16 fi o o o o o o 9 24 25 o o o o o o 4 2 O O o o o o o o o o o o o March 41.7 46.6 54.6 61.2 59-4 47-1 30.8 25-7 33-4 May Tulv November ... December 63 239 IIS 116 61 6 Annual Means 40.0 55-7 50.0 1 The State affords great variety of climate and one must not judge of the entire State by reports on one city or location. For instance, some time since, while the writer was visiting in New England, the papers there were filled with an account of terrible loss of life in a fierce snow storm in Colorado. The dispatch was dated at Denver and a gentleman totally ignorant of the coun- try, remarked that he pitied people who were forced to live in such an arctic climate as Denver's must be in winter. The fact of the matter was, that in the moun- tains some 300 miles from Denver, and at least 7,000 feet higher elevation, a stage in crossing the range was caught in a terrible snow storm and the passengers were frozen to death. While at the same time the writer knows that at the city of Denver there was not a particle of snow on the ground and the street sprinklers were running to keep down the dust. One great advantage to the invalid in Colorado is the variety of climate. As the summer grows warmer, one can by a short ride in the DENVER, COLORADO. MONTHS. TEMPERATURE. Average Cloudless, (o to 10) No. of Calms. NUMBER OF DAYS. From Self- Registering Instmts., (set daily at 8 p. m.) E 3 i <j >. I O >> ea >1 "U o i to o X h V c A i 3 Date. Mean Max. Mean Min. Range. No. of Days. | 1 < si Si z-* ft II !o 20 3 o o o I 2 3 io R 3* I- 2 % s g 6 a. m. 6 p. m. Mean b 26 17 23 30 1-10-17 9 3 22 25 30 5 30 40-3 42.0 56.3 62.5 67.0 77-3 85-9 87.7 74-9 65.4 43-5 52.5 14.0 17.3 30.3 39-7 44.0 51.3 58.2 57.8 45.0 38.1 21.4 28.5 52 68 52 49 5i 55 50 52 64 60 57 62 26.3 24-7 26.1 22.8 2|.0 26.O 27.6 2 9 .8 29.9 27-3 22.1 24.0 8 6 o i o o o o o o 5 i o o II 10 3 o o I 2 3 4 1 9 10 II 12 2.7 4.0 3-3 til :i 3-5 2.9 4-0 3 '2 3-6 3-8 4.6 6.0 6.6 7-3 6.4 5-0 5.9 3.6 5-0 2.2 2.1 3.2 4-3 4.6 5.8 6.6 4.6 4.7 5.3 3-9 4-6 a 2 3 I o II 7 S o o I 3 14 4 3 4 I 6 6 9 9 '1 II 19 % 18 22 '9 18 '5 n 18 6 5 3 10 13 6 4 i 6 5 8 6 4 10 12 12 10 6 6 6 3 o o o I 4 7 6 i o o March April May July 62.9 35-7 25-8 i 33 82 214 69 9 2.? I 3-7 4-9 4-7 B. Mean of the averages. cars, reach a spot a little higher up and sheltered in the mountains where the air is always cool hui never ex- tremely cold. Or if the sudden changes of winter are too severe, a lower altitude can be found, within a half day's journey in palace cars, where the grass is green almost the year round. Denver has mild weather the year round, but enough of variety to purge the air of infectious disease and to keep the blood moving freely in the veins. No summer night is comfortable without blanket coverings on one's bed, while winter's days are largely spent in the open air without extra covering than an ordinary business coat. Invalids ride in the open air the year round and parasols are the companions to ladies in their winter afternoon rides. DENVER, COLORADO. The moderate temperature (neither cold in winter nor hot in summer), dry atmosphere, high altitude and light winds, make the climate most healthy. The following table from the report of the Health Department of the City of Denver, showing the mortality for 1889, with causes, etc., will be interesting when the population of 150,000 is taken into consideration: ! DEATHS BY SEXES. ' MALES. FEMALES. a s CONSUMPTION'. s 1 & 8 MONTHS. jj] jj - CO 2 1 |o .: o 1 3 S. E o ' 1 I en . o i 1 i 1 -0 a. < 1 '9, 3 < a i - Q J) < |5 I 1 c3 3 M ta January . . 156 100 56 68 32 31 25 5 3 28 19 I ft February . . 130 7$ 52 53 25 33 19 2 7 31 23 2 6 March .... 114 85 29 68 17 13 16 i o 2O 19 O i April .... 112 61 Si 43 18 20 I 4 32 28 3 May 141 94 47 59 35 22 25 5 8 28 28 o June . 137 77 60 34 4^ IQ J.I O 12 14 July .... 155 on <;fi AX zt 11 28 i 7 iS 17 3 August . . 158- September . . 178 October . . . 187 November . . 177 December . . 167 4 III 1:8 112 113 74 56 67 78 69 78 6 5 67 54 8. 28 33 4<J 45 32 28 34 i 46 6 33 5 37 ' 33 2 18 3 6 34 4 34 7 32 1 / 19 13 24 20 26 O 4 O 6 3 6 M 6 Totals. . ; i, 812 [,132 6So 733 399 339 34' 34 71 3'3 247 9 57 The ditu. Denver has very properly been termed the "Queen City," for, as a beautiful queen sits upon her jeweled throne, receiving honor and tribute from her subjects, ruling them injustice and without prejudice, so Denver, the most beautiful city of the West, from her lofty and jewel studded throne, receives tribute from her Western sisters, ruling them without prejudice and receiving honor and praise from all mankind. The "Queen" is undoubt- 10 DENVER, COLORADO. edly beautiful in all that goes to make up a city's beauty. Wide streets and avenues, shaded by verdant trees, and lighted by electricity at night, palatial residences, mag- nificent public buildings and elegant business blocks. Her throne, the greatest range of mountains on the American continent, lifts her 5,196 feet above the sea, while it is studded with millions on millions of wealth in gold and silver. Tribute is paid her in the thousands, aye, millions of dollars which have flowed into her coffers from all parts of the country. She rules without preju- dice in that she is always willing to lend her assistance to her weaker sisters, and she is praised by all men for her many virtues. Denver is well and systematically laid out. On the original plat, or Congressional grant, the streets were surveyed north-west and south-east, with intersecting streets south-west and north-east. As the city grew, however, it was deemed advisable to lay out the new ad- ditions north and south, and east and west, so that to-day the larger portion of the streets run in those directions. The principal business streets are Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth, running north-west and south-east, and Wazee, Blake, Market, Larimer, Lawrence, Arapahoe, Curtis and Champa, running north-east and south-west. The wholesale business is confined to those streets north and the retail south of Larimer street. Sixteenth street is the principal retail street. No city west of Chicago can equal Denver in the size and elegance of her retail stores. Even Sin Francisco, that city famed for her ele- gant shops, must concede to Denver the precedence. Here is the shopper's paradise. Fabrics of all kinds, from the cheapest to the most expensive, are displayed in profusion. In the wholesale districts are found immense establishments: grocers, agricultural implement dealers, hardware merchants, mining machinery houses, dry and fancy goods dealers, and almost all other lines are repre- sented. The residence portions of the city begin on the north with the Platte river, west with Fourteenth street, south with Stout street, and east with Eighteenth street. Of course these boundaries are changing as the city grows, and each year sees the business streets encroach- ing more and more upon those of the residence portion. "Public Buildings. Denver takes pride in her public buildings. The new post office and Government building now Hearing com- pletion, on the corner of Arapahoe and Sixteenth streets, is an imposing structure of gray sandstone. The new State Capitol building, standing on Capitol Hill, at the junction of Colfax Avenue and Broadway, is fast assum- ing shape. It will cost, when completed, over ji,ooo, coo. Built of fine Colorado granite, its massive proportions loom up as a land mark for miles around. Its dimen- sions are: Length, 383 feet n inches; width at centre, 313 feet 10 inches. There will be 160 rooms in all. The Arapahoe county court house, occupying the square be- tween Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets, and Tremont street and Court Place, is one of the finest public buildings in DENVER, COLORADO. the city. Standing in the center of green lawns, it looms up 168 feet to the top of the figure on the dome- The extreme length is 220 feet; extreme width 98 feet. The material used is Morrison red stone and Canon City gray stone. From the dome may be obtained a very fine view of the surrounding city and country. The key is obtainable from the janitor, who is always in the building. The City Hall is another fine edifice on Larimer street, at the foot of Fourteenth street. The building cost $190,000, and has a frontage of 100 feet on Larimer street, and 225 feet on Fourteenth street. The rear is used as a police and fire departi'ient headquarters. The U. S. Branch Mint, on Market street, corner Six- teenth street, is the only public building in Denver to bring shame upon the city. Although Denver is in the heart of the gold and silver country, yet this antiquated and much painted building is used simply as an assay and purchasing office, no coining being done here. The Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade build- ing on the corner of Fourteenth and Lawrence streets, is a handsome four story structure of lava and red sand- stone. The Chamber of Commerce, as an organization, dates back to January, 1884. There had been various "boards" previous to that time, the first being formed in November, 1867, and to this body was assigned the task of connecting Denver with the outside world by railroad ) which it accomplished in 1870. In 1880 a new " Board of Trade" was organized to further the mercantile inter- ests of the growing city. This board was incorporated in February, 1881. In the latter part of 1883 a movement was set on foot to organize a Chamber of Commerce, and this was effected in January of 1884, and in March of the same year the two the Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade were united into one body. Since that time this body has been very active in furthering the City's interests. Another prominent and very strong organization is the Real Estate Exqhauge, composed of the leading real estate men of the city. This organization is ever ready to join hands with the Chamber of Commerce and the citizens of Denver in anything to further the City's wel- fare. The Exchange has a fine hall in the Lewis block on Arapahoe street, where its daily meetings are held. The Colorado Mining Stock Exchange is Denver's youngest enterprise. It has several hundred members, mostly old mining men, and has, since its organization in the Fall of 1889, been a very active factor in pushing Colorado's mines to the front. At present the Exchange is using the large hall of the Chamber of Commerce for its meetings, but active steps have been taken for the erection of a special building for its occupancy, and before another year it will own as handsome a building as any in the city. (Ln.u.rcHes and ,lnstitu.lioris of .^earning. Denver has mor- than seventy churches representing all denominations. Within the last year several elegant structures have been completed and others started. DENVER, COLORADO. Among these the Trinity M. E., the Christ M. E., the Central Presbyterian and the I'nity churches, and St. Mary's Cathedral take the lead. Denver's pulpits are occupied by able and brilliant men and the congregations are large. The Young Men's Christian Association has just com- pleted a most successful year. No city in the country of 150,000 people has a larger or more active organization. The present membership is 1,221. They have a good gymnasium, library and reading room and conduct eve- ning classes for the benefit of young men who are employed during the day. Their lecture courses are popular and through their various agencies they are enabled to do a great deal for the young men of the city. Fifty-eight thousand dollars have been subscribed towards a new building to cost $200,000. The pride of Denver is her public schools. Not only has she an excellent system, but the school buildings themselves are of the latest patterns in all that goes to make them useful and ornamental. No city in the country can excel Denver in this direction. The percent- age of improvement made in school buildings in the last five years has been phenomenal. New school houses have risen as if by magic, and the high school building is palatial. When one compares these lofty modern structures with the original log school-houses, which, but a few years since, were Denver's centers of learning. he realizes more than ever how swift and strong have been her strides of progress, and how great a factor of civilization is the public school. Denver has also numerous private schools, academies and institutions for the higher branches of learning. Prominent among them are: The Denver University, comprising a classical college course, English and sci- entific branches; a Normal training school, and the Cbatnberlin Observatory (under construction) all under one school government; Wolfe Hall, a young ladies semi- nary; Jarvis Hall, a military school for boys; the Baptist College; St. Mary's Academy, for young ladies; the Lo- retto Convent (under construction), and the Jesuit College. Banks and Banking. The banking business of Denver has shared, with other lines of business, their wonderful prosperity. The city now has twenty one banking institutions, the princi- pal are: The First National Bank, German National Bank, Denver National Bank, State National Bank, Colo- rado National Bank, City National Bank, People's Na- tional Bank, American National Bank, Commercial National Bank, Union Bank, Mclntosh & Mygatt, R. H. McMann & Co , Hayden & Dickinson, Colorado Savings Bank and People's Savings Bank. The Denver Savings Bank, a new institution, has been lately started under the auspices of prominent business men. A never failing barometer of commercial activity is found in the bank clearances. Taken by the week the exchanges show a steady gain, as compared with a year ago, of 45 l 2'r, and in no instance do the weekly state- ments show a decrease from a year ago. The aggregate for the year is 1194,759,647.20. 13 DENVER, COLORADO. CLEARI KG BY MONTHS. .MONTHS. 1887. Ksv 1888. January f February . . . . March 7,885,241 57 $ 7,092,430 01 0,611,229 39 0,906,637 46 0,890,017 23 O,I22,I1Q 40 9, 132, .166 64 9,87 8 ,433 43 0,040,609 94 0,812,442 80 0,002,981 16 0,214,996 81 7,589,505 84 $1 9,508,607 49 9, S7 2 , 366 50 0,486,247 70 0,920,441 43 1,194,230 28 1.366,474 61 0,689,295 12 1,145,664 07 1,281,866 65 2,804,031 14 1.923,030 03 3,072,954 39 13.965,209 41 IA< . $ 14,466, 167 61 I3,'99,i76 28 17,712,903 93 13,776,500 39 13, 579,813 06 I 6 ,33 8 ,574 43 14,222,427 20 20,178,5^5 32 15,035,447 92 17,251,423 53 20,166,359 65 18,812,267 88 *I94,759,647 20 June . ... julv August September . . . November .... December .... Totals .... $1 Inc Inc re'se over 1888 . . 45J4^ . . 1 The report made by eight Denver Banks (all obtaina- ble at time of writing) to the Comptroller of Currency, in December, 1889, makes a splendid showing of the solidity of her financial institutions. Compared to a year ago they show an increase of $ 801,839 ' n capital and sur- plus, $4,100,871 in deposits, $2,648,497 in "cash and ex- change, and $1,084,883 in loans and deposits. The statements were as follows: CAPITAL AND SURPLUS. First National $ 736,066 Colorado National 530,028 German National 504,255 City National 385,048 Union 216,431 State National 381,606 Denver National 462,4^0 People's National 321,941 Total $ 3,537,805 Increase over 1888 801,839 DEPOSITS. First National j 4 Colorado National German National 3 City National . .' . i Union State National i Denver National 2 People's National Total j , 8 Increase over 1888 . . x 444,602 305,337 282,888 481,081 961,171 865,953 320,756 746,290 408,078 100,871 CASH AND EXCHANGE. First National .................. f Colorado National ................ German National ................ City National ................. Union .................. State National ................ Denver National ................ People's National ............... Total Increase over 1888 2,035,973 1,325,334 1,197,606 642,506 404,083 1,011,219 1,048,439 388,721 $ 8,460,88! 2,648,407 LOANS AND DISCOUNTS. First National . . . ................ $ 2,655,124 Colorado National ................ 1,718,063 German National ................ 1,774,432 City National .................. 1,012,252 I'nion ....................... 760,663 State National .................. 1,161,357 Denver National ................ 1,442,773 People's National ................. 621,093 Total ................... $ 12,143,757 Increase over 1888 ............... 1,084,883 14 DENVER, COLORADO. COMPARATIVE BANK STATEMENT. The following table is a comparative statement for the past seven years: YEAR. CASH. LOANS. CAPITAL. DEPOSITS. Dec. 883 $ 4,592,266 * 4,982,991 $ 1,646,457 $ 8,085,979 Dec. 884 4,486,696 4,603,639 2,070,076 7,220,470 Dec. 88s 5,249,344 5,763,489 2,139,649 9,089,324 Dec. 8S6 Dec. 887 5,641.565 5, 2 35,8.3o 7,399,384 9,544,557 2,296,575 2,357,250 10,889,715 12,542,693 Dec. 888 5,8:2,474 II ,060,8^4 2,735,966 14,307,197 Dec. 1889 8,460,881 12,143,751 3,537,805 18,408,078 Three new national banks have started through the year: The People's National, with capital of $300,000; Commercial National, with capi'al of $250,000; and American National, with capital of $250,000. ies. The city is rapidly becoming the manufacturing cen- ter of the vast section lying between the Missouri and the Pacific coast At the same time the advantages it possesses have not all been secured. There is room for enterprise in a hundred directions. The smallest novelty factory and the largest rolling mill will find ample scope and opportunities for establishing their plants. Capital held by Denver business men has always beii ready to come to the aid of foreign manufacturers desiring a loca- tion here, providing they offer a practical working basis. This is found to be the case upon examination of the lists of officers and directors of Denver corporations. The appended table, compiled by the Chamber of Commerce in March, 1889, gives the statistics of the city's manufacturing interests up to the begining of that year, which is reproduced with amendments, additions and comparative statement: KIND OF MANUFACTURE. NUMHER OF ES- TABLISHMKNTS. NUMBER OF EM- PLOYES. AMOUNT OF WAGKS I'AID. YALrE OF PRO- DUCT. I 3 3 3 2 6 6 7 2 5 27 2 4 2 II I 2 9 i 5 3o i 2 3 2 2 17 1 74 27 29 10 l6q 768 32 345 270 320 7 13 iSs 276 86 218 14 17 9 8 '5 $ 2,000 9-500 39,920 28,080 5,720 51,140 15,592 15i705 7,200 152.840 344,838 15,922 275,000 l8,oco 126,528 5,000 10,200 123,437 80,442 4.56o 44,78o 86,227 9,443 9,500 5,080 6,864 6,450 $ 6,OOO 48,800 113,700 44.500 19,800 135,200 IIO.OOO 65,200 30,600 1,197,310 667,570 29,000 718,000 130,000 3 I! ,720 10,500 28,000 392,618 265,350 56,890 306,000 624,670 53.927 35,000 I j.OOC 12,580 1 17,000 Baking powder, extracts, etc. . Bottling soda and mineral . . . Broom makers . Building material, sash, doors Carriages, wagons, etc Cement works Cigar manufacturers Cloak and dress making .... Coffee and spice mills Crackers and bread 15 View on Larimer Street, from Sixteenth Street. DENVER, COLORADO. KIND OF MANUFACTURE. NTMUKR or ES- ! .TAULISIIMENTS. 1 NTMIIEK OF KM- TI.OVES. -- ? It I* ",S6o 66. 80 2,295 362,783 4.200 13,480 56.070 1. 200 780 2.340 48,640 9.000 8. 200 21,556 63.585 500 5.72 62.580 II ,000 71.000 37,688 1.452 17.250 395.286 1 a $ < ~ ;,;o,ooo 1.706,973 5,000 976.855 28 , soo 53.980 184.000 7,500 5,500 8.000 150,35 31.000 38.000 82,350 212.600 3,ooo 14.000 49,785 105,000 45,000 106,000 159,000 9.122 35.000 1.055,000 4.200 63,230 544.485 5,000 5,000 46,330 40,000 6,500 20,000 3.385 497.100 2 I I 11 3 4 I 2 I 9 i 3 12 M i 2 I 5 2 2 4 i 2 12 56 < 87 IO 489 17 IS 82 2 I 6 74 IS 16 24 119 10 10 118 16 94 '6 ' 2.5 461 Floor and sidewalk tiles .... Foundry and machine shops . Furnace makers Furniture Gloves and buck goods .... Harness and saddles ....... Lapidaries Lead pipe and sheet lead . . . Lithographing and electrotyp'g Mfg. stationers and binders . . Marble and stone works .... Mattresses and carpet cleaning I 19 I I 6 I 2 I I M 30 300 5 2 22 4 3 2 2 18 4 15,000 194.005 700 1 ,040 21.463 2,400 2,580 1.300 480 122.013 Mince meat, preserves and jelly Oleomargerine factory Ornamental plaster works . . . Ornamental wood works . . . 1'aint and papur hanging . . . H V. n ~ 6 M - * : f. | t.? c KIND OF MAM-FACTTRE. a * * - /: "a - o y. _- gS ? t |1 2 fs ^ r z g < ^ Pattern makers Photographers Pickles, vinegar, etc Picture frames Plumbing and gas fitting . . . Plumbing supplies Portable gas lamps Pottery ware Printer's rollers Railroad shops Roofing supplies Rubber stamps Shirt manufacturers Show cards Show cases Soap works Smelting and refining Stained glass works Steani heating st<_am heating apparatus . . . Table sauce ... Tallow Taxidermists Tents and awnings .... Tin. sheet iron ^; copper works Trunks and valises Umbrellas Washing Machines Whims". . Total 153 70 $ 2,080 30,895 27,300 3,060 102,429 > 2.500 123.334 165.000 25,800 524.380 128,961 5,000 12,000 3,600 5,000 5,600 25.000 6,500* 25.000- 262.556 16,448.840 24,000 ,-,7.920 5,000 14,400 5.457 5,000 I3,i5 307,980 65,532 63,230 3,500 14,400 j 8,409 | 5-829,348 ' ? 30,333.360 3 ',500 1.404.070 i i 900 - 3 1, 860 2 I 3 12,000 2 ! . . . i ' 18 10,000 54 35.650 Si6 816,420 I q 6,000 I 18 7,420 l 3 I 2 936 1 6 2 3 3,SIO 1.872 3 ,,7 21 .497 17 130 93,048 2 17 1 1 , 928 I 30 15,000 I 2 1,560 I 3 2,340 The estimated increase of the past year over iSSS, are detailed in the summary below. The figures are based 10 People*' National Bank. DENVER, COLO ADO. on careful calculations on data obtained from reliable sources, and present a conservative statement of the ex- isting manufacturing interests of Denver: 1888. 1SS9. INCREASE. PER CENT. Number of establishm'ts . Number men employed . 398 8,409 $ 5,829,348 497 ",352 $ 7,869 63 25 per cent. 35 per cent. Value of product 30,333,360 40,453,269 36 per cent. * Average rate a little higher than in 1888. In round numbers too new firms employ 3,000 hands, pay out in wages more than $2,000,000, and exceed a pro- duct of $ 10,000,000. The value of work done in railroad shops not enter- ing directly into the manufacturing market is not included in this total. When the Union Pacific shops are in op- eration there will be an additional 1,000 men employed, who will seek homes in this city. A large cotton mill will be in operation inside of twelve months, employing at least 1,000 operatives. The various factories give evidence of steady prosper- ity, and orders are flooding them with work. Yet there is plenty of room for more. Large enterprises should and will continue to come to Denver. Manufacturing is a sure foundation of a lasting city, and wealth has always been with it. Denver's Sewerage System. Denver is now possessed of a sewerage system that would be a credit to an older and larger municipality, and when existing contracts have been completed, in the matter of sewerage the city will be splendidly supplied. There are now in Denver 28.91 miles of sewers, thor- oughly covering the business part of the city, and the residence portion also a great distance out. During the past year contracts were awarded for the laying of thirty- four miles more of pipe, and much of this work is now in progress. The sewerage of the city is emptied into tlie Platte river south of Thirty-first street, and is at once carried away. ^Denver's 'Water Supply. Denver is well provided with water for its general con- sumption and irrigation purposes. At the pre.ent time one company is depended upon for the entire city supply, but there is a new corporation in the field, backed by unlimited finances, who are now engaged in putting in a larger plant. The oldest concern is the Denver City Water Com- pany, a combination of the Denver Water Company and the Denver City Irrigation and Water Company. This amalgamation was formed in 1882 and has a city contract expiring in 1891. 17 DENVER, COLORADO. Last March there was a disagreement among the stockholders, and some of the financially strongest with- drew and incorporated the Citizens' Water Company, with an authorized capital of $3,000,000. They have completed cribs and galleries at the mouth of the Platte canon, where their source of supply is located, and under the efficient direction of W. D. Allen, superintending engineer, are laying pipes extensively throughout the city. In addition to these large corporations, there are the Beaver Brook Water Company, which so effectively sup- plies the town of Highlands, and a part of North Denver; and the South Denver Water Company. There arestill smal- ler private concerns, many ditch companies and the like, which supply the outlying additions with irrigation water. While in the past there may have been complaints as to the character of the service furnished to the citizens of Denver in this respect, still the future promises sharp competition between two financially strong concerns, which, with the improvements promised by others, will give employment to many laborers next spring and sum- mer, and result in great benefit to the city. Street Transportation.. Denver can equal any city in the country in street car lines. There are now in operation, besides the extensive horse car lines, two cable companies and three electric roads. THE DENVER CITY CABLE SYSTEM The Denver City Cable Railway Company owns and operates fifteen miles of double track cable road. This is divided into three distinct lines. One operates from Fortieth street on Larimer to the Platte river and on West Colfax avenue to Sloan's lake. A second operates from the Union depot on Sixteenth street to Welton, and on Welton to Thirtieth, Thirtieth to Gay lord and Gay lord to Thiity-eighth street. The third operates from Colorado avenue in North Denver to the City Park, traversing Goss street, Sixteenth street and by Court Place to and the entire length of Seven- teenth avenue. THK TRAMWAY SYSTEM. The Denver Tramway Company's system of eight miles of double track, includes three distinct lines also. One runs from Gallup avenue to Fifteenth street, on Fifteenth street to Broadway and on Broadway to Ala- meda avenue. A second operates over the same trackage west of Broadway and from that thoroughfare eastward on Colfax avenue to a point parallel with the City Park, to which a loop in the track runs. The third operates on the same trackage east of Tre- ruont, then on Tremont to Eighteenth avenue, on Eigh- teenth to Huinboldt, and on Humboldt to Twenty -second avenue, and thence by a loop several blocks are traversed, the line finally rejoining the main track. ]8 DENVER, COLORADO. THE ELECTRIC SYSTEMS. The electric systems are owned and operated by the Denver Tramway Company, the University Park Railway Company, the East Denver Electric Railway Company, and the Eastern Capitol Hill Railway Company. The electric roads are using the Sprague system of overhead wires with the exception of the East Capitol Hill line, which uses storage batteries. Denver's Theatres. The Tabor Grand Opera House, corner Sixteenth and Curtis streets, has for nine years been the wonder of the West, but 1889 was the last of her reign supreme. The Metropolitan Theatre, on the corner of Fifteenth street and Cleveland Place, was completed in the Fall of 1889, at a cost of nearly $95,000, and has proved a successful rival attraction to the Tabor. The new Broadway Thea- tre now building on Broadway and Eighteenth avenue, will be a magnificent edifice and promises to surpass all theatres in the West in elegance of appointments. Denver's Betels. Denver is well supplied with hotels, having about fifty with a total capacity of about 10,000 persons. The first- class houses for tourists are The Windsor, The Albany and The St. James; rates from $3.00 to 4.00 per day. Cheaper houses from (2.00 to {3.00 per day The Mark- ham and The American. European plan The Henshaw. The new Hotel Brown at Broadway and Seventeenth streets, is under construction and when completed will have 300 rooms, will be most elaborate in its appoint- ments and will be one of the finest hotels in the West. This building will be entirely fire-proof, no wood enter- ing into its construction. Its cost will be, when com- pleted, $i, 500,000. A new hotel with a capacity of 100 rooms will soon be built at the corner of VVazee and Seventeenth streets. enver's libraries. Denver has two free public libraries.- The Mercantile is in the Chamber of Commerce building and contains 15,653 volumes. The other is the Public Library in the east wing of the High School building. Besides these there are three large law libraries, viz: The Charles, The Symes and The State, open to lawyers and others in the City. Real estate is the barometer of a city's prosperity. By its rise or fall an unerring judgment can be reached. Its very name of real implies the value which is placed upon it. In this branch the record of Denver for the year that is closed is one that is unequaled. No other city has approached it. The advance in values, not prices merely, but absolute values, has been enormous, and the demand is constantly increasing. It may be said with absolute truth that no man has lost a cent by buying property, no matter in what part of the city he invested. The fact is that no judgment could be poor enough to fall into error, because there was no error. Of course some sections have gained more than others. 19 DENVER, COLORADO. The year opened with a feeling of confidence that has proven to be well grounded. As events have moved from every quarter to increase the sum of Denver's prosperity this confidence has become greater until it is now practi- cally unbounded. There is not a local capitalist who is not constantly watching for a chance to pick up choice pieces of land. But without question the most striking feature of the year has been the influx of Eastern and European capital. This has been poured in by millions and invested, not only in lands, but in permanentimprove- tnents of the most costly nature. The sale of the two large breweries alone brought in about $2, 000,000, nearly every cent of which was invested by the recipients in real estate. The most satisfactory points in the year's record are the rapid concentration of the railroad systems of the entire West in this city and the remarkable growth of manufacturing. The former has been brought about by the irresistible force of circumstances; the latter is owing to the wisdom of Denver's people and the energy with which they have pushed out in every direc.ion. Both of these branches are treated of separately. The population of the city, which was estimated ayear ago to be about 125,000, is now about 150,000. During no month has the increase fallen below 2,000 persons. This is in itself sufficient to account for the building of thousands of homes and the stretching out of the city for miles. The greatest advance in actual valuation has of course been in the business district, and in the territory imme- diately around it. The place of honor for the greatest proportionate increase is contested between the southern part of the city and the lands to the west, which were regarded as acre property a year ago. The former has gained steadily and rapidly the whole year; the latter have gone up with a bound since the West Colfax cable was assured. It is certainly one of the cases where good business instinct in investing has brought a rich return. The laud lay close in. Its only defect was that the Platte river presented an obstacle to easy access. Those keen enough to foresee the effect of the overcoming of this obstacle have profited. The district to the south-west has scarcely kept pace with its neighbors to the east and north, for the reason that transit has been defective. Owners have recognized this fact, and are now building railways and attractive residences, which is working a revolution and bringing this district into the prominence which its nearness justly entitles it. To the east, stretch- ing beyond thecapitol, lies a magnificent territory, which has always been regarded as choice. It is mostly in the hands of the wealthiest firms of the city. The great independent system of water works which has just been commenced, and the further improvement of rapid tran- sit lines, which is also begun, will assist in maintaining this section in its position. When the building of the Union Pacific shops was announced near Swansea, the effect was electric. Prices have since advanced TOO per cent, and fortunes have been made. The additio* of several thousand persons DENVER, COLORADO. to the population by the shops and olher factories which are to be established, justify this advance. The building of the Larimer and Welton street cable lines has also been an important factor. Of West Denver, North Den- ver, Capitol Hill, and the heart of the city, nothing need specially be said excepting perhaps of North Denver. Though parts of it are among the old settled parts of the city, it did not, for a time progress so rapidly as on the other side of the river. During the past year that has been changed, and there is no place where more building his been done or where a more solid advance in values has taken place. The three older divisions named have, of course, enjoyed the full benefit of the city's growth for miles beyond them. Cable road extensions have played an important part during the past year, and will be even more important during the year to come. Electric feeders have also been built. For the past ten years the amount of real estate trans- ferred reached the tremendous sum of $181,319,966. The volume of transactions by warranty deed for 1880 aggre- gated $ 5, 638,000, and for 1889 the figures attained the height of $60,392,098. Compared to the number of con- veyances the transfers, as a rule, show the same relative fluctuations in volume. By years the total considerations of real estate trans- fers were as follows: 1880 ........................ $ 5,638,000 1881 ........................ 6,712,090 1882 ........................ 7,513,660 1883 ........................ 8,508,040 1884 ........................ 5,338,490 1885 ..................... 5,080,083 1886 ........................ 11,021,208 1887 ....................... 29,176,752 1888 ........................ 4'*939,545 1889 ....................... 60,392,098 Total transfers, ten years ........... $181,319,966 Shov/ing Recorded Transfers by 3/ContHs for 1SSQ The recorded transfers for 1889 are given below. The transactions are classified into districts, which are de- scribed below. A careful study of the table will show the fluctuation, decline or increase in the volume of bus- iness for any given section throughout the year: 21 DENVER, COLORADO. BUSINESS IN REAI, ESTATE FOR THE YEAR 1KS9. MONtHS. No. of Warranty Deeds. KAST SIDE. NORTH SIDE. SOUTH AND \VKST S1DKS. ACRKAC.K. MISCELLANE- OUS ARAP- HOK COUN- TY. 1889. , 4 6S ; 4,407,565 $ 658,346 J 518,160 $ 697,381 $ 64,940 t 6,346,392 46 J 4,098,758 6-50,279 555,57' S76,883 513,970 6,375,441 March ,348 3,487,877 6"5,282 805 , 900 1,102,335 49,635 6,111.029 Apri . .'44 3. 197. "6 404,713 494,084 354,386 26.IOS 4,476,407 Mayl ,039 3,047,034 269,624 362,028 149,441 45,905 3,874,032 999 2,435,144 449,028 493,720 79.270 4', 8/3 3,500,035 lulv 94 2 1,682,018 49 s , 659 5M,oSi 214,289 42,813 ,066 2,398,525 353,315 591,281 549.631 48,837 3,941,589 ,236 3,490,217 1.500,612 1.028,382 379,921 124,498 6,523,630 ,3> 2,433,82 537,8 1,064.784 464,222 83.J75 4.584,029 ,251 3,330,806 692,368 801 ,641 896,90; 1 92,623 5.SI4.345 December ,533 3,295,547 873,UO I , 116,322 325,910^ 83,400 5,804.309 Totals for 1889 14,806 f 37,304,469 $ 7, 533, z $ 8,344,954 $ 5,791,576 $ 1,218,877 't 60,392,098 The East Side embraces all the platted property lying south and east of Platte river and east and north of Cherry creek. The North Side is the district of platted ground bounded on the south by the Platte river and West Colfax Avenue. The South and West Sides include all ttie platted ground lying south of West Colfax Avenue and south and west of Cherry creek. Acre property means unplatted ground anywhere in Arapahoe county, and miscellaneous property takes in the platted property of all the towns in Arapahoe county outside of Denver. Another interesting fact to the investor in realty is the small percentage of trustee sales and foreclosures. From the records, the yearly number of trustee sales, or foreclosures, were as follows: 1880. 1881 . 1882. 34 55 50 188} 88 1884 119 1885 72 1886 74 188" . . 106 1888 97 1889. . 84 Total for ten years 779 2-2 View on South Fourteenth Street, from La VeU Place. DENVER, COLORADO. Five years growth of Denver in clearances, popula- tion, realty transfers, loans and buildings, is as follows: Clearings .... Population . . . Realty transfers Loans Buildings .... 54,ooo 5.080,083 3.932,874 790.980 Clearings . , . . Population . . . Realty transfers . Loans Buildings . . . . U6. 85,668,027 72.012 II .021 .2oS 5,5 8 r,309 2,OOO,66l 133,965,209 91.001 41.939,545 15.851.700 6,049.386 117,589.505 80,217 29, >?6, 752 12,046.406 4,007.050 1888. 194,759,64? 150,000 60,392,098 29.234,634 10,777,17? The building boom in 1889 has been wonderful, and 1890 promises more than ever. Thousands of new houses have sprung up on what was, but a short time ago, bar- ren plains. No city in the west can show more elegant mansions or tasty cottages. Houses costing from $1,500 to $50,000 have grown up all around. One feature has been the building of numerous tasty and elegant city fclocks of houses. We give an engraving of one of these in "The Athelstan," designed by J. J. Huddard, archi- tect, aud owned by R. A. Long and H. V. Johnson. What more elegant home could be imagined? New business blocks of from five to nine stories have been completed and others are in process of construction. The Boston, Masonic Temple, Kittredge, Eruest- Cranmer, Arapahoe. McPhee, Railroad, Pioneer, People's liank, Broadway Theatre, Denver Athletic Club, and others, all of which we give engravings, show what elegance and money has been put into this class of build- ings. The new church edifices, new school buildings and public halls, have also drawn large amounts into the pockets of contractors and builders. Aud still the work goes on. Architects' offices are full of orders. Contract- ors have many new contracts, aud the question arises, when will this stop? As one who has lived in Denver aud seen her wonderful growth, knowing her immense resources and the active business men who compose her population, the writer can not limit this progress. Some said several years ago that Denver had reached her growth, but how little they knew. The writer can only say that the future promises more than the past and in his belief no mistakes can be made in making any in- vestment in Denver realty; it is bound to increase in value as the years roll by. 23 DENVER, COLORADO. Building operations in Denver for ten years: VEAR. AMOUNT. 1880. . .' * 3,517,362 iSSl 3.5,483 1882 2,838,488 1883 1,578,995 1884 1,900,426 1885 790,980 ,886 2,000,661 !887 i 4,007,050 1888 6,049,386 1KS9 10,777,177 During the year 1889, nearly eleven million dollars' worth of new buildings were erected within the fire limits of Denver. Estimates, which come from official sources, place the value of the building operations in the suburbs of the city beyond the fire limits, at $2,000,000, or 20 per cent, of the building operations within the fire limits. This would make the total building operations in Denver and its suburbs at nearly $13,000,000 for the year. This shows that Denver is enjoying a building boom which is by far greater than the building operations of such citie as Kansas City, Omaha, Minneapolis or St. Paul. The following table, carefully compiled from the Building Inspector's books, shows the operations within the limits of the city proper: January . . February . March . . April . . . May .... June . . . July. . . . August. . . September . October . . November . December . 72 90 219 I?6 219 23' 221 123 166 419,000 434,350 764.550 883,650 1,411,945 1,329,774 I ,006,410 964,906 1,285,695 755,385 5'3,965 1,007,547 149 81 99 201 244 295 a6o 1 66 263 9 5 '5 27 15 IS Totals 1,911 $10,777,177 2,445 > 'So If the foregoing pages have answered any the of questions which have arisen in your mind as to the Queen City and her resources; if they have .shed any of the light of knowledge for you, the task of the author has been successful. He knows that his little work is far from a literary perfection and he disclaims any pre- tensions in that direction, but he has aimed at truthful statements of facts covering some of the many points which are constantly arising in conversations with people who have never visited Denver. A. W. Chamberlin'a Residence. Hon. M. B. Carpenter's Residence DENVER, COLORADO. Colorado is a terge field; Denver is an ever growing city. There is room in the State for millions of popula- tion, and room in Denver for thousands more than are here to diy. All will receive a warm welcome who co ne to visit either, and those who come for investment will find large and lucrative opportunities, while those who come for health, if they delay not too long, will surely find strength and renewal of life in this glorious climate. But one word to the invalid: Don't put off too long; don't rely on the hope that your's "is only a slight affection of the throat," or similar complaints. Come now and grow strong. To the farmers we have to offer some of the choicest grain fields in the world. Millions of acres yet open for entry and thousands of acres already under ditch, which can be bought at very low prices. To the manufacturer, we offer a location, the centre of a vast non-manufacturing countrv. A country where fuel is cheaper than water power; where the raw- material is at vour very doors, and where there are thou- sands of laborers ready for employment. To the capi- talist we offer no bait except in the invitatio.n to come and visit us. We know that all men of means who come to Colorado and to Denver, leave something of their riches here, invested in one way or another. Come now while the State is young and while the city is yet in its first growth. 25 CHAS. F. BLACK. COMPLIMENTS OF WM SANDERSO.N BLACK & SANDERSON, The * North Side * Real Estate * Brokers. w 2550 ST. The Spider Wet>Qf roads which Denver weaving to ensnare <,,, tierce Wat A/ We Invest for and Denver Realty is the Safest, Surest an<! most Remunerative Investment in the United States.