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.56«
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 ..................... :>272
Denver S: Rio Grande ................. I>546
Santa l-'e ....................... 4*3
Denver. Texas ft Fort Worth .............. 253
Burlington ...................... 4^3
Colorado Midland ................... 253
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
4i°
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
0
o
0
o
o
o
o
0
0
o
4
28
16
0
. I
o
0
o
0
o
13
4
o
17
25
27
29
31
31
30
27
4
17
o
o
o
2
II
"9
29
3!
16
8
0
2
0
o
o
2
II
>9
29
31
16
fi
0
o
o
o
o
o
o
9
24
25
o
o
o
0
0
o
o
0
o
4
2
0
O
O
o
0
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
0
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
0
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
0
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
29.8
29.9
27-3
22.1
24.0
8
6
o
i
o
o
o
o
o
o
5
i
0
0
o
o
°
II
10
3
o
o
0
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
0
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
0
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
0
1
|o
.:
0
•o
1
•3 • S.
E
o
'£
1 I
en .
o
i
1
i
1 -0
a. <
1
'9,
3
<
a
i
- Q
•J) <
|5
I1
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
0
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
65 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
0
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 45l2'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
9,878,433 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, S72, 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
I6,338,574 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
5,235,8.3o
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 b»eii 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
3I!,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
184
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»,i«5
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.
,46S
; 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
49s, 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 . . . .
U«6.
85,668,027
72.012
II .021 .2oS
5,58r,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.