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COLORADO,TEX-Dec.5 - In spite of
the election of a Democratic president, and the assert of Mr. Blaine that the country is
on the verge of ruin, Colorado continues to grow, prosper and invest in brick and mortar.
Turn where you will, the eye rests upon evidence of substantial improvements. Instead of
quarreling with would be rivals over the number of votes polled at the recent election,
our citizens are bending their energies to make Colorado in fact as well as name the queen
city of the West.
In conversation with such leading firms as Mr.
Jay Schrader, druggist; Gillian & Co. dry goods; Burns, Walker & Co., Joe Brown,
and McCall Bros. & Co. I learn that business has improved greatly within the past
thirty days. In fact, sales are reported to be unusually large. Shipments of beeves to the
Eastern markets foot up many thousands for the month of November and still they are being
rushed in. Col. O. J. Wiren shipped to the Eastern markets this week one hundred cars of
fine, fat beeves.
This is the largest shipping point on the Texas
& Pacific road, and it is admitted and conceded that there will be 100,000 cattle
shipped from here this season. Among cattlemen there are complaints of a lack of
transportation. This will probably lead to suits for damages against the railroad
company.
Mr. A. B. Robertson has just returned from his
ranch. He says he shipped twenty car loads of beeves from Pecos.
I met Mr. Campbell, manager of the Matador Cattle
Co., on the streets. He had recovered from his recent illness, and has been busily engaged
forwarding their beeves to market. The range is reported good, and stock cattle will be in
fine shape for the winter. Sheepmen say their flocks are doing well. They anticipate
better prices for wool next spring. Trading in cattle and sheep is not very lively, yet a
hopeful feeling exists as to the future.
Several of our stockmen who attended the great
convention at St. Louis have returned home. All say they had a royal time, and think the
meeting will be productive, of good results to the cattle interests in Texas.
The contractors are now roofing in our new county
court-house. When completed it will be a handsome structure. A visit to the temporary
court-house on Oak St. yesterday found county court in session with Judge R. A. Pearson
residing and J. L. Hooper, the newly installed clerk, at his desk, and he looked as if he
might have held said office for years. I also found that the commissioners court had made
a small appropriation and workmen were quite busy in putting all the offices in a good and
comfortable condition for the winter. The improvements add very much to the appearance of
the houses and in a very great degree to the comfort.
Dr. Lee of Sweetwater is erecting a large two
story brick store on the corner of Second and Oak streets. When completed it will be
occupied by Mr. Fred W. Brown, one of our druggists. Opposite this Mr. Geo. Major has let
the contract for a large brick building. The St.James hotel is about finished and adds
very much to the appearance of our city. It is finished in first-class style and will be
elegantly furnished and will soon be open to the public. The Dardanelle is another new
hotel, under the management of Messrs. Zack Williams and Lee Lipscomb. the Renderbrook and
Pacific houses are doing an excellent business.
From indications Santa Claus is collecting a
beautiful assortment of presents for the children at Christmas. One of his agents, Mr. Jay
Shrader, says he can please the most fastidious taste and has all his arrangements
completed to supply all who call at his elegant store. Messrs. Preston & Newkirk, our
popular news dealers, have also been commisssioned by Santa claus to have on hand any and
every thing a child or grown up person can wish for. Their store is a model of neatness
and beauty. The tell me THE GAZETTE continues to lead all daily papers sold here. They say
for the month of November they sold 1670 copies of THE GAZETTE to 301 of the Dallas Herald
and 148 of the Galveston News. Somehow the people will read THE GAZETTE in spite of its
free grass record. It is now and has ever been the champion and friend of the interests of
West Texas. When the legislature meets the lease-law advocates will respect its teachings
and efface the iniquitous measures from the statutes.
We have some beautiful private residences in
Colorado. They tell in unmistakable terms the taste and refinement of our people. In point
of elegance, of finish and other surroundings the brick cottage of Col. Winfield Scott is
the most conspicuous.[There follows a lengthly description of the Scott-Majors house which
is now Heritage House.]
The Colorado Clipper man got left in his
sensational race, but is still solid for free grass, wears a new Cleveland hat and will
continue to labor for the advancement of Colorado and the development of the West.
Commisioner Patman was the lucky man at the raffle Wednesday night at Dr. Shrader's drug
store, the prize being Britania's Encyclopedia, consisting of fifteen volumes. W. F.
Sminney, cashier of the Colorado National Bank, has been quite sick for several days. Mr.
Wm Bently has so far recovered from his wound that he was moved to Abilene to recuperate a
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