“The ladies of Mr. Blanchard’s party were of much more than ordinary intelligence, and had travelled not a little, and seen much of the world, and were familiar with European scenery. They were charmed with our beautiful streets and neat and handsome business blocks, and elegant lawns and residences. They were unanimous in the opinion that if they could not live in New York they would certainly choose Hutchinson.”
Of one fact all were convinced—that Hutchinson could furnish as good social life as we could desire. “Hutchinson’s salt mines are valuable, but her women are far above rubies,” said a gentleman of our party, and we all said “Amen!”
Our party were delighted and surprised to find in this beautiful city of seventeen thousand people such a rush of business. The streets were thronged with teams, the stores crowded with people. Hundreds of new buildings were going up—great stone blocks and elegant residences. We could easily understand this, when we found that Hutchinson was located on three trunk lines and two branch railroads, surrounded by an agricultural country that cannot be excelled, and underlaid with the thickest vein of pure salt in the world. Mr. Bourne, Treasurer of the Empire Loan and Trust Company, and for many years a banker, told me that a great many of the business men of Hutchinson were formerly from New York, and that Eastern capital was rapidly coming in to develop the latent interests here.
As an illustration of the rapidly growing commercial importance of Hutchinson, the Santa Fe Railroad Co. has recently issued circulars to shippers of live stock, which places Hutchinson on an equal footing with Kansas City.
William Willard Howard, in Harper’s Weekly, Nov. 3, 1888, says: “Wise and conservative methods of doing business attract a great deal of New York, Philadelphia, and Boston capital to Kansas properties that are now lying idle. Many Eastern capitalists are sending money to Kansas, but with few exceptions the bulk of the investments are in mortgages on farm property. To men who have made a study of Western securities these mortgages are looked upon as safe and profitable investments; but while they are no doubt beneficial to the individual borrower and lender, they yet cannot benefit Kansas a hundredth part as much as the same money would if used in the proper development of the State’s great resources. The day is rapidly approaching when the vast sums of money now stored in financial centres will be as readily invested in Kansas property as funds are at present put into farm mortgages. The city of Hutchinson has shown how it can be done.”
After the banquet we entered our car bound for Colorado; after a short stop at Pueblo we arrived in Denver, and went to the “Windsor,” where Mr. Blanchard had secured rooms for all during our stay in this far-off city. So easy and pleasant had been our journey of over 2,000 miles, we could not realize the distance we had travelled, except by the difference of time—we were two hours behind New York time. On Sunday attended service at Trinity M. E. Church, a beautiful building, organ, etc., valued at $300,000. Monday morning, in seven carriages, a representative of the “Bankers’ Association of Denver” in each carriage, visited the “Omaha and Grant Smelting Works,” public buildings, etc., under the courteous direction of ex-Gov. J. B. Grant. Leaving Denver Monday, 4:45 P.M., the next stop was at Colorado Springs, where there are no springs. We were anxious to reach Manitou, where the springs are numerous. The regular train had left. The necessity for prompt action was apparent. There would be no out train till morning. Mr. Blanchard was equal to the emergency; a special engine was secured, and with the superintendent of the road as conductor we started on the up grade, and arrived at Manitou (which is the Indian for Great Spirit) safely at eight o’clock of a beautiful evening. Carriages had been ordered, and were waiting at the depot, and a ride through Manitou, up Ruxton Glen to the springs by moonlight, completed the delightful experience of the day.
The “Iron Spring” and “Soda Spring” are superior for health to the “Washington” and “Congress” springs of Saratoga.
Up Pike’s Peak, Tuesday, October 1st.
The day was perfect; not a cloud. Our car stood on the side track of the Midland, at an elevation of seven thousand feet, equal to the “Tip-Top House” on Mt. Washington. All were eager to know if the weather was propitious. Hasty toilets enabled us, one and all, to assemble at an early hour and watch for the first rays of the rising sun. We were looking east, when one of the group, a lady, was the first to call out: “There it is”; and, turning to the west, we saw “The Peak,” snow-clad, blushing like a rose. Then “Gog and Magog” caught the rays; then “Cameron’s Cone.” The foot-hills followed, one after another, till all had joined the “Peak” in proclaiming “The sun has risen.” We were charmed by the wonderful and novel scene. “Manitou” lay asleep at our feet. We watched till at last we too were standing in the sunshine.
After an early breakfast our Pullman Hotel, the “Dalmatia,” was taken over the Midland Railroad to Cascade City, passing through eight tunnels in going six miles to ascend about one thousand feet. We left our Pullman at Cascade City, and took carriages with four horses, for a seventeen-mile climb to reach the summit. The carriage road is a marvel of engineering skill. At the half-way house our horses were changed for four sure-footed mules. After leaving the timber line the prospect is wonderful, changing with every turn of the road, and there are eighty turns.