Newcastle

The Newcastle Journal, 05 Apr 1890, Copyright has expired.
The microfilm image of this paper is extremely damaged and ink stained.
Assumed or guessed words are in [brackets].

A Brief Review of Businesses Established

Seven months ago on the site where Newcastle now stands there seemed to be nothing but hills, sage-brush and a few grader's stakes. The 10th day of September 1889, is regarded as the birth day of the town. The weather was anything but pleasant. The heavens were overcast with dark and lowering clouds. The wind blew almost a gale, the dust and wind vieing with each other in an effort to make it disagreeable for those who desired to unite their fortunes with the destinies of the new town. There were a large number of men who had ridden or driven a fair distance across the country, far ahead of the railroad, and over many miles of land that still belonged to the government and that seemed to have no value, to here purchase twenty foot lots for $1500 each. Certainly a mature judgment is the only thing that could picture a bright future under such unpropiatious circumstances. Among the first purchasers of lots were Isaac H. Chase, Franklin & Baer, Rounds & Baird, Fawcett, Delahant & Aflebach, McLaughlin Bros., Roderick Bros., Wiker & Irwin, J.A. Larimer, Mondell & Patton, Meyer Frank D.W. Fawkes and Co., Wineland ******am, W.H. Fanning and Jas. ***Cr**, nearly all of whom have ***** substantial buildings and become permanent and reliable business men of the town. Before the evening of September 10, thirty thousand dollars' worth of lots had been sold and the work of building a [city] at the mouth of Coal Canyon was then begun.

It was only seven months ago, the nearest railroad was sixty-nine miles away, and the B.&M. had only reached Crawford, ninety-eight miles south. The nearest town was forty-three miles distant. Until November 15--half the age of the city--all stocks of goods, supplies, provisions, builders' material (except lumber), machinery, hay, grain, etc., were hauled by wagon a distance of not less than fifty miles, a large part of the time it being necessary to transport everything from Hat Creek, seventy-five miles distant, and during the early days of the town's growth from Crawford, ninety-eight miles south.

Despite these almost insurmountable difficulties by the time the railroad reached this point, there were over *** people here who expected to make Newcastle their home, fifty thousand dollars worth of real estate had been purchased, fully fifty business houses had been erected, and that many business men were rushed from early morning till late at night.

And now the City of Newcastle has over one hundred business men, about seventy-five ******** ****uses and a stability ***** that invites everyone ***** ****ble calling to come and share ***** future that is certain to ***all of prosperity that may be *** marvellous than the Black Hills country, noted for wonderful developments, has ever known.

The City of Newcastle now has:

WHOLESALE:

1 grocery, dry goods and clo***, 2 hardware, 1 lumber yard, 1 commission, 3 hay and grain, 2 liquors and cigars, 1 meat market, 1 brewer,

RETAIL:

3 hardware, 3 groceries, 3 dry goods, 5 clothing, 3 drugs and medicines, 2 furniture, 2 milliners, 3 lumber, 2 news stands, 1 auction house

OTHER LINES:

6 attorneys, 2 physicians, 1 bank, 4 livery stables, 3 newspapers, 1 restaurant, 4 hotels, 5 chop houses, 15 saloons, 4 laundries, 3 blacksmith shops, 1 lodging house, 2 drays, 2 shoemakers, 1 tailor, 3 barber shops, 1 bath room, 1 harness shop, 2 taxidermists, 2 warehouses, 1 carpenter shop, 1 hospital, 1 billiard hall, 1 jewelry store, 1 brickyard, 7 sawmills, making lumber exclusively for this market, 1 round house, 1 brass band, with instruments costing $350, 1 board of trade with fifty-one members.

The B.&M. has twelve miles of side-track, a large depot, ware-house, ice-house, a Kerr coal chute and a ten-stall round-house at this place, and the extensive grading done and improvements made *** *** they regard Newcastle **** *** most important por*** *** They are extensively *** the town it occupies a continuous place on the maps and on the C.B.&Q. folders and there is *** reason for believing that it is their intention to throw the weight of their immense influence in favor of the growth of this place.

The coal mine of Kilpatrick Bros. & Collins, to reach which the B.&M. built from Alliance to this place, and which is the basis for the past growth and future prosperity of Newcastle, is located in Coal canyon, eight miles north of the town. It was impracticable to place a town nearer the mines because it would have been necessary to build it upon the divide three hundred feet above the mines. Instead, it was placed *** the railroad at the mouth of the canyon and at the point where the *** country joins the Black Hills and where the indications for striking oil are the most encouraging. It is as much the coal town, however, as if the opening to the mines were within the town limits, the headquarters and general store being here and most of the general business being transacted here.

There are a great many cattle ranches within trading distance of Newcastle for which this is a supply point. "Trading distance" means in come cases 100 miles, but as this is the nearest town it gets the trade, just the same.

The Cambria & Newcastle Water Supply company is perhaps one of our most important ventures. The city being within the oil district, it is not possible to secure good water in wells. About three months ago the above named company was organized [and] since then a large force [workmen] have been kept busy upon *** that is to supply Newcastle [with] plenty of good, clear, soft water [fron] a mountain stream found *** miles north of town and four miles north of the mines. It is expected to have a supply of water in Newcastle by the first of May.

Jobbing houses have been established with the expectation that when the B.&M. branches are built out of here, this will be a center for the distribution of goods, and in a comparatively short time reach that size which would secure distributing point railroad rates. There is good reason for the belief, and wholesale firms that open in business here now will have a great advantage over all competitors when the work of opening up a territory is commenced. The freight line to Sundance and Buffalo is already helping to establish a good jobbing trade with these points.

Being the county seat of Weston county, Newcastle's stability is established. No matter what may happen to the general resources of the country, the collection of taxes from the whole county and the expenditure of the money at the county seat may be depended upon. There is no possibility of a change of the county seat, and there will therefore be no fight to hold it. The land business for one hundred miles east and west and forty-eight miles north and south--and it will be considerable--will be transacted here. No matter how many towns may be established, they must regard Newcastle as the leading town and pay tribute with their best trade--the cash trade.

The first impression of Newcastle is that the the site is a poor one. It seems to be crowded next to the foothhills of the Black Hills, over half of the land platted lying within the pine timber of the hills, considerable grading has already been necessary. A walk through the different portions of the town, however, convinces one that the site will be a pretty one when the rest of the grading is done and the residence streets opened through the timber. Every residence lot will be covered with fine large pine trees, and as many can be left standing or cut out as desired. The hills and knolls , when properly terraced, will make far handsom (page torn) -dence sites than the leve (page torn) solid brick blocks lining (page torn) of main street, a large (page torn) a large court-house and (page torn) -dences among the (page torn) castle will be (page torn) places in the (page torn)