Kaslo Growth

HOW KASLO IS GROWING. – Many New and Substantial Buildings Being Reared. – Will Be A Handsome Town.

            Though Kaslo has been growing steadily for a year or more, there was nothing like building activity until a few weeks ago, when it became an assured fact that the proposed system of water works would be put in.  Then, a predicted long before by the KOOTENAIAN, building began in earnest, and today there are perhaps more good buildings underway in Kaslo than in any other town in Kootenay.  The upper end of Front street is a jumble of lumber piles, sidewalks are torn up in sections to permit building operations, mills are running night and day to supply the demand for lumber, carpenters are in big demand and altogether the prospect is extremely gratifying.

            And it is all inspiring.  Strangers are astonished at what they see; denizens of the town – many of them shared the misfortunes of Kaslo in early days – look satisfied, and even happy, and walk about with elastic step, proud of their town, glad that either through faith in the town’s future or because they could not get away, they remained here, glad they came to Kaslo.

            Kaslo has received many hard knocks.  Fire, flood and hard times did their worst; even her name was discounted and regarded as a hoodoo, but she pulled through it all and now – now she is “on velvet!”

            Among the improvements now going on in the business portion are;

The Byers-Giegerich building.

The Cockle hotel building.

The Hartin-Archer building.

George Whiteside’s building.

Charles Kapp’s bottling works.

The Riedel & Kuester brick block, nearly completed.

            These buildings are all now in the course of construction, and orders for material are out for:

            A new office building, corner Fifth and Front, by the International Navigation and Trading company.

            Cameron Bros., large building, corner A avenue and Fourth.

            Mrs. Place, store building on the ground now occupied by James Chisholm, to be occupied by J.B. Wilson’s general supply store.

            James Chisholm, who recently purchased the lot just west of his present location, is talking of building thereon.

            Many others are getting up plans for store and office buildings.

            The International Ore company’s large sampling works are being pushed ahead as rapidly as men can do it.

            Besides all this there are many new residences now under way and proposed.  This activity is due largely to the happy conclusion of Kaslo’s long fight for water works, now practically under way, and to the certainty of securing other needed improvements in the near future.

            The people of Kaslo are to be congratulated.