Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-30

twenty thousand Here, then, is territory enough for
great mountain State Now let US look to its contents
described by Fremont, and since laid down all thu
maps-large beautiful mountain coves, two Of them Of
thirty miles diameter each the other Of sixty at grea
elevation delightful in and tempered In winter
from the concentration of the suns rays and sheltered
by the lofty rim of mountains forever crowned with snow
which wall them in and break off the outside storms The
not ancifu nor bestowed capriciousy BY ira
yeers but real description translated from the Indian
name Of these parks, which signifies COW lodge and
not without reason for the buaoes not only feed but
lodge there and make them the places Of their immense
attended by oil the minor animals-ek,
deer antelopes bears Then the nnumerable little val
eys in which rise the myriad Of young streams which,
collecting into creeks, go off to start upon their long
in the mighty rivers which, there rising together
70 off in opposite directions to the rising, to
the setting the South Platte the Arkansas, the Del
Nore on sde and the Great Colorado Of the West
the otherall four born together to run far
apart point of smiitude to Switzerland which the in
sructed mind viii not fail perceve and also to dis
another simtude in Pixies Peak grand in its ele
vaton forever luminous in snow-the Mont Blanc Of the
Rocky Mountains which no adventurous Packard OF De
Saussure has ever yet climbed Then an endless hby
rnth of little valleys and coves where wild animals hxu
rate in and shelter in winter and where thu In
dams pursue their game in all seasons without impede
ment from cold or snow and where their horses do well
the grass retaining much of its moisture and rutr
Fremont thus describes the general winter cndi
ton of these valleys:
Sour progress in this mountainous region necessarily
through hundred miles of the mountainous country
bordering the eastern side of the Upper Colorado valley the
greatest depth of the snow was among the pines and aens
ridges and half feet and in the valleys
about six inches The atmosphere too cold and dry for
much ow and the valleys protected by the mountains are
comparatively free from it, and We here found vii
lagos Utah Indians their wintering ground in little val
along the foot Of the higher mountains and bordering
the open country of the Colorado valley Snow
here December 25 only inches deep the grass gone
rally appearing above it, and there being mono under and
southern The horses Of the Utahs were living
in in
hunting excellent condition. Ons which we had
casion to kill for food had it about inches Of being
good order buffalo had killed in November
the eastern plains Over this valley country about hun
dred and fifty miles across the Indians informed us that snow
falls only few inches in DEPTH such swf saw at the time
This is the winter condition Of these valleys very
Portable for and beast in their wild state, and
become comfortable under the hand of cultivation
The summer view, presented by Nessrs Beale and
Heap, is absolutely enchanting perfect labyrinth OF
valleys with their cool water and sweet grass some wde
narrow, bounded by perpendicular walls Of
rock like streets in city, others By softly rounded
hills; some studded with small circular mountains,
called by the hunters round mountain fertile on the
Sides level and rich the top diversified with wood and
prairie and refreshed with clear streams and beautifed
with deep mpid miniature lakes These descriptions are
charming, but too numerous for quotation, and can
| only give specimen of each:
The trail led over low hills and succession of beau
ul slopes running mostly southern direction, until we
entered narrow winding valley two miles and o hall IN
length by and two hundred yards in breadth 1t was
from fifty seventy five feet above the level If the valley
whose surface fat and carpeted with tender grass
stream Of clear water meandered through its centre and the
grade slight that the stream Overlooking in many
places moissned the whole surface As We descended this
beautiful and singular valley occasionally passed others OF
similar character It ends in Saltwater valley which we
entered about one hour before sunset.
The valleys down which travelled, and which opened
into each other with the regularity Streets grew gradually
broader as we descended We finally entered one waters
by Carnero Sheep) Creek which joins the Ganta (Gate
Creek in San Luis valley and at encamped short dis
fona ahn
and whence it derives its Half mile below this gap
there is another and quarter Of mile further third. The
passage through them is level while the trail around them
steep and stony In the afternoon we went through the
gap, made circuit around the second, much OBJ
structed with trees and business and leaving the third on
left, rode low hills and five miles from camp
crossed the Garita. We San Luis Valley
and all before perfect level far as the sight could
reach
"Our way for mile two led barren plain, thicky
covered with e wood but struck the base OF the
mountain where firm rich mountain grass swept saddle
grhs rs canered over it. We crossed considerable
mountain covered with timber aud and the sum
init Of which quite cluster Of small but very clear and
apparently deep lakes They not than or
in xc that but surrounded by luxs
RANT grass and perched upon the mounain with e
timber quite them. 1t the beautiful scenery
in the world 1t formed quite hunters paradse for der
and elk bounded off from approached and then Stood
within rife shot looking back in astonishmsn few hours
ride brought us to the Indian camp and wish here cmd
describe the beauty Of the charming valley in which they
camped small probably than five miles vide
by fifteen long, but surrounded all sides by the boest
mountains covered their SUBMITS with alternate parhes
Of timber and grass giving the appearance Of
regularly laid off in small farms. Through the centre
bold stream three feet deep by forty wde watered the
dow land and gave the last touch which the valley required
to make it the most beautiful had ever
Hundreds of horses goats feeding the medows
and hill side and the Indian lodges, with the wom and
children standing in front Of them look the approaching
stranger, strongly reminded Of old patriarchal Zines
whom focks and herds made the wealth and hsppneso the
people, and hut good palace was coIucted
TO the lodge of the chief old and nfrm man, w well
coined kindly, and told his young told hip that
had given Of my small store to them, and to sat peace
pattes containing very fat deer meat and soe boiled
to which did ample ustice and when about to leave
found large bag of dried meat and peek ut up for
me to take to my people.
"Ths morning explored the lying u the south
of our forming picturesque portion of our 'front.' view
After ascending the mountain and reaching thesummt,
found vast plateau of rolling prairie land covered with
the most beautiful grass and heavily tmbersd At some
places the growth Of timber would be dense render
riding through 1t impossible without great difficulty while
at others II would break into beautiful open eade leav
ing spots Of hundred Of open prairie with
groups of trees looking precisely if wealthy planter
had amused himself by planting them expressly to beauti
his grounds Springs abundant, and small streams in
terseced the whole plateau In fact immense
park already stocked with deer and elk and only
curing fence make II estate for king DIRECTLY OPP
posite the south another mountain every respect SINH
lar and valley beautiful to than eithcf lies be-
| tween them"
Enough for sample and if any thing more is wanted
to establish the character Of this mountain region for
fertility Of soil and attraction for man, it is found in its
character Of hunting and Of ground Fremont says
he found it the most variousy and numerousy stocked
with game and the most dangerous war ground which he
in all the extent Of the Rocky Mountains both
ndexes to fertile country. The country sought for by
ynmas and fought for by is always good country
Western will understand this and remember how
Kentucky was called the Bloody Ground" because In