The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-09-01

tent, in this log city of $50 dwellings, not
three. fourths coGpleted nor two thirds
inhabited, nor one third fit to be, than in
any community of no greater numbers on
earth. This will be changed in timc-l
trust within year, for the empty honses
are steadily finding tenants from the two
streams of emigration rolling IN daily up
the Platte, as we'll as down Cherry Creek.
Including some scores of women and chill
dren, who generally stop here, as all Of
them should; for life in the Mountains is
set horribly rough. Public religious
worship, a regular mail and other civili-
sng influences, are being established;
there is CLEAN of hope that the Arapa-
hocs-who have uade the last two or
three lights indescribably hideous by their
internal war-wbcops, songs and dances,
will at last clear out on the foray against
the Utes they have so long threatened, ,
diminishing largely the aggregate of
drunkenness and justifying expectations
of comparative paace. So let me close
up my jottings from this poiut-wbich
circumstances beyond my control have
rendered too voluminous- rough
ambrOtype of
LIFE IN DENVER.
The rival cities of Denver aud Aura
ria front on each other from either bank
of Cherry Creek, jast before it is lost in
the South Platte. The Platte has it's
sources in the South Park Of the Rocky
Mountains, hnndred miles S. W. Of this
point, but Cherry Greek is headed off
from them by that river. and, winding
its northward course of forty or fifty miles
over the Plains, with its Sources barely
touching the Mountains, is capricious
stream, running quite smartly when We
came here, but whose broad aud thirsty
sands haze since drank it all up at this
point. leaving the log foot-tridges which
connect the two cities as useless as an ice
house in November. The Platte, aided
by the melting of the SHOWS on the high
II uouDtaiDs, runs nearly full banked,
through the constant succession Of bot
suus and dry winds begins to tell upon it,
while Clear Greek, (properly Vasquer's
Fork) which issues directly from the
Mountains just above its crossing on the
way to the Gregory Diggings, is nearly at
its highest. and will so remain till the in
ner mountains are mainly denuded of
their snowy mantes. But, within few
days, foot bridge has been completed
over the Platte, virtually abolishing the
ferry and, saving considerable time and
money to gold-seekers and travellers,
while another over Clear Greek precludes
not only delay but danger-several wag-
ors having been wrecked and two or three
men all tut drowned in attempt, to ford
its rapid, rocky current. Thus the ways
of the adseDturer grow daily smoother.
and they who visit this region ten years
hence will regard as idle tales the stories
of prig alton, ,impedimentand hair breadth
'scayes" which are told, or might be, by
the gold seekers Of 1859.
OF these rival cities, Auraris is by
far the more venerable-some ofits struc-
lures being, think, fully year old, if
not more. Denver, on the other band,
esn boast OF nc antiquity beyond SePtem-
her OF October last. In the architecture
of the two citics there is, Notwithstanding,
a striking siniilarity-cottonwood logs,
cut from the adjacent bottom of the Plat
tie. and rou hly hewed on the two per-
pendicuIar sides, and cLinked with billets
of sp lit Cottonwood on the inner and "ith
mud OH the outer side, forming the walls
of nearly or quite every edifce which a.
dorBs either city. Across the center of
the interior, from shorter wall to wall,
stretches sturdy ridge pole, usually in
state of nature, from which "shooks' or
split saplings of cotton wood, their split
sides down, incline gently to the trans
verse or longer sides; on these lin the
more finished structuree) coating of
earth is laid, ard, with chimney of aud
dauhed sticks 10 one corner, door near
ly opposite, and hole beside it represent
ing preGguring window, the edifce Is
complete. OF coure. many have no earth
on their covering of shocks, end so are Ii
able to gentle inundat in the rainy sea-
son; but, though wehaye had thunder and
Ii htning almost daily. with brisk gale
in most instances, they have had no rain
worth naming snch here for weeks, and
the pnehioked, barely shook covered hou-
ses, through whose sides aud roofs you
may see the stars as you lie awake nights.
ale decidedly the cooler and airer. There
is a new hotel nearly finished in Auraria,
which has second story floor; beside
this, mine eyes have never yet been bless
ed With the sight of any floor 1hatever in
either Denver or Auraria. The last time
slept or ate with floor under me (our
wagon box and Mother Earth excepted)
was at junction City. nearly four weeks
ago. The "Denyer House" which is the
Astor nou.e oftke Gold Region, has walls
of logs, a 6oor of earth, with windows and
roof of rather 6imsy cotton sheetlng,
while every guest is allowed as good bed
as bis blankets will make. The charges
are DO higher than at the Astor snd 9TH
er frst.class hotels, except for liquor-2o
cents drink for whisky, colored and
Dicknsmed to suit the taste of customers.