New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-27
COLORADO.

the Rocky Mountains, III quest OF health and az
q member Of Commission to negotiate land
ceding treaty with the Ute Indians; both which
ends, we believe, were obtained. We find his
official report subjoined 10 that of the Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs, and condense from it
as follows:
Mr.. Nicoloy's estimate Of the agricultural ca.
pacities of Colorado is not fattering one. He
says tho Surveyor.General puts the lands fit for
farming ia the entire Territory at One Million
acres; which is something like one arabic to
ninety nine sterile acres. We presume this
proportion may be increased by systematic,
thorough irrigation; still, the fact remains that
Colorado will never grow her own bread-stufs,
nor a quarter of them. For not only is the
Summer drouth protracted and intense; but the
surface of the whole region is from 5,O00 to TO-
900 feet above the sea-level rendering irosts,
hail, ETC., very frequent visitors. (The lowest
spot of surface in Colorado il considerably
above the highest pinnacle OF the Allegheny
Mountains save two or three in North Carolna.)
Mr.. Nicolay saw the country under its least
favorable aspect-in Autumn, after q Summer
of intense aridily. Still, the truth is plain that
Flour and Bacon must continue to go up in
eyer-incrcasing quantities from the Missouri
valley 10 the Miners in the Mountains Were
the Pacific Railroad constructed up TO Denver
to-day, it would DO busily aud pro6tably en-
ployed in carrying TO miners, food and machln-
cry, ever more. For the Mining interest
needs but cheap food and cheap transportation
to secure the rapid doubling and quadrupling of
is present operations and results.
A single branch of farming will, however, do
better. Mr.. Nicolsy ssys;
"Bnt. In natural advantages Tor raising and hcr1ng
stock, horses mules, cstie. sheep &c. the country
20 compsnsals for Its limited capacity 10 produce
cereals. AL slor3 the eastern base OF the Mountains
extensive tracts Of high rolling land covered with
grass which though not growing thick or long as In
much more fsable and CONSTANT ps,tnrsse Except
exposed localities. the Winters are mild and moderate
and actual experience prove that 81 least one
the grasses commonly called the buffalo grass, IL so
nutritious ths, Il viii not only subsist but even itten
np,maA during both Summer aud Winter. Along
streams aud IN sheltered mountain valleys its uxuriance
anil yield OF course much increased by the moisture
he extent and Nature Oh .ns cogntry saen tss, ,seo
come remain In common. Experience Up TO me pres
time goes 10 prove that siockrssiny In Colorado
will be attended with other expense than the cost OF
herding aad wiH Therefore become source OF greet
wealth 10 the future State"
AS TO the Precious Metals in Colorado, Mr..
Nicolay Is less enthusiastic than most writers
from that region; though it is but just to say
that pixies Peak is less given of late to ro-
mance-that is honnce-than mining districts
usually are. At least, We have met with no
recent parallels to the Lyperbole Of the genius
in Arizona who writes grumblingly Of his claim
that he has "to dig through four feet Of solid
silver to get at the gold" But he finds other
natural treasures quite as abundant and yalu-
able as those Of the Precious Metals. Witness
the following extract:
beside fits gold. Colorado appears to have great
wealth In other minerals. TO supply the actual wants
leurn salt lead and iron has already been begun end IS
believed TO DO capable Of indefinite extension. Immense
beds VI gypsum have been discovered. Copper forins
the principal part OF the from which gold at pres
extracted aud silver Il not unfrcquenty found min
slod with IT, Large aud fine mineral springs too sup
posed 70 possess active medicinal virtues form char
acterslc feature OF the country and appear destined
in connection with the delightful and heaihfnl climate
and tho beautiful and romantic natural scenery in which
sort"
That there are vast deposits of Gold in these
mountains, however, he teStilies from obserya-
ton; also that large and Increasing amounts of
it AFRO now being extracted. But with Flour at
S25 TO $50 per barrel, and Bacon from $50 to
$50 per hundred, we must doubt whether o
Of those who rush into Mining without
capital, scientific knowledge, or experience, will
not come out Of it poorer than when they went
in, and we ipfer that Mr.. Ms opinion is not
unlike this. He remarks:
cit must not be forgotten that ths discoveries OF MIN
era deposits IN thess mountains have but Just b.gn
psrties provided with only PICK and pen
and fow DAYS raton,: have Indeed tIeyersed much Of
the country hut before remarked the metals do not
lie upon the surfaces they are concealed Ia deep Veins
and viii be- found only upon more patient and thoFoulh
research. As the preeen population Of Go"rsoo os
handed they have bad neither the time nor means 10
make the careful examination necc gary to BRING 60
light this hidden mineral wealth
Mr.. Nicoay thinlu-as we do-ihat It is
highly desirable, and will probably be found
advantageous, to carry the Pacific Railroad
over the Rocky Mountains at point nearer to
Denver than to the South Pass.
"Ifthc road Is located fer south as Denver, then
lie nroGts OIL travel and freight to and Nom New
Mexico and Arizona will be added TO these for Colorado
and tho country directly west oi ~ Inc pcor' "I
Colorado claim that shorter end more practicable
route osa be found through the mountains directly
vast from Denver than from any point north OF IL.
Acusl and detailed surveys can, OF course only deter
mine this But at all events the advantages OF maxim
an established eutsrprising and growing community
like that vi Csn. Il Colorado Territory point ~ the
great line are Obvious az TO entls them to fun and
deliberate examination"
A treaty was effected with the Utes of the
Mountains for the extinction Of their title to
half tho lands owned by them on favorable