New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-11
& TErP TO COLORADO.
m.-UP TIE SMOKY EILL FORK.

Ians alike ceased entirely, and tho scatter became Gear
aud fne Although my main Object in visiting junction
was 70 secure good nights rest before setting out Oh the
Plains was nuc lately requested 10 lecture that even
ing There was aa the only one having been recently
burned no church yet completed; no announcement had
been madc-but in ttcse fwestern towns nothing Is I'M
possible store building, just foored and plastered
without windows and, indeed occupied by carpenters at
work was scccie, ranhs carried in for seats, tempo
rar platform built messengers sent around to give private
Information the people AID in two hours time 10 there
vas good audience assembled.
All Tuesday ] waited yainly for the Overland stage
couch The accounts from down the Raw Valley repre-
oened The streams being impossible, and toward sun
set the cnerprsng population considered that my delay
wa now so far extended second lecture.
With less for preparation they achieved the same re-
salt as tine first night; and truly have rarely had
loro agreeable audience than the hundred persons who
est upou the panks in that unfinished BODYBUILDING
What othp- people than the Americans would do such
(hings'
While n Junction witnessed q very interesting expert
racnt The bluffs Of magnetism limestone behind the
town precisely resemble and texture, that which
forms The Island Of Malta. In the quarry it has pale
buG tint with a soft, cheesy grain, which may be cut
with good hatchet or sawed with common hand-saw;
vet after some exposure 70 the cir, Il becomes hard and
assumes o rich warm color. Messrs Mcclure and Hop
Ains Of Junction had just received sawine-maehne
driven by horsepower and several rough blocks were
awaiting che Nothing could have been more salts
factory Tie saw cut through the stone easily and
steadily as through block Of wood, dressing smooth
Cice Of IS inches square exactly minutes sup
ply osoue being inexhausble this the beginning Of
business which may make the future cities Of Kansas
eni Missoau the most beautiful in the world.
stated the population of the place al 400 or 500 bit
I oh hui iu-
,he number of inhabitants, in the East. So hasten to
make the correction for nothing annoys these frontier
owns much either understatc their population or
underestimate their prospective importance. Junction
CITY vii soon be tie terminus Of railroad travel and tie
earugp9int Of the great overland freight business
which will give it certainly temporary importance The
teope fad desire that the road shall up the RePub
Icaa valley in order al least the New-Mexican
trade m few years but this is not matter TO be decided
b. local Interests wishes. The distance thence 70 Den
Yer Dr. the Republican route would be lJ' miles longer
Shan by the smoky LII route.
Ano.Ler comfortable night at the Eagle Hoiel, and
WEDNESDAY came warm aud coudlcss without any sign
ofAo Stage. Nj Mcclure kindly offered to DIVE me 10
eaina the last settlement on the Smoky Hill Fork 45
miles further and we set out after breakfast The
road along the bottom being too deep, took that lead
ing over tie rolling country 10 the north. Climbing
through Little glen the level Of the bluffs, We had
charming backward view o. the junction Of the rivers,
with the buildings Of Fort Riley GROWING the wooded
oopes beyond then forward, many rolling mile Of
She finest grazing land The word. Two miles further
found train Of wagons just starting with supplies for
Che stage stations aong the line Mr. Stanton the super
intendent informed me that he had through from
Denver to Fort Riley this Spring, with Orleans, in
eFenty-seven days He expects TO make three round
tps this season. taking up corn, AMI bringing back lum
Der for the houses and stables 10 be built the line
We had occasional views over the bottoms Of the
smoky Hill, which, the people claim, are even richer
Than Of the Raw Valley; but that imPossi
BE Twelve miles pleasant travel brought 70 Chap
mans Creek the first stagestaion. Here however the
stream nine feet deep and the people at the rancho
Informed that would have 10 take ford two miles
higher up II seemed 10 better to return 70 June
and awai; the stage there than 70 sk missing II by
leaving the man road put about and re.raced our
Tourney.
At noon, when had reached the bluffs and were
thinking Of dinner what should see but the stage
last driving toward from the town! Hunger, then
was 10 be my first experience the overland journey
" turned ont Of the road alighted with my baggage
cnd awaited the approach of face wel-known the
Tenth-st Studio building There passengers,
but neither Of them was my friend IN fact, the duveT
nhouted 70 me- before lie pulled up his horses, Your
friend didn't come One Of the passengers handed me
Beard would probably DO able reach that place for
lhec or four days account Of the foods. BY arrange
aens IN Denver would not allow to wait, so depos-
Tied myself blankets and baggage II tie stage and was
fairy embarked for crossing TIC Plains
ayersed for the third time that day the route % Chap
rnaas Creek The water stin rising and We there
fore tred the upper ford, and successfully. The road
beyond tins descended from the Smoky Hill, and followed
the broad level bottoms Of that river The soil was, IN
deel Of wonderful fertility though butie Of H. as yet
Is under cultivation. Toward sunset reached the VII
Sage Of Abilene OF Abene hoW whence the name was
derived cannot imagine unless is an abbreviated cor
ruption Of Abe Lincon and here determined on hay
ing something Upon questioning salwart fellow
who hung upon tie coach while II was crossing Mud
Greek he declared with emphasis "Its the last square
meal you'll get the road My experience of square
meal" therefore is that It consists Of strong black coffee
etps Of pork fat fred 10 sandy crspness and half
baked soggy indgesble biscuits For these paid the
equare pnce of FL.
= The sun set-there was no mOOn-and or coach made
Soilsome progress the muddy bottoms toward the
soomons Fork Muskctos began their attacks, and
Shenceor;h worried the whole night About 10 o'clock
Che driver commenced imitation Of the bark Of the
eoyole which, it appeared distant signal Of APP
proach the eryman the Solomon Crossing. 1t
indisnc 10 note anything but the dark Of tim
Der either side and the CLEAN Of water between; but
IRON the length Of time occupied in crossing should
sudge that the stream hundred yards wide. The bot
tOmand along the Upper Solomon is said to be equal 10
any kansas and emigration is fast pouring into 1t
vel along the Republican and the Saline.
should not wonder II 1.-THE Great American Desert
should finally be pronounced myth. In my school
geogmphes II commenced at the western border Of Mis-
sour now, believe, it is pushed go miles further
West leaving OF the finest agricultural land the