The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-06-14

kksDAY JUNE 18th, 1865 for the purpose Of sppont-
ins Delegates to the State, Congressional and Judicial
Conventions.
AL who opposed to Traitor. ruling til. Country.
AMI TO surrendering the Government the hands OF
Rehes, are invited to attend and participate In the
meeting.
BY order Of the Lee County Republican Central Com.
mttee IN arcK
My 2sth, 1886. Chairman.
THE PLATTE RIvER-THE PACIFIC
RAILWAY. PIXIES PEAK, GOLDEN
CITY AND THE SURROUNDINGS.
An old friend Of the readers Of the GATE
Cry long time ago. writes US an account of a
"Pay Trip which he has just made to Den
YER in the service of the Government-and
as public attentions becoming more general
ly directed to that region, IN consequence of
the rapid extension of the Pacific Railway,
we make some extracts from the letter for
the information of our readers
The morning of the 10th brought us in the
neighborhood of the Great Platte river. Of
this river | think i. may very properly be said
that there is nothing like it on the face of the
earth, certainly not on the American CONT
nent. This stream is as wide as the great
Mississippi, with plains on either side far
more extensive than the bottoms Of the
Father of Waters, with banks apparently not
more than two or three feet above the surface
of the water at ordinary stage, and yet
seldom, if ever, overhowing-it for nothing
else, IN its present condition, but to build
railroad on, and for that part of the Uni
ted States offers greater facilites-level as
house floor, and only requiring a few furrows
on each side the track and scraper to ad-
Just the grade, and it is ready for the ties and
iron The Pacific Company have already
completed the road between SO and 100 miles
nearly to the town of Columhus-and have
it graded to within a few miles of Fort kear-
ney, and it will be in running order to this
distance some time this Fall.
| reached Fort kearney on the morning Of
the llth, where / had to lay over one day on
account of the crowded condition OF the coach
on the through line from Atchson. Here |
met with General Sherman, who was or a
tour of observation through his Military Di.
vision. After pleasant exchange of greet
ings We parted, for Denver and he for Oma-
ha. On the morning Of the 18th l left Fort
Kearney in coach with twelve passengers
and more than a ton of mail matter In this
condition, with limbs painfully cramped and
position unalterable, ! travelled to Denver.
On the route from Fort kearney to Denver
are the military posts Of Cottonwood, Fort
McPherson,) Alkali, Julesburg, Fort Sedg-
wick.) and Fort Wadnell. Between these
posts are established ranches about ten miles
apart, where they change horses, and at eve
ry ranch is a store house, supplied with all
the necessaries for the travelling public.
Thus, through the whole journey of six
hundred miles from Omaha to Denver, in q
coach crowded almost to sufocation, my
journey was prosecuted, with $780, 900 under
my charge, without an escort. along route
where ever and anon rose monuments Of the
dead-victims of the savages of the plains.
On the 10th | arrived at Denver, the capital
of Colorado Territory.
AS you approach Denver, and when you
are within 90 or 10 miles Of the city, if you
look to the southwest you observe Long
Peak, which towers above all other portions
once. in lis grandeur, capped with eternal
SHOWS, can never be erased from the mind
A little to the southeast, and more than l0t
miles distant, you clearly discern Pike.
Peak, the wonder and admiration Of The
world; aud as you approach the base of these
mountains, and the view becomes more dis
tinct, you more clearly discern the wonder
working power Of the Almighty. The up
heaving of the bowels of the earth center
throwing the different strata of which tn,
earth is formed heavenward into the clouds
presenting congomeration Of palisades ant
tumui in indescribable confusion and grand
eur, where among the craggy peaks the wind
of heaven sing their songs to passing time
Denver Is beautifully located on the soutl
side Of the South Platte, some II miles iron
the base of the mountains in the direction O
Central City. 1t contains population o
some four or FIVE thousand inhabitants. En-
ergy and enterprise characterize her people
some make fortunes, others lose fortunes
some make shipwreck Of character, other
maintain their integrity. Churches are goin,
MP side by side with billiard saloons, and th
ministers of the Cross propose to wage war Q
determination against Satan and the power
of darkness. Here the representative of al
most every nation is found brought hither j
search of gold, but, alas! how many are dis
appointed.
Denver was the point to which my order
carried me, and having turned over the mon
ey entrusted to my care, / could not resis
the temptation to see more of the mountains
which SO excited my admiration by thei
grandeur and magniGcence. I, therefore, j
company with Col. Crawford and our tw
Clerks, Fred. Hunt and Mr. Phillips, on tn
morning Of the 18th started for Central Ci.,
q distance from Denver Of 40 miles, nearl
due west. We first crossed the south branc
Of the Platte, and then over an undulatin
country By the side Of . canal Of water whic