New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-30
A TRIP TO COLORADO
xyu.-Iv TIE SOUTH PARK.

mlos from CaLol city by the practicable ulil Under
ordinary circumstances this would have been easy jour
ucy, bat our animals wore tagged BY the mountain
travel the SKY threatening provisions wci' SNORT
0rd there was no settlement Oh the way except L."
miles below as, tlo Arkansas Valley. NcvcrihccS,"e
determined % push as r possible onu' Il h'ou De-
divide The party at ih5 cad oftA day.
It was little hard To- back 10 The normal diet Of
salt pork and biscuit bat Mr. Lonlouer, our faithful ally
set us the example Wcslet soundy on elastic mattresses
OF fir brcaksted carly and continued our SLOW way down
the valley There was deep creek 20 be orded and we
took tho precluton Of attaching arias to the wagon
tnoe whereby catastrophe ike that Of the previous
day was prevented After this the rough. broken country
ceased tho valley opened out more broadly and We saw
or would have scD bat for gathering clouds-he Sohwach
Range. An rrgating ditch from the river pleasantly sur
prsed Following it, came to large, ncoscd field
Of whcat-the first since leaving the ncghborhood OF
Denver The place is called FrenchmaIs Rancho, from
is owner whom we saw at distance engaged in looking
after bis growing crows Il is cheerful oasis in tie will
derness.
Two miles further we crossed the Arkansas on rude
but substantial log bridge. The river Is here flashing
foamng torrent about the size Of the Saco at Conway
The road cngiug 70. mile ortwo 20 tho grassy meadows
and scattered groves Of the valley gradually climbs along
tho hills on its eastern side and then suddenly enters
narrow winding glen. little further to the south the
vet been made commences and all the travel from the
farming country below Canon City to the mining regions
about the head Of the river the lower part Of
tho South Park Fortunately, the mountain boundaries
Of the Park are hore broad and low and the passage OF
them is not difficult Not Ear from the commencement Of
the Arkansas Canon there Is pass across inc SauNScn
Uhe POuehO Pass into the great san LUIS Falk, when
i drinedby the Rio del Nortc, and extelu 1J hl1s
eouthWarl into Now-McXico. Gov. GlPln says that inc
san Luis Park is the of the Continent the best
with" ''TClYctl Atmosphere, anu
With the FIRST Winding OF the glen entered the Ar
kansas Valley disappeared and the scenery instantly
changed. The hills heaps of dark red boudcis AZ
ranged in fantastic pcs-Cyc9pean pyramids sometimes
topped by single blocks 20 80 feet IN diameter some
times disposed so form apparent basolS IN front oil
long tlmbng ramparts. Every undulauOn 81 the ranges
far and near @as crowned WIN ines M ~ - , 10 nina
of tho thin sandy soil, grew ciumIs OF pH2"S Pne
with edible cones, which denoted warmer ,ll1ie .a'
had yet found ia the mountains. Inc cac,lS ao, &c
appeared and these two Features picturesque
ness 70 the landscapes.
After few scog5hng sun-5urst the SKY became over
spread with gray hm gathering INTO Dhckness along me
Alpine ranges behind For mile after mile we wound
through the abvrnhs Of rocks and bushy pines SLOW,
struggling and rather melancholy procession Ny poor
sboeess pony could not be persuaded TO trot. Mr. DIS
mule refused carry him, and he added TO the wagon
load greatly dscourasiug IFS team Mr. Byers horse,
alone seemed equal the emergency. Two OF the party
pushed ahead in the hope Of finding game and the re-
inander of Jagged 50 much that We were Obliged TO
canp AZ noon without Oyertaking them. Tho rest and
pasture slightly encouraged animals, but II was very
evident that we could no longer depend upon them.
f,re there were aDy Sims of divide What seemed
be the highest ridge then before It's crest was
bare and emerged from the trees and looked back
ward most remarkable landscape revealed. Over
foreground Of hl-Ops, from which shot up hundreds OF
rocky tours and pyramids, looked down INTO the Ar
kansas Valley which here formed BASIN several miles IN
breadth. Seen through the hmy atmosphere tue s'ey
plains seemed to be transparent Tho meandeTng
lines Of timber which marked the Of the Arkansas
and its tributaries were Of purest utramauBe hue. In
the background, the intensely dark clouds resting on The
SUBMITS of the Sabwatch were lifted in an arch, which
cd with
shrning great snOwpeak in the center. Tins was the
luminous part Of the picure-a else was seen through
transparent shadow, the gdatOns Of which were so ex
Qusie the tones and delicate that Colcr Itself
could scarcely represent them.
We picked up fOiled hunters, whom we found sitting
beside a fire. attitude Of detection, which may have
been the effect Of hunger, On the summit Of the divide
the rain began to fall though not rapidly enough to OBJ
the beauty OF the long and lovely valley on the oher
side AS descended this valley II soon became evident
that not yet in the South Park IT turned west
ward and santed toward the Arkansas. Mr.. Byers ana
held consultation rode be proposing that we twain
should push for Canon City leaving the others who
had no lectures 70 deliver to make for Denver To do
this however we must take baggage and very little
proyender ride 20 miles further before camping and run
the risk Of my pony giving out the way We were on
tho point Of deciding for this paD when the sky closed
over darby than ever, the ram fell IN steady,
1reary streams, and the road which meanwhile, had
almost imperceptibly crossed another ridge and entered
the South Park divided into two trails. One OF these,
Mr. Londoner informed u.s. led TO the Salt Works about
Eve miles distant where could find food and shelter
the other TO Canon City with single deserted rancho on
the way.
IL o'clock in the afternoons we were hungry, wet
and sores our horses seemed scarcely able to drag their
feet through the mud: the water was slowly soaking
through shoulders and trcing into our boots; and
the heroic resolutions of half an hour previous rapidly
melted away we paused a. the parting Of the ways
Like many another the narrow and difficult trail lost It's
sedenying attractions the short anG broad tran became
suddenly very fascinating The wind blew and the rain
dashed harshly in our faces yielded turned our
horses heads aud rode silently toward the salt Works
lone mountain, glimmerng dlmly across the melan-
chOly plain, beacon. Another hour brought 70
view coumnOf smoke, rising from It's base-the welcome
sign of habitaton and shelter Then we saw grazing
berds-white patches Of saline observation-disclosures aud
cabins and Just before nightta the goal was reached
The house Of Mr. Hail. the superintendent Of the works
received our dripping party 50 reoeed 70 hnd warmth
food and protection from the storm, that am afraid We
were not fully of the inconvenience We occaoned
20 our kindly hostess. Ourselves blankets, saddles and
other traps almost filed the little cottages we made solid
circle around the yet, somehow the bountfu sup
per swiftly and quietly prepared and Two strangers
who came after received with equal hospitality
The life of settler in Colorado necessarily entails these
duties and if they are always 50 cheeTiuly and kindly
performed case the Territory may be proud Of
its citizens.
Mr,Hall gave me some information concerning the Salt
Works from which il appears that the yield OF the springs
which very strongly impregnated, Is capable Of supply
the Of Colorado for many years 70 come. In
spite of the high price Of labor fuel and supplies the pro-
ducon Of salt is now vigorously and successfully earned
on: the capacity Of the works will soon be doubled
ought properly In my character Of traveller b have Wis
tied them: the curious reader perhaps may not DO willing
70 my neglec but at the time, found II 50 much
agreeable to nurse my soaked existence beside the
stove than 70 tudge quarter Of mile in mud and rain
that suppressed the voice Of conscience We all know
however, that salt spring is like any other spring. except
TO TASTE that the water is eyaporaed by boiling and
that the importance Of the works depends the quantity
and quality of the believe Mr.. Hall stated 1000
gallons per day the present yield; the percentage oi salt
Is equal 70 that Of the bost springs in the world
That night filled the SOFAS benches and the ho0rs OF
the kitchen and sittngroom Fir in the trunk dseoy
cred makes much more uneasy bed than fir in the bough