The New York herald., 1869-11-22
THE COURSE OF EMPIRE.

enne 10 Dcnver-Extent of the Great Rocky
MOnntain Systcm-Enriy Action and Present
Appearance OF the Streams that Issue From,
the Meuntains-Fcrtiie Valleys and Fine
Pasture Grounds--The Colorado Coal Yields.
DENVER, Colorado Territory, Nov. Q, 1869.
Although Colorado is unsurpassed by any other
Territory or any state upon the Continent for the
sapbrty OF It's climate all the year well for the
beauty OF its mountain scenery summer is the most
pleasant season in which to visit IT. In that portion
OF the Territory lying east OF the Rocky Mountains
travelling In winter Is exceedingly agreeable; but
westward the snow at times prevents convenient
transit by the paths among the hills and daes and
unlmpeded or certain passage over the great noun
tain ranges. From July to October the peaks and
passes or the mountains in this enchanting
section Of the Western country are easiest
or access, and the plains and parks and mountains
appear in their greatest glory. AT whatever season
OF the year the visitor may come, however, he can
not fa to see how rich Colorado is in valuable min
erals, in agricultural resources, In magnificent
mountain views, in curious and suggestive geo
logical formations, in a pure, invigorating atmo-
sphere, which rejuvenates sinking invalids; in
azure skies and splendid sunsets which rival any
have ever seen in Italy, Railroad communication
with the East and West-which VIII be secured next
summer; safety from the Indians to travellers and
clously invested, moro labor at reasonable yet re-
munerative rates. with some economical process
for reducing ores and q more extensive system Of
irrigation, would speedily develop the latent mineral
and agricultural wealth OF Colorado to an extent OF
which prospective statement would appear extra.
VACANT or fabulous
From the line OF the Union Pacific Railroad Denver
is still reached by stage coach from Cheyenne. The
road lies apparently, within easy walking distance
from the base OF the foot hills, beyond which rise
the snowy SUBMITS OF the dividing range; but the
foot hills are really dozen miles away, while some
OF the snowy peaks, which seem to cluster close
among the tops OF the lines OF lower hills and to be
little, II any, higher than them, are subsequently
seen to tower thousands OF feet above them, and TO
stretch away TO a distance OF fifty or sixty miles
from where the foot hills merge into the plains.
Such especially the case with the lofty summit Of
Longs Peak, which, when you see it first looks
like q portion OF the nearest range, while, in
truth it is over 14,000 feet high-one of the
highest points among the Rocky Mountains
and long days journey from the eastern
base OF the lowest range. . This magnificent.
Rocky Mountain system OF the eastern slope, OF
which you here obtain glimpse, extends westward
from 500 TO 900 miles In Width in series OF ranges
whose general trend Is northwest and southeast,
with lnnumerable intervening valleys irregular in
termedate elevations. great gulches. wild gorges
and rugged and romantic canyons. Scenes Of quiet
beauty are found everywhere among the mountain
valleys, and magnificent panorama greets the gaze
from any OF the lofty SUBMITS.
At some points the superficial deposits have been
swept away from certain slopes, and there as wen
as on The perpendicular cuts the solldned granite
strata are exposed but generally the mountain sides
covered with sedlmentary rocks and stones OF
various sizes, nterminged with the most recent
deposits OF drift materials. considerable growth
OF pine trees adorns many OF the mountain sides
L IA tQI
OF The past, looking back in the hight OF science,
large bodies Of water and floating ice must have
flied these mountain gorses and intervening val.
leys and, sweeping down through them to the
plains, carried and deposited here and there
rounded rocks and pebbles and an Immense amount
Of floating debris, all or which you see gradually
diminishing in size, as the distance increases cast
ward IRON the mountains until even the pebbles
disappear and the surface OF the plans Is composed
OF nne sand and soil. The beds OF the streams
that issue from among the mountains, the con1gu-
ration OF the open country near the loot hils and
the materials OF which the elevations OF the rolling
lands everywhere composed clearly indicate
that great bodies OF water swept swiftly down
where now only shallow streams descend, or where
even nothing more is left to mark the highway o
once powerful currents than dry beds OF sand The
surface Of the country along the base of the
tains Is extremely unuulatlng, presenting success.
sion OF valley, ridge and rounded butte, generally
decreasing In prominence of outline the further
from the mountains and clothed with the nutritious
grass which is so well known and so highly priced
Tor stock raising by people IN the West
At reasonable distance rom the mountain base
and nearly parallel with Ii iowS Box Elder creek,
which waters q delightful little valley about two
miles WIDE which Is Comparatively well settled from
near its source TO where it mlnges with the Cache
la poudre, below the village OF La Porte. abundant
crops have been raised there this without
TO lrrlgation. Southward on TO Denver the road
crosses nearly at right angles the of several
streams which come down into the open corfntry
through the deep decvites In the eastern flank OF
the Rocky Mountains All OF them, either directly
or indirectly, find their way into the South Platte
river, which, rising far away among the interior
mountains flowing through the celebrated South
Park, thence through successive gorges, emerging
from The MOUNTAINS some twenty miles southwest
OF Denver, cutting through the city, all the
while diverglng slightly from q parallel with
the foot hls IN line little east OF north for dis
tance OF over seventy miles 1t finally makes long
and graceful sweep aud settles IN its eastward
course. Some OF the smaller streams are sometimes
dry but the larger obtain perpetual supply of
water from the melting OF the SHOWS They have
fall OF water SUFFICIENT to rrgate the highest eleva-
tions on the neignboring plains, and volume ade-
quate to the requirements OF many mills The valley
OF the Cache la Poudre forms fine agricultural
region along its course OF over thirty miles. The
valley OF the Big Thompson possesses equal agricul-
tural advantages, and Ia somewhat similar in an.
pearance and in size. The Little Thompson, which
Is tributary 10 It's bigger brother, shows
along lis. bed and borders large amount Of
liable to fail. The stretch of land between these
two creeks Is quite wild and rugged. For obvi-
Gus reasons the region Of the Little Thompson IL
better adapted TO stock raising than to general agri
cultural cultivation. Approaching the st. yrain
there is full nour's ride down very gentle slope
to the margin Of the stream; but on the south side
the banks are quite abrupt, increasing IN height
toward the mountains, but diminishing eastward on
the plains. BY this natural coDhguraon the valley
the north side spreads out to an extent OF many
miles, and rich productive soil underlies the COM
paratively smooth aud even surface. AN extensive
plateau divides the St. Vrain from Left Hand creek
which is tributary TO 1t. Between the plateau
and the the foot hills lies q lovely little
valley, which nestles under the shadow oil the
mountains Further south Boulder creek makes
its appearance, and runs for nearly twenty
miles, before It empties into the st. yrain. souGh
Boulder flows down another gorge, and soon min
giles with the parent stream Boulder city Is located
at the base OF the range where the creek debouches
from the mountains. The county Is rlcn In agricu-
tural and pastoral resources, In coal iron and cop.
| per, and III gold and silver mines The agricultural
and mineral wealth VIII be more ana more de-
veloped In proportion to the greater abundance OF
labor and the demands OF the increasing population
The agricultural and pastoral productions of the
county for the present year will exceed 5000 900.
Five coal beds are already being worked and there
are now In operation two flour mills, several saw
min md iarue ny n p,,Il- forra