Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-16
KANSAS PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The Great Excursion.

Denver City-Interesting Facts ana
Figures as to its Government, In-
habitants, Health, Etc.
Correspondence of the Union and American.
DENVER, Colorado, Sept. z, 1870.-The
city of Denver, like all other towns
through which the Kansas Pacific Rail
way passes, is out on plain OF land,
with no timber or woods to be seen. Den
yer is located on gently rising ground, and
is most beautifully situated. 1t Is full OF
live men, and the evidence OF prosperity
and growth is apparent in the number of
brick stores and dwelling houses which
are being erected a: this time. There are
many large and extensive mercantile
houses here. The various mining cities
over in the mountains and the New Mexi
CO and Santa Fe trade are doing wonders
for Denver. The city contains a popula-
tio1 Of some five or six thousand, and is
rapidly increasing. Gas works are going
up and pipes being laid through the
streets. The corporation are at work on
an artesiau well. An abundance of water
can be had here by digging a few feet.
There is a United States assay Office To-
Gated here, and instead of seeing miners
going about the country purchasing sup
plies with their buckskin gold bag in
hand, as was the custom in California in
the years of 1850 5l-52, they place their
gold IN the assay Office and have it refined
at small eXpense-the exact value ascer-
tanned, and the same run into gold bars.
Immense drOyes of cattle are to be seen
passing through the city. Manufactures
OF various kinds are springing up. Messrs.
Bates & Mccormack have erected very
large and commodious ale brewery, and
supply malt and ale in abundance. There
are several banks here and they do fine
business. Money at sixty and ninety
days in bank can be had at two per cent
per month, and by the year on real es-
tate at eighteen per cent
IRRIGATION IN DENVER.
The city is distant from the base of the
Rocky Mountains about fifteen miles. A
deep trench or canal has been dug by the
corporation to the mountain range. This |
canal is filed with water, and thus con-
veyed into the city. bitches are dug |
through the various streets, and from the |
streets into gardens, etc, and at stated |
times the gates of the canal are raised, |
and thus water is let into the city to irri- |
gate its trees, gardens, shrub6ery, etc. |
The water used for drinking purposes is |
obtained from wells. The soil is sandy, |
and as there are never any rains here but |
I'm tie spring of the year, and then only |
for a short time, there is at all times a |
great quantity of dust.
ORDER AND GOOD GOVERNMENT.
Il. l. E
We have not seen a fight or a drunken |
man during the four days we have been |
here. The people appear industrious and
most attentive to their business.
There are to be seen saloons and drink |
ing places as usual in other cities; but
there is no disorder or drunkenness al |
lowed about them.
The celebrated gambling games of faro,
monte aud keno are open and free here,
and people can call on them at their
pleasure. They do not appear to attract
any sreCial attention. at times, and es-
pgcially at night, few visitors can be
seen about them; but we have never seen
any trouble around them.
THR INHABITANTS OF DENVER.
In the streets and stores can be seen
here, on any day in the week, natives of
various climes, all comingling together.
Americans predominate, some English,
French, decent-loOking Mexicans, Chinese
men and women, Africans, Germans,
Swedes, Swiss and Indians. Here can he |
seen the hardy mOuntaineeT and miner,
the cattle-driver and wagner, with
br0nzed faces, flannel shirt with big
spears, rsv0lvers and knife in their belt,
snd other appurtenauces used by this
class. They are jovisl, good-natured
and whOle-sOuled people, and as brave as
lions and know no fear.
OLD CALIFORNIA PRICES RETAINED IN DEN
YER.
Prices are well up out here. California
CRATES, worth in that State this year six or
eight cents per pound, are sold here from
sixteen to twenty-five cents per pound;
board four dollars per day; theatres one
dollar admission; drinks twenty-five cents;
cigars twenty-five and fifty GEMS each;
peaches, peas and apples from fifteen 10
thirty-tive cents per pound; shaving a
man fifty cents; cutting hair one dollar
pears twenty-five cents per pound; apples
and sweet potatoes fifteen cents per pound;
plums forty cents per pound; cabbage,
potatoes and other vegetables, four cents
per pound. There are many articles that
are costly here and ought to be cheaper.
Emigration and competition is wanted
here.
HEALTH AND LONGEVITY.
Denver is situated on an elevation some
several thousand feet above the level of
the sea. The air is pure and healthy.
People live to great age, and doctors, it is
stated, find little to do. They leave the
profession and embark in other pursuits.
The territory of Colorado has very
large population 49, numbers Of small
towns and cities are to be found. During
the past wear there has been but fifty
deaths in the whole county of ArapahO,
including the city of Denver. Many of
the number were young children and six
teen of the fifty-seyen were confirmed
cDnsumptives who came TO the territory,
from the east, to benefit their health, but,
the disease had gone too far and they
were incUrable. The air is very pure and
the atmosphere very dry. For asthma,
throat and lung diseases, the climate is
said to be superior in producing cures.
Persons in feeble health and with weak
constitutions come out to this country and
after remaining a year OF two return home
well and hear v The strong diet, open
air and exercise, with the mild, dry at
mosphere soon restores the invalid. The
mornings and evenings are cool The
middle of the day is very warm. Here
in the mountains are to be found soda and
mineral baths with an abundance Of pure
water directly from the eternal snow and
banks of ice which rest upon the sides Of
the mountains from year to year and
never entirely melt away.
A WONDERFUL CHANGE.
As we began this letter heavy black
cloud cncircled the city of Denver and
extended for miles and miles around and
about, and Strange TO relate thunder and
l;rltniuLr on me- nml If tho cloud and In q