Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-04-27
UNION COLONY.
It's Locotion-The Comhy-Scenery
Resources : Capacity : Nonutfac-
lures Gjmate-Narkcts = Wages
Natioe Animals, &C., &c.

Resources : Capacity : NonuJac-
lures Glimate-Narkcts = Wages
Natioe Animals, &C., &c.
We devote large portion of our
columns this week to the article we
append below from the Rocky Mountain
Ne,os, published at Denver, Colorado,
relative to the newly established colony
Of Lincoln, in Colorado Territory,
which is fast settling up, and promises
to be one of the most Furnishing set
Elements in the Far West:
The following information is given in
answer to numerous inquiries that have
poured IN upon the promoters of the
Union Colony, aud, if incomplete, will
be followed by another article upon the
same or similar subjects:
LOCATION.
The locating committee, consisting of
the President and Vice President of the
Colony, have determined upon and Sc
cured location upon both sides of the
Denver Pacific Railroad, ffy-two miles
north of Denver and fiftyfour miles south
Of Cheyenne. The town site will be
IN every respect desirable, in smuch as
there are several localities each suited
to the purpose. The lands of the Col
ony stretch away ia all directions
gently undulating prairie, thiekly COW
cred with the rich native grasses of
the country.
| SCENERY.
Eastward, the outlook is down the
plain that Sketches unbroken to the
Missouri river, six hundred miles away,
relieved by the groves and fringes of
| timber that skirt the Poudre and Platte
rivers and Crow creek. North and
south are rolling prairies, and westward
tue same to the mountain foot, twenty
miles distant but plainly distinct, and
IN the wonderfully clear, rarifed at
mosphere, seeming scarce halt a dozen
miles away. Beyond that line rises
the great Rock Mountain chain, mas
sive and dark with pine forests, rising
ridge beyond and above ridge until
they eliminate in the lofty snowy range,
fifty miles away and with sweep OF
at least hundred and fifty miles.
Longs Peak is the nearest and seems
the Hottest in sight. L bears south
west by west and is over fourteen thou
sand feet high. Snow is always visi-
bic on the main range.
SOIL AND PRODUCTS.
The soil is rich, warm and generally
deep, containing sand enough to make
it pleasant and easy of cultivation. 1t
is formed from the denundation of the
mountains, and is composed of disinteg-
rated feldspar, granite, lime and sand
stone with magnesia, sod and vegetable
matter. 1t produces we'll all. the small
| grains common to the latitude, grasses
| and Vegetables. As proof we cite the
native grasses which cover the entire
country springing up rapidly in the
spring and early summer, they are cur
ed into hay as they stand and upon
them cattle feed and keep fat until the
next years crop comes on. OF grains
wheat is the leading crop. Spring
varieties are generally sown, though
fall or winter wheat does well. Spring
wheat is planted from February to the
first of May, but the earlier, as a gen
eral thing, the better The average
crop throughout the Territory for three
years past has been about twenty eight
bushels per acre Forty bushels is not
an uncommon yield and the premium
crops in the last three years were re-
specially 68a, 724, and 653 bushels
per acre. The average yield of oats
and barley is about thirty-fve bushels
per acre; of corn thirty, and of potatoes
one hundred and fifty The preminm
corn crop in 1868 gave LIS bushels
to the acre and was raised near Denver.
Exceptional crops of potatoes have ex-
ceeded 500 bushels to the acre. The
average weight of cabbage is fifteen to
twenty pounds-exceptions often run
ming up to forty or fifty, and a single
specimen reaching eighty-two pounds.
Melons, twelve to fifteen pounds pump
kins fifteen to twenty pounds, with
many very much larger ones. Garden
vegetables common to the latitude do
we'll without an exception. Wild
fruit are abundant and never failing
crop They consist of plumbS, cherries,
thornapples, currants, grapes, gooseber-
ries, and, in the mountains, the addIt
ion of strawberries, raspberries, service
aud whortleberries. All the small
fruits produce abundant crops under
cultivation, and limited experiments
with the larger varieties have been sue
cessful. Peaches have been grown Ia
Boulder and Arkansas valleys, pears in
Denver and apples in various places.
STOCK, BUTTER AND WOOL.
Owing to the fact that horses, cattle
and sheep, if they have free range, al
ways thrive without being fed, Colorado
must ever be prominent as a stock grow
ing, wool producing, and butter and
cheese making country. Stock men
es innate the cost of raising cattle to
the age of five years at one dollar and
half per head per year This Of
course contemplates unlimited range,
cheap herding and no feed except
what they find for themselves. At the
present time mich COWS are worth
from $50 to 800 each. Five years old
steers, suitable for beef, S45. Oxen
$l1O to $l25 peryoke. Saddle ponies,
SIS each. Good farm horses. $3.50 to
$500 per span. Mules, $3.50 to $3.50
per span. Broken down stage horses,
$I00 each. Sheep increase rapidly
and are invariably healthy. Herds
that have been brought from the states
infected with the foot rot have entirely
recovered from that desease in short