Litchfield enquirer., 1870-03-24
w HOLE N o 2388


 us, far as the eyeEc0did reach. is the un. broken prairie. Before us, those towering and the query isfaised. |" How are you going to get over them?" While we are gazing on the newly opening scenes of mountain range and snowy peaks. the cars are carrying us rapidly along, and some miles ahead can be seen the far-fam. ed "Magic City of the Plains. After passing through several, cuts and over em. bankments, before we realize where we are, we are beset by hackmen and hotel run. ners in the city of Cheyenne. This is the largest town we have seen since leaving Omaha, and presents quite lively appear. ance. It is situated on broad, open plain of gravelly formation, with a mix. ture of volcanic matter, at an elevation of $, 1881 feet, distant from Omaha 616 miles. The streets are laid out at right angles with the railroad, with plenty of room. You see here well-defned evidences of the western frontier-men's ideas of expansion. The town contains some 1, 900 inhabitants, 8 few good buildings, but most of them are built in way that reminds one of ar- my life. boarded up on the sides, and GOV. cred with canvas. My first impression was of military camp" and on entering itG streets, found they contained more charac-
 ters than had ever met, any of them
 ready to "plsy 8 game," &c.,, &c. We
 leave them seeking whom they may de. vour," and proceed in our investigations.
 Cheyenne is the central distributing point and depot for the freight and travel destined for New Mexico and Colorado and
 the vast plains of Cheyenne. The Denver Pacific railroad terminates here, that place being distant no miles, the road running, am told, through rich grazing country. The streets were filled with "prairie ca- noes" Covered wagons) waiting for freight, while their oxen were feeding on the plains. surrounded by men, each provided
 with his Mexican horse and "lariat," in case of 'a stampede" This lariat is made of raw-hide, braided, of the size of clothes-line, and very strong. I find it used everywhere in my travels, and the smallest boys, even, are expert in throwing it. The saddles, also, attracted my atten. tion, they being the first of the kind I had ever seen, but find that all this side of the mountains are of the same pattern. Great attention has been paid to it's structure. The herdsman and soldier must have sad dle constructed for the ease of both him. self and horse. for they are oftenIcompelled to make it "their headquarters" for days and months. They are very narrow on the top, beautifully decorated, and the ri. der, when seated in one, need fear neither fatigue nor injury to his animal.
 There are two daily journals, two good school-houses; churches are scarce; manu- factures quite extensive; three banks, and several hotels. Very little attention is paid to agriculture around this place. The soil is in some places good, but would need irrigating extensively to produce vegeta- bles. Grazing seems the easiest way of farming, and the farther west we go, the ( more prominent that easy style of living becomes. Before the country west of the Rocky Hills assumes the magnitude of which it is capable, it must be populR- ted by men of energy and untiring will. They lack the Yankee zeal and German thrift, so prominent in all places east of the Missouri. The Germans would make this country " blossom like the rose,"
 I do not wish to speak disparagingly of the people; their hearts and purses are ev- - CT open to the stranger in need, as well as to their personal friends. They are too generous, and the older the pioneer, the stronger the trait. They came here in ear. ly days, made fortunes easily, and are now supporting their less fortunate compan- ions of later times. was told by prom inent Judge of one of the mining coun- ties of California, '49 CT" himself, "that he did not know of more than two men of the early times who could at pres. ouG EaIS0 uOucy SuOuSu SO E0> turn to the States, even had they the de- sire." A rather bold assertion, but true as far as my observation goes. Those that I" made raise, /" and went to farming, have been more successful, but many of them are pestered by men working three months and boarding the rest of the year, because they are too lazy to work. Pardon mel am leaving my text-which dropped at Cheyenne. I now leave that place, and after proceeding some six miles, we begin to note the rapid rise. Here the heavy grading commences We have now tray elled some 525 miles from Omaha, seem- ingly through level country. and only for the past 25 miles have we noticed any rise; but by reference to the guide, find we are at an elevation of 6,852 feet, and at Q place called "Otto.' To the north we behold fine grazing lands, and notice elks, deers, foxes, &c.,, &c., which must afford fine bunting for those disposed. We now procured some venison, cured according to the custom of this country. They suspend