Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-06-14
NOTES FROM THE FAR VEST.
LoNGNoNT, COLORADO TERRITORY,

LoNGNoNTr COLORADO TERRITORY,
s@a @ MAX 10Th, 1871.
Oear Repnblfcda Having been request
ed by many friends in your town to let them
know something about this territory
would avail myself of the privilege OF the
columns of your valuable paper to give a
general answer to their inquiries,
have been in the territory little over
one month and, as far rs have seen, ii is a
MIST desirable place to live in. l will first
mention the climate, which is all that could
be desired the rainy season is now over,
and the dry season has begun, (ifI can des-
gnate them as wet and dry). We generally
have some rain and snow in the latter part
of Winter land forepart of Spring, and then
no more rain until the next winter. The
air here is remarkably pure. clear:and light,
owing 10 the great elevation 5000 n.) and
the least violent exertiou on the partof a
person coming direct from the East, causes
great difficulty in respiration. Consuml-
too far gone before com ng. There are ii
great many invallds here now, who have
come here for the double purpose of specu-
lating and regaining their health
The scenery here is at the same time
grand and beau tiful, and is in remarkable
contrast to the dry, barren plains (the
Am ri daSartA w van croco IN, oo,>,
ing here from the states by Railroad. When
you come within 30or 40 miles of the foot
hills, which skirt the great Rocky Noun
tains, you will find beautiful mountain
streams, flowing with great rapidity through
pleasant grass valleys, which form some of
the finest farming lands in the world TO
stretching off teyond the horizon with moth
ing to relieve the mono;ony oft the scene ex-
cept huge herds of cattle and horses grazing
on the slight hillocks, or having themselves
in the cool mountain streams; while on the
west the Rocky Mountains rise up in hu e
masses, and shut out from view the western
world. 60 miles beyond the foot Lills the
'snow range lift up their hoary heads and
trown down as if with contempt on the min
or hills below and while | am now en-
joying the cool shade of my Office penning
my letter, and the thermometer 100 in the
shade, ! can see a terrible snow storm rag
ing in the mountains II miles distant
The fir, place stopp d at in this territory
was Denver, winch is q very live.y place /;
there met our old fellow townsmau Gen
| Il A. Cole. He sill has the old pioneering
| pirit about him. | then Travelled around
| the Boulder Valley, and finally brought up
at I.ongmont, which at once picked out as
my future home. This place is better known
| as the Chicago Colorado Colony, and was
| gotten up by parties from Chicago. They
| have grant of 55, 900 acres of choice lands
| Situated on the Goulder Valley Railroad, %
miles west of Denver andtl2 miles from the
| mountains, between the st. Yrain and Big
| Thompson rivers. The conditions of mem
berShip in this colony are as follows On
| paying $l55. you become full member, and
| you are entitled to 5, 10, 20 or 40 acre
| lot under irrigating bitches, or 3 business
! lots in town. The town is about weeks
| old, and tnow contains about 45G or So
souls and about 70 or 80 houses and some
! Is in course of construction. 1t is bound 10
compete with any other town in the terri
| tory in a few years. We have now IS
miles of bitches completed and as many
more projected, aud water flows in clear
/ streams on both sides of the streets and
over the gardens. There are 70 or II bust
| ness places n town now, aud more nearly
finished. EmigrantS are coming in every
7day. .---.
/ have taken some pains to fad out the
| products Of this country. They average
from 30 to 40 bushe. IS OF wheat per acre in
4 the poorest seasons, and from 40 TO so bush
| els OF oats per acre !; corn is aDous the same
| yield as IN Wisconsin, but we can put ssOid
Ireland to the blush on raising potatoes.
The old settlers tell me that as high as $50
bushels have been raised per acre. Garden
vegetables do well in general and beets in
particular.
There isplenty of government land around
this place within s to II miles. The nli4l-
! ing business is good prices are high, graz
4 ing facilities splendid. Any one with a
few thousand dollars capital 10 spare would
make money by starting a Touring mill or
WOODEN factory here. For anformation Oh
/ this point | wonld refer you to f. G. Gar
bu t, Sec. at this place. We also neeu a
/ lst class clothing and furnishing store /; we
have one good grocery store, run by Mr.. o.
! F. Heron, Of Watertown, and q first class
millinery store, owned by Mrs. Heron, a
bank and everything that is necessary for
soul or body. Th4re was a saloon started
here last week, BUTT WAS burned down last
night; 50 you see we are are a strictly tenn
perate people. We have built a large
school house, and there are lots set as de
for church purposes, one for each christian
denomination.
The Greeley Colony is situated about 80
miles north of this town. 1t is year old
and has some 2000 inhabitants it is a fine
town, bd. its location is not as advantageous
as Longmont.
Crops are back ward; this is on account OF
late seeding, as the coionists did not arrive
until late in the season.
Wages for ali kinds OF mechanics are good
There will be a branch Railroad here next
fall. There is splendid sport here in the
mountain parks for the lover of the gun and
rod-trout, salmon, elk, mountain-sheep
antelope and bears.
AS have intruded too much, | will close
by promising more anon.
Yours, &C.,
| ., --. o -