The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-14
GhegnteIli9euesr.
COLORADO AS SEEN BY A
WHEELING MAN.


in Colorado Territory, seeking health and
learning what could of the soil, climate,
and resources of the country, and know
ing that many Of your readers desire to
learn something more OF this part OF nrIr
Sans domniOns, have concluded TO
write You letter, gtingtIicm such In'"r'
nation us possess.
Colorado Territory originally belonged
Ia Mexico, but was coded to The lhiiGI
States by the treaty of Gnadaloupc Iii.
dalgo, the same treaty 10y which was &c,
qured California, New Mexico, Utah and
Arizona.
Colorado Territory contains about
10000 square miles and is divided by the
Sierra Madrc mountains, extending north
and south, into two nearly equal parts
These mountains rise very abruptly from
the plain, frequently reaching an altitude
Of more than l4,000 feet above the level
of the sea. Gray's Peak, Longs Peak,
Mount Lincoln and Pixies Peak all rise
lar above the timber line, and ARE mostly
covered with snow during the whole year.
The whole mountain range is from two
hundred To two hundred and fifty miles
wide, and down among them nestle the
much celebrated and beautiful parks of
Colorado.
The parks are high rolling prairie like
lands 5000 TO 5000 feet above the sea
level, walled in by the higher mountain
ranges which Opcni into occasional passes,
through which flow the small streams
that empty into the South Platte and the
Arkansas.
The plain east of the mountains is
high rolling prairie destitute OF timber,
and nearly destitute of water. There are
no navigable streams in Colorado, and but
J lew Of the smaller size. The South Platte
and the Arkansas rise in Mount Lincoln,
and the neighboring peaks which enclose
South Park, The Arkansas, at Puebla,
is about the size Of Wheeling Creek; tho
Platte at Denver, Is not much larger. The
tdShG a Ia I1udre and St. Vrains are small
streams, which rise in the snowy range,
and flow into the South Platte north of
Denver. South of the Divide are several
small creeks that flow into the Arkansas,
WhcH Mcy .N0D, That portion Of the ter
ritory known here as the divide" Is n
high swell Of land from thirty TO forty
miles wide, and extending eastward from
the mountains near Pixies Peak, almost
10 the Kansas line. This Is, think the
most productive part of the territory,
though here the weather Is very severe
in the winter. During the summer months
the weather h very fine, the nights cool
and pleasant, and the atmosphere dry and
pure
Farming IN the territory Is yet in Its in.
fancy. On thebanks of the streams the
lands are nearly all taken up by settlers,
who are putting forth great efforts 10
make iarminga success, with very little
prospects Of ever being able to accom-.
psl their purpose, Where there are
streams they are used for rrigating; but
II IL quite impossible TO rrigatc more
than very small strip Of land close to the
margin Of the stream. On this the farmer
plants his wheat, rye, oats, barley and
potatoes; then, If the grasshoppcrs don't
Gat It up, he will have 4 moderately fair
crop, The irrigaing canals are mostly
small bitches dug by the farmer from the
stream on his own land; there are lrCQent-
ly Of little value, often being not sutllCi.
ent fall for the water. Where the EN-.
migrants have settled In colonies the canals 1
are sometimes very extensive and Ol n
more permanent nature, some Of them
ARE from fifteen TO twenty miles long On ,
:he high rolling trcCless prariCs, three.
lOrths Of the territory, east Of the noun.
tains no attempt hNS been made to cult.
vatc the soil, although 1t Is very rich and
naturally productive. All that Is required
10 make II raise large crops Is water. That
they cannot get; It don't rain enough and
It is impossible to irrigatc it, Think Of
irrigAting the country up about Clarks.
burg with CAldwells run and you have {
an dea OF the diilculty--and about the {
time you most need the water the stream
Is dry.
GRAZING Is the principal business Of the
people of Colordo. Large herds are driv. !
en- into the Territory in the spring, from
Texas md New Mexico, and are again +
driven South to winter; but this, think,
will soon cease, for the small farmers who r
have taken up the lands on the streams n
and In the guChes have fenced in the I
springs and wRtcr courses, or else have a
hired hands to watch them and drive
away oil cattle and sheep that may come !
on their premises for water. The farmers >,
themselves are more engaged in stock
raising than In tiling the soil, and find II !,
much more profitable business Some
0I them own large herds OF cattle and r
sheep, and II requires all the water they !
have to supply their own stock. They are Z
consequently compelled to drive off the J
strangers stock, and the stranger will soon i
be compelled 10 abandon the Territory Tor Z
he cannot get grass and water sufficient TO 7
supply the wants Of his herds.
The grasses of Colorado are perhaps +,
Ion I,,,N Inn, ,I,,nIn,,N | -
those OF Kansas. Here ut this tiplC the n
grass does not stand more than two inches Il
high II Is thin and parchGd up. In the h
creeks and gulChcs II looks somewhat bet. Cl
ter, but this IL mostly Of n different kind
The farmer makes hay Of ii, but when II a
is growing the cattle wont cat It when ?
they can get any other; they prefer the U
dry prairie grass to It, and seldom 20 down .
into the gulChes except TO drink Stock y
raising will continue to be, rs II now 10, y
The paramount industry of the country, =
The extensive plains are still owned by
the Government no one takes up these
lands no one wants them So II makes
an extensive range for the farmers stock; N
in Intervening they are sure to come home i
for water. b
Colorado has also some very fine horses, y
mostly brought brought from the States y,
but besides the States horse" they have Il
the Indian pony, the Texas pony and the :,
Broncho all tough and healthy, can y
stand great deal Of fatigue, and able to 81
make very long journeys, Often carrying
theie riders more than one hundred miles 4
in single day. They are, nearly all of Il
them, raised on grass exclusively and will
not eat corn until they gradually learn
how.
Goats are raised with the sleep for the i,
nFntDpNtnV, Of l.. w