The Republican journal., 1871-12-21
Letter From Colorado.
Correspondence of the Journal.

Just at the present time, mud seems to reign
supreme in the city Of the plains All the snow
has disappeared, and the man Of Oldest memory
gives it up, as to when such dreadful travelling
was ever seen in Denver. During last summer
the streets were graded, and as the mud was
never known to be so bad before, all the blame
is attached to that. But everyone with the I'M
limited faith in the future that characterizes
Denver people, says that it cannot last long and
in short time the streets will be rs dry as
ever. SO may it be. The most fashionable
promenade, since the existing state of affairs,
has been the horse-railroad track. Everyone
seemed to rush for that one dry spot left Peo-
PIES calculations have been disturbed in more
ways than one this winter and 1t seems nercS-
sary to start new reckoning.
During Thanksgiving week, our skies and
surroundings We're more Alpine than Italian,
and with something over a foot Of snow on the
ground, and more coming, the frost-king reign
ed; people went well mufiled and everybody
and everything said winter. No one reltsbes
the new style Of Colorado storms very much, !
but would rather stick TO old principles Not
outstanding our occasional cold snaps can
assure you there is vast difference between a
winter here and in New England The storms |
on the plains have been YerY severe, blocking
up the railroads in all directions. Most of the
engines were off the track, and the passengers
had pretty hard times. Some of the second |
class passengers, it Is said, really suffered for
food, not being able to pay the exorhitant prices
charged at che stations
For four days, we had no mails in or out Of |
NloG ,,t A.
blockade, contained over GoO0 letters The new |
narrow-guage road, the Denver and Rio Grande |
seemed to pass the ordeal best. The road il IN |
high favor, and is run al much less ~ u4u~,.
than the common roads.
The raids on the game during the storm
We're carried TO great excess. one day two /
men killed twentY-siX antelope, only eleven of 1
which were saved, The rest left to the wolves |
Elk, deer, and buffalo suffered in the same !
way, and unless a stop is put to this unneces- /
sary slaughter, the country will Soos be cleared .
of game.
Christmas is coming, and the stores are be- |
ginning to put on their holiday attire The |
toy-shops look particularly attractive, and seem
lrres1stlby charming to the children. as they /
stand and gaze, wondering which of all the /
beautiful and fascinating articles 50 layishlv |
displayed in such bewildering quantities. Santa |
Claus will donate to their share To their !
elders among the many attractions the jewclry |
establishments, of which Denver can boast some |.
very flne ones, would lind prominent place. 7
The display of native iewelry, silverware.
diamonds, moss-agates, a fayorite stone with /,
westerners, is beautiful and varied. The win |
dows of the dry goods stores, bookstores, Re.
&c, are looking very gay and bright, and can
not fail to attract unusual admiration. Indeed |
it IS almost impossible, while in Denver, and |
witnessing on all sides the refinement, thrift |
and prosperity, to realize the vast extent of UNI
inhabited country between this aud the nearest
metropolis, st. Louis
Many have associated this entire western
land with barren deserts, and Scaping savagps, |
and are so impressed with the idea, that they |
consider it necessary to go douhly armed, with |
reyoyers and bowie knives. | heard of one |
man that on behodng the figure of a brawny
chief in front of cigar store felt his last hour
h come, and started from danger. with the
speet, of a race horse. The last seen of him, lie T..
was trying to take the Rocky Mountains at 4 |
flying leap. If he succeeded, no doubt he is
running to this day. \
Now let me say a few words of the Journey /
from st. Louis to Denver. We leave the for
mer place, at $50 A. NJ. for Kansas Citv, 4 dis
lance of PIP miles, by way of North Missouri |
road. The journey between the two cities il |
well worth taking, if for nothing else, than to /
enjoy ride over the stupendous iron bridge
that spans the Missouri. 1t is indeed a mag
niticent structure, well deserving the admring
comments bestowed upon it. Just before
reaching Kansas City, we crossed the river
again, over a similar bridge, though not as long
we were in the rear car, so stepped to the
back platform, to enjoy a full view. The moon
was casting her silver sheen over everything,
Whiie close behind, near enough to add spice
OF fear to the scene, we could see the red head /
light Of locomotive, with its attendant train
OF ears. We landed in Kansas City at ID, 40 |
t. NJ. and in tive minutes, We're en- route for
Denver on the Kansas Pacific road. ON awak-
ing the next morning we found ourselves on
the everlasting plains. 1t would be impossible |
for me, with my limited command of language
to give an Idea of the vastness and loneliness of
the plains, as they stretched far far away, be
yond where eye can reach, their desoaton I'M
broken, save by the shrek and rush of he iron !
horse and the buffalo and antelope that roam
the dreary wastes. Shortly after stopping for
breakfast, the cry of "butfaloes" was heard.
AT first only a few could he seen far OIL in the
distance, but we gradually came nearer to them.
one drove, IN their ambitious efforts to keep up
with the train, were separated, atfording i fine
view OF them on both sides Of the cars At one
time the plans seemed black with them, num-
bering hundreds and hundreds. Now and
then we would see poor buffalo lmpine from
the effects OF a shot, fired BY some ambitious
marksman from the car wludoW. There can
be nothing more inhuman, than to wantony
cripple these huge beasts, allowing them to die
OF wounds on the plains, attording good to |
nobody. | must confess to a feeling OF disap-
pontment, at the av t-ld and ungainly ap- !
pearance of the bufaio. In travelling he Ger
fanny displays more speed than grace If
animals are endowed with powers of thinking /
l wonder if the butfalo4 thoughts are ever sad
dened by the idea that his day, like the red
mans, IS passing away before the march Of
CIVILIZATION, Among the numerous stations -
one called M0notouy, and st emng peculiarly
appropriate, since the whole country for
hundreds OF miles impresses one with this feel
ing OF sameness. Sun1oWers grow Sp0ntanr- |
ol!sly, in wild profusion along the whole route
where ground has been broken We landed in
Denver at A. NJ. two nights and one da1
from Kansas City, distance OF 63S miles.
Eastern people who wish the finest view Of the