New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-02
THE GROWTH OF COLORADO

mARyELs ACCOMPLISHED IN THREE YEARS
A GARDEN FROM DEsERT-HEALrH AND
WEALTH. i.
ryRom AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUEEl
GREELEY. Colorado, Oct. 26.-Three years
ago this month | reached Sheridan. on tho western
boundary of Kansas and 400 miles west of the Missouri
River The Kansas Pacific Road had been completed
thus far but work had been stopped that land grant
might be obtained when the future course would be de-
cided either up Arkansas and through the Rocky
Mountains TO Utah, or directly to Denver $50 miles
The grant not obtained, and the road was finished
tho next year. TO Denver Tho particular occasion OF
tho journey was rather indefinite, but with tho accom-
panlment of pleasant feow-travelers consisting OF
Cyrus Field several New-York capitalists with their
wives and A. ID. Richardson it did not matter much
Most party proposed TO RETURN but MT Field ana
some others would take the stage by tho Arkansas route
for Donver The subscriber Undecided, and finally
asked Mr. Richardson what he'd better be done. He
said "Go on, you will see something worth seeing"
Accordingly preparations made for the Journey
and in bidding Mr. Richardson good by these words were
sooken Il will meet you at Philppi" Net long after
he was killed. .....--...
Upon reaching the country along the base OF Pixies
Peak and travelling thence to Denver and thence to the
mountain mining towns and finally, along the base OF
the mountains across many rich valleys 10 ChoSenne'
the conviction arose that Colorado country OF I'm
mense resources, and which would soon DO ueVei'
oped to most remarkable degree The beauty ana the
striking vastness OF the scenery affected the magma
ton the richness OF the SOIL and the iImtabe STOCK
range appealed TO the practical and the undoubted
heathfuness OF the climate made who was mere or
ess an invalid wish pass the remainder OF his days In
sight OF the silver mountains Since then the COLUMNS
of THE TRIBUNE have faithfully chrcneled the most
successful colonial movement OF modern or OF ancient
times and Of the town alluded to In TINS leu
ter familiar even beyond the while 1t Will grow
and have a being lasting than the name OF any
COLORADO THREE YEARS AGO.
proper now 10 relate what progress has been made
in Colorado during the past three Denyer was
rather busy little town OF 5000 inhabitants but did
not contain single elegant residence, nor was there
business block that anything like frstclass Of
course light tho streets not thought or nor
we're there water-works streetoars The nearest
railway was at Cheyenne miles distant, and next at
Sheridan which places stages daily Stages also
ran 10 the mountain towns OF Georgetown Central and
Black Hawk. The roads dotted with freighters
trains, carrying mill machinery goods and provisions
always returning empty. for the immense shipments oil
ores 10 Europe had not commenced, indeed they were
scarcely thought Of The frat town south, "a miles
was Colorado City, containing few houses and the
poorest KIND OF hotel; next Pueblo 5 miles
further, with a few hundred inhabitants, aud Al
miles westward was the starved town o.
Canyon City, whore the Arkansas comes out Of
4 the mountains. Fifteen miles west OF Denver wa
Golden. just town. and more IS miles northward
was Boulder. in the heart OF good AGRICULTURAL country
Is miles beyond Burlington, with store and tav
srn and miles further were La Porte and Fort Collins
together owning 200 inhabitants. In the mountains were
Black Hawk, Central and Nevada, lying in gch. with
5000 inhabitants aud here was the most active part Of
Colorado for the gold and silver mines produced about
Is 100000 year Seven miles further was idaho, with
tavern and few houses and IL miles up Clear Crees
was Georgetown, the chief silver region OF Colorado
Along the valleys several streams of the pant
were some farmers who making living but they
were by no settled for only the year previous
Indians had stolen stock and killed people, and no mar
ont OF the towns knew whether he could live there OF
not That was all there was of Colorado and the SUN
1 total of the population did not exceed 1900.
CONTRAST OF PRESENT CONDITION.
Three years having passed. will go the ground
4 again. Tho Kansas Pacific has been completed "a
Denver and 1t is extended to Cheyenne by the Denver
Pacific. The Denver and Rio Grande has been built
from Denver 10 Pueblo with branch TO Canyon City,
while the main line has crossed the Afkausas, and ia
pushing for Santa Fe, with tho ultimate and certain
\ destiny Of reaching the City Of Old Mexico. The
Atohison and Santa re Road has reached the Arkansas
aud is approaching Fort Lyon its destiny not yet
vealed but 1t is road fun OF enterprise The Colorado
Central owned largely by the Union Pacific, has been
IS miles further up the canon OF Clear Creek and within
few miles of Black Hawk. which will be reached in
days. In addition. this Colorado Central Is TO be
built from Jucsburg where the Union Pacific
leaves the Platte TO Golden 220 miles, grading Ia going
along the whole line, and the to be running
by the 1s OF June next In addition STILL this road Ia TO
build branch to Georgetown, and another to Caribou
celebrated for its wonderful silver Mines with ano-
Their road the Cache la Poudre. Denver now must
have nearly 1900 Inhabitants, and IL Ia growing rapidly
The streets Lighted with gas; Holly waterworks
In complete operation. and street railroad IL doing
good business There many fine residences, costing
rom 10000 TO $4,000, with all modern improvements;
many costly brick blocks with iron fronts, and
large. rst-class hotels have been built During these
three years large avenues have been laid out and
planted with trees; and the Platte, where
Ope fed the grass OF the plains boulevard has been
laid out having shaded drive several miles In
length; and here many fine residences. Three years
4 ago the land sold slowly at Gao acre; now
1t brings $500 quickly Three years ago the rrigang
canals were few and small and confined 10 the town and
vicinity; now they large and long, and they wind
along bluffs and to ascend nights sThree years
ago It supposed that fruit could not possibly be
grown In Colorado but this Fall apple and pear
trees In Denver loaded with fruit and Delaware and
Concord vines bearing grapesaalmos BY the tun. 50
great has become the reputation Of the climate for
heathfuness and especially for helping asthmato and
lung diseases, that invads are seen everywhere not
only in Denver but in all other towns and especial
for SUCH at reasonable prices have been
provided Three years ago 1t was almost impossible TO
End comfortable boarding place for invalid at less
than s5 week and then only in the larger towns for
no farmhouse had the accommodations.
RAILROAD IN A RIVER BED.
Color ado City, at the foot OF Pixies Peak has become
stirring place. and three miles distant up the canon two
large hotels have been built adjoining cluster Of soda
springs The station OF Colorado Springs has become
important town, with perhaps 1900 Inhabitants. aud all
the way thence 10 Denver villages springing up
Pueblo is becoming a town OF great Importance and
Lat II haa with great anidItx