Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-10-08
OUR WESTERN LETTER,
GRAND ISLAND, Neb., Sept. 80, 1872.

DEAR SIR-Leaving Denver on the K. PR
X. the first place of interest is Greeley. This
town is beautifully situated ON the Cache>la,
Poudre and Platte rivers, fifty four miles from
Denver. IL is called Greeley in honor of the
Hon.. Horace Greeley, one of its founders
MIR. Greeley, N. G. Necker, a. T. West and
others purchased here over 10000 acres of
land. organized colony in New York, and on
the 25th day of April, 1871, the first sod was
turned, and the new town laid out. Cultiva
ton is here aided by irrigation one of the ir-
rigating canals is twenty-seven miles long
Tie whole 80, 600 acres is enclosed by sub
stantial fence, making interior fences unnec>
essary. The crops are good, particularly the
vegetables. which are truly astonishing, cab
bage FIVE feet in circumference, and onions,
&c, in proportion. Greeley has as fine scenery
as any city in America. Eastward you look
over illimitabe plains that stretch unbroken
to the Missouri River. over six hundred miles
away, relieved by the numerous groves and
frinses of timber that skirt the Phtte river
and Grow creek. North and South are rolling
prairie.. and to the West the plain is level to
the foot of the Rocky Mountains, only twenty
miles distant. There you will see Mount
Olympus. with its bleak rocky front looking
as stern and severe as Jove himself; it is one
solid rock, whose summit is eight thousand
feet above the level of the sea. To the right
is Black Canyon, with sombre shading of
trees, and bold sharp sentinel rocks. guarding
its entrance. To the left is Lily Mountain,
twelve thousand feet high, with a bold front
it looks frowningly at Longs Peak as if angry
because that Mountain dared to hold its head
few thousand feet higher. There are mini
AZURE lakes half hidden among those wonder
tul mountains and fearful chasms where mas
sive rocks have fallen from the mountain
heights and little ripping streams, half hidden
among the massive rocks over which thew
tumble, with dark green grass, the wild plum,
cherry and sunflower, form a pleasant con-
trast. Such is some of the fine scenery around
Greeley, which contains 800 inhabitants,
has three churches, one bank, one newspaper,
one erist mill. good stores, three schools. (the
primary, intermediate and high school, ma.
chine shops, &c. No liquor is sold in the place,
nor are gambling establishments allowed
The next place Of interest is cheyenne
Here the X. P r. R. forms junction
with the U P. R. r. Cheyenne City is the
great central distributing point and depot for
the freight aud travel destined for Colorado
and New Mexico, and the vast country laying
to the north. The city is situated on the
broad open plains. the land risin. as you look
to the west her streets are straight and wide.
and present quite business like appearance
There are large wholesale houses, two banks,
theatre, museum, swimming bath beer gar
dens, managerie, and good hotels The X:
p. and the U. P. r. r. have their repair shops
and round houses here; the city has 4 900 in
| hahitants, and is rapidly growing Cheyenne
is 5000 feet above the seas level, and is the
terminus of the great Platte Valley We now
furr 1s I'll. A.
we roll down the valley to Prairie Dog City.
The town is some three miles west from the
road. and is over four miles long, and from
two to three wide. Their dwellings, are
little mound, eighteen inches high; the place
of entrance is the top. This mound is raised
bv the dirt excavatei from their burrows
On your approach they will scamper off for
their houses. squat on their hams OF stand on
their hind feet yeping and barking. as you
near them, when down into their holes they
90, and the city ia as silent as the ciGv of the
dead. The prairie dog is of sandy>hr0wn
color, about the size OF large fox-suuirrel
They are said to live in perfect harmony. and
in their nests the owl and rattesnake may he
found, but to this latter assertion [ do not
subscribe nor is it correct that their towns
are regularly laid out, their streets straight and
crossing each other at right angles. Their
towns are promiscunnsly built. with paths run
ming in every direction; nor are there any sub
terranean cham bers conn citing one house with
another, for a few buckets of water will
dround out any one of them. The prairie
dog lives on grass and roots, is always fat,
and is said to be good eating.
North Platte City, 300 miles east of Che
venue, is the next point of interest. 1t is
situated on the south bank of the North
Platte river, on the broad prairie, aud is the
buffalo hunters starting point Here your
correspondent, in company with Others, graft
fed his hunting propensities. Leaving North
Platte we travelled due north to the Republi>
can river, % miles distant; then going up the
north bank of the river we soon came in sight
of numerous herds of buffalues and ante
lopes. After two hard DAYS work we sue.
ceeded in killing three buffaloes, one ante-
lope and other small game There is much
sport and excitement. intermixed with danger.
in hunting the monarch Of the plains You
can hear, like distant rnmbing thunder, large
bodies galloping over the plains, which are
invisible to the eye; at their nearer approach
you can feel the earth neutrality-suspicious.
hunters will be seen to hold their ear to the
ground, thereby ascertaining whether they are
approaching or receeding, if approaching.
they will endeavor to gain their flank, which
affords the best opportunity for the fight aud
escape from danger. When wounded they
become furious, and will unhesitatingly attack
their pursuers, ottimes with fatal results.
Werenew our journey toward rand Island
Through the centre of the valley, on the south
bank Of the river, you will here and there
catch glimpse OF the "old California over
land route which calls up to memory many
recollectons Of the past. How many emil
grants have toiled along it's banks in the
ing of the u. p. II. r. How many blows
from the but of the ox-whip has fallen on the
back Of the patient oxen as they toiled along
ponderous white covered wagon, freighted