The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-07-10

anc energy than be had seen on the
road. / was told that on the fourth
day Of July, 1867, this town contain
ed but one house, and that At one
period since that time, there were
5000 Inhabitants in the place; but ~
tho road extended westward the
floating population followed the road
leaving the more permanent settlers
who have put up substantial build
ings Of brick ana stone, wherein they
are carrying on all branches OF trade
which make . thrifty and growing
city.
While Cheyenne has the sppear'
snce Of being . thriving city, yet 90
not think l should wish to stop there
. very great length Of time, not II II
Is always - hot as it was on
the day We arrived there. It had
the appearance Of being . dry not
and dusty place, with no beautiful
and cooling shade trees to be seen'
To be sure there are many trees
there, but they are small, and pro-
duce no shade % yet, but With prop
irrigation and care, the town will be
hAanaifnllv ahadad in . faw wears.
At Cheyenne We take the cars tor
Denver over the Denver Pacific, dis.
lance one hundred and ten miles,
and after about six hours ride We ar.
rive At the thriving city of Denver,
which is the county seat Of Arapaho
county, and the capital Of the Terri.
tory. It 10 situated at the confluence
of the Platte River and Clear Creek,
5000 feet above the level Of the sea,
and thirteen miles from the eastern
base of the mountains, which protect
it from the cold winds of winter.
The mountains extend north and
south as tarSa the eye can trace their
rugged heights. The highest points
to be seen are Longs Peak, to the
North, and Pixies Peak to the South.
Both are in full view, towering far
above the tops Of the surrounding
mountains. An open rolling country
surrounds the city, beng the outer
border of that immense plain which
stretches away to the waters OF the
Missouri River, 600 miles to the
east. Denver is built principally OF
brick made near the city, Of the best
quality. The population has nearly
doubled within the last three years,
and is now over 10000. Some claim
even as much as 10000. 1t has 8
2 seminaries, and ample
common schools, 4 Masonic and 4
Odd.Fellows lodges, 4 daily newspa
pers, 8 weekly and 2 monthly publ
cations, 81 hotels, 4 banks, q United
States mint and S railroad lines with
water works, gas woaks, horse rail>-
roads-in fact. all the modern i'm.
provements. The principal hotels are
the American, fremont, Sargent's
and Hatten. What cannot be found
in Denver you need not hunt for in
the West. 6 ssas
Here we remained over night and
took the train on Friday morning for
Colorado Springs, distand Is miles.
The journey over the Denver & Rio
Grande railway Is, for many reasons,
q very interesting one. In tho first
place it affords trip by one Of the
most remarkable railways on the con.
pioneer narrow gauge Of
the United States. A . discussion of
the merits Of the broad aud narrow
gauge railways, such as is continually
going on in the engineering journals
Of this and other countries, need not
be referred to here; but . few facts
this particular line will
not be uninteresting. Tho project
Tor it's construction was set on foot
u the autumn of 1870. In November |
Il that year . company was formed,
md in the autumn Of the next year,
be track, ae far a. Colorado Springs
vas completed and opened tor trific.
Gen. w. J. Palmer, the President
# the road, being thoroughly &C.
luainted, by his extensive surveys in
he Rocky Mountains, with the enor-
nous difficulties which would be en-.
in the attempt to reach
md develop their unknown sources
+ wealth by broad gauge road, at
nee caught the idea Of examining
be claims put forward by the advo.
ates of the narrow gauge system.
After q protrac:ed investigation in
England and Europe, he became fully
onvinced Of the merits Of that sys.
EN-, and resolved to adopt ) 8 foot
auge. The wisdom Of that conclu.
ion has been established beyond .
uestion, by the economy with which