, 1873-07-29
COLORADO.
Marvels Of the Torritory--0ptioal
De1usions and Pleasing
Fiotions.
The Colorado Central Railroad
Its Grades and Curves.
Grand Scenory--Si1vcr NIines--A
Hundrctl-ThOl1sn
Depot.

Depot.
Correspondence af Tas Chicago Tribune.
BLACK HAWK, Ool., July "a, 1878.
The Vionna Exposition and tho Shah OF Porsia,
not to mention tho European tour Of Wattorson,
OF the Louisville Courier r-Journal, aud tho Rus
sian expedition against tho Khan OF Khivn, hayo
this yoar Boryod to diroct tho attention OF Ameri
cans In grcat moasuro from tho places, per-
HonH, and things Of wondor ahd intoreRt in thoir
own laud. Artonus Ward onco had hia foelfuga
Of melancholy stirred up from their profoundeRt
depths by tho thought that, OF Il vast audience
ho WAS contemplating, not IN individual had tho
honor Of his acquaintance, or know how intor-
esting and marvellous woro the performances Of
his kangaroo. In nko manner tho old Oolora-
doan ia ofton pinned by the thought that his
countrymen Of tho EaBt know 80 littlo OF tho
grand and tho marvellous in nature that can bo
seen in his Territory, and Of the grcat things 10
nrt-not In tho line Of tho flne arts, but OF tho
coarso arts-that have boon there undertaken,
ind n part accomplished.
IT IS INDEED 4 MAXWELL
or at least seomiug ono,-in thcuo July days,
to standin tho streets Of Denver, exposed to rays
Of tho s,1n hotter and forcor than any that arc
ever reflected from tho Btrcots Of Eastorn cities,
-rays that burn tho lfe out Of every green
thing, TINT dry up tho porspiration in tho pores
Of tho body, and that possibly would dry up
Fourth of July Orator,-and, looking away to
tho west, SEQ long succession of mountain
peaks thick-covored with NOV. Tho cffcct how
over, is not at all to cool and comfort, but
rather to heat and oxasperato. Tho sooming
marvel ia tho creator because tho anow-coyored
ponhs, in tho wondrously-olear atmosphere, ap-
pear to almost oyerhang tho scorchcd city,
though actually they arc several weary, toll
somo days. journey distant. Much l1as been
'writton about tho frauds that Colorados clear
atmosphere plays upon strangers, and tho de-
aussons into which it loads them. Tho story Of
q man who started from (, Dopvor hotel to wal]t
to tho mountains Is milc8 distant-beforo
breakfast, Inns doubtless been repeated by evory
correspondent who has written from the Terri
tory. But there is a
NETrEn ONE or AN OLDER 1A3E.
Before the days Of railroads, tn Stages uBed
to stop Mt "Church's Taycrn," apuut miles
NORTH Of Donvor aud 10 northwest Of Golden.
Ono day, there left tho stage at this tavern two
passengers bound for tho latter city; tho one an
oli-sottlor, tho other u newcomer. Tho latter
Inquired where Gollon was, and, after tho noun
tatn-poaks Immediately oyorhanging tint little
city had boon pointed out to him, asked how far
OF it was. Whom tho answer, "Ten milos,"
camo, 10 bestowed upon his informant
look which plainly told TINT he lamont
cd his deraugcd Judgment and domonted
condition generally and thon Immediately start
ho las only about q milo to walk, and is in a
hurry to reach bis destination. Tho other Gold
en-bound traveller followed at a sowo1 and
moro jud!cious paeo, and, at the enl Of tho
fourth mile, came upon his impatient follow
latter mado no comment upon the information
TINT lie had miles moro to walk, but meek
Y and aorrowfully resumed his wny at
tas o1 oSss Rase Son 81 hS e Mn Col
ditch about feet wide. The old-setttlor jumped
across i; and, on turning around, and seeing his
companion, with >, boots on and troTseEs rolled
nR carefully Tading through naturally inquired
came, in no dulcct tones, How did I know tho
d-d thing wasn't 40 foot across ?"
In illustration Of the great distance to which
tho orc can reach in this transparent atmos-
phoro, many Donyerites have persuaded them-
that they SEQ from thoir city, at once. Pixies
Ptak, over 100 miles to tho south, and Long'a
Peak, about 100 mies to tho north. And they
hive succeeded i'll imposing this pleasing and ex-
tFavagant fiction upon lnrgo number Of corro-
Hlondnnts OF Eastern papcrs, who, in turn, have
palmcd 1t of on tho innocent, crodulous, and
timo, fine sentences about . tho two giant peaks,
standing gentinel-like," and 30 on. Now, have
taken many long, earnest, but honest looks from
Donyer, of cloar day, with Mt least IN average
palr Of oyos, and havc never yet been ablo to
mako out eyon the dim outlines OF either Of
these poakB.
But many Of tho wondern of Colorado hayo
not, and perhaps cannot, bo exaggerated. And
In no way can g person make sure Of an oppor-
tunity to sco for tho samo expenditure OF tlmo
and money. 30 much to excite nstonishment aud
crafty love Of grandeur, as by taking a pas
Rage over
THE COLORADO CENTRAL RAILROAD.
Tho road itHef is a marvel, aud no inslg-
nitlcant triumph Of the ongiueor's art. From
Denver to Go1don,-17 mies,-it is built for
fow miles over parched nplands, but, for tho
Irrigated valley Of Oloar Creek thick-coveroa
with luxuriant crops OF tho coroale. Close by the
banks Of the creek, tho railway paesos
through, the foothills by 2 natural entrance
out by thom. Hore, in half-mle-wide valley,
vailed on one side by the great range OF tho
Rocky hlountains, and shut in on tho other by
foothills high enough for respectable Eastern
mountains, iB tho busy manufacturing
oITY OF GOLDEN,
witt, ita 1000 Inhabitants. Alrcady there arc
hricA-y yards, pnper-mills, aud smelling works.
Tho people Of Golden aso JEALOUS Of its reputa-
t. ton as tue cliof m manufacturing town Of tho
Territory. They have at loast IN adequate ap-
rrociation OF its present Importance, and perhaps
m exaggerated idea OF it's future, as is
iudloatcl by tho fact that they habitually speak
OF Lowell as the "0oldon Of massachusetts,"
At Golden tho gauge Of tho railroad Ia changed
from tho ordinary width Of track to ono Of foot
8 inches. From hero the road is built along
Cloar Crock, making tho wator-grado, and fol-
lowing oil tho windings OF tho canon, to Black
Hawk, "a distance OF 21 miles, IN which an aB-
cent OF 1,9G8 foot IL made. The stoopeHt grado
il at point about miles below Black Hawk,
where tho accent iB foot in oyory
100. Tho next stoopost is for distance
OF 100 or 200 yards, just beow ths depot ut that
For distance OF or miloH from Golden, tho
road. on tho north bank Of the crock iH com
paratiYely straight, aud the bod, IN mnny placoH