New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-27
COLORADO.
THE STORY OF A COLONY

THE STORY OF A COLONY
FORT COLLINS AND Irs HIsTORY-A TOWN ONE YEAR
oLD-A POPULATION OF SIX NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ING CANALS ALREADY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
or THE COUNTRY
lFRoH AN occAsroSAL CORRESPONDENT OF TnE TRIBUNE
GREELEY, Col, Oct. 25.-The settlement OF
Colorado and the building Of the Kansas and Union Pa
cic Railroads. would have been long delayed II 10 mad
been for tho Pixies Peak Excitement. As many as
100000 persons journeyed from the Missouri River In
1852 CO. and 6l 10 Denver and such scenes we're Gu
acted America can scarcely over OehOd again.
While many thousand gathered along the base OF
the mountains aud penetrated by every valley anu pass
the Indians, who in full supply, kept quiet enough
not knowing what TO think OF such Eruption OF the
pale faces They lowered around the camps and begged
and stole and traded horses. The chief wealth OF
an Indian is in his horses and to swap and run horses
make the business and entertainment OF hfe In
conversation among themselves they talk OF horses and
they tell long about them, and II IL il suitable
time OF day they will 20 ont and have race. They
might with propriety be added 20 some OF our state
agricultural boards When the gold hunters began TO re-
turn bringing back their somebody elses horses
the Indians mixed in and stole also following down The
Platte but they had real cause for complaint until
Denver became village, and few farmers began 70
grow crops in the valleys. evidently intending to stay
when they lost patience But the Government was TOO
quick for them military post was established 10
Denver, hnu larger auu perhaps ohO
at Fort Collins, GO miles TO the north. At the
latter place reservation Of four miles square was
made. barracks and tradng-houses were erected
and all that relates important and formidable out
post and point OF distribution, established. At
time 1908 soldiers were quartercd here, and heavy
business at began in freghting supplies from the
Missouri River whereby fortunes were mado. as the
cost of shipping 6OOpOunds from SIS to so Farming
soon began by few spectators who took ont bitches
toward the mountains and as the land is exceedingly
rich all kinds OF vegetables and grain grown In such
abundance to astonish every beholder, while the
prices received such as scarcely be credited
Trayeers by the Union Pacific surprised TO see tho
Cheyenne market so well supplied with fresh butter,
eggs chickens, and monsrous vegetables, for there
were cabbages weighing from 20 TO 80 and 60 poundnd
also at the high prices. These nigh prices continued
until the Greeley Colony and some other settlements be-
gan to send in supplies and 1t is even now q COM
plant among OF tho old settlers that railroads and
new corners ruined the country. While Fort Col
Inns was prosperous money plenty as dirt, and to
possess 5000 pockctchangc o common thing The
merchants coined money and have heard that one firm
made over 100000 in two years.
THE COLONY FOUNDED.
Laramie County having been organized, Fort Collins
was declared county seat anda town Of 90 80 houses
sprang up. But It did not grow much, for when the
Denver Pacific built % miles to the east the stage
lines were withdrawn and Greeley became their ship
ping point. Last year Land Improvement Company
organized settle colony, for Congress had placed
the land OF the reservation in market and there was
chance TO DO something. Tie Company having adyer-
tised all Winter 10 leading Eastern papers, c0lonsts be-
gan to arrive in the Spring; lots were sod and the
building Of new town adjoining the old began. The
Company has given half the townots to the colony aud
24Oacres breefourths OF mile from the PostOce for
agricultural college. Tho colonial company scheme
provides three classes OF membership tho first cost
n $50 $3.50 and the third $780, each of which
entities member locate one two, or three pieces OF
outlying land OF lots but the money simply is APP
Piled the purchase Of the land on its valuation Thus
either sum may pay for town lot or 10 acres or may
pay In part for the same Improvements required
on each grade within four months and all balances are
due IN six months There are reservations for two
parks for schools county buildings aud for churches Of
all religious denominations. The town site Is three
fourths OF mile broad and mile and half long and it
IL Incorporated The Of the lots Is by 100 feet 80
by 90 9O and there 100 blocks from four
to eight acres. There reduced rates OF ronsporta
ton from Chicago, by which SOS IL saved They have
daily mail aud three lines OF stages.
About 100 memberships have been sold 20 families
have arrived. and tho population exceeds coo There
are about 100 houses aud many in tha process OF
construction including four FIVE large brick business
houses ono being for bank There p stores Of all
kinds, q grist-m, three mills n newspaper, and
various rnachlneshOps, but ieNeler end shoemaker
are needed and what is remarkable, there is open
ing young lawyer. Ministers are probably
in supply two churchea Methodist ana Presbyterian.
are under way No sehooLteaehers nor clerks are
wanted nor are gamblers since liquor is sold. There
are Masonic aud Good Tomplars lodges, literary
society, and two bri3k-klns. several hundred tees
have been planted The streets 100 feet wide and
the yd each 40 feet Wide. In these are to
DC planted four OF trees, in the middle. LINN
Der s1j per thousand brick g to Sl0 excellent stone
10 to be hat 10 the mountains - miles distant aud need
ts.r, Nv
il ereas quantities.. Wood can be had by going six
niles and fencing within II miles.
ryo LARGE IERIG ArISG CANALS.
They have TWO irrigatng canals. one which supplies
tho town, iOur miles long, sending clear streams
along the sides Of each Of the streets the other Is to be
IS miles long and 10 feet broad, but it Is not completed
all the way Both Will water 1900 acres On the other
side OF the Cache Ia Poudre many extensive private
canals watering large bodies OF extremely tine land,
thousands of of which are in cultivation aud here
colony from Wyandote, Kas., arc cropping this year,
and with considerable success prepaatoryto occupying
Iand of their year The amount Of land In the
vicinity of Fort Collins in cultivation or under water is
about 10000 acres which Is aside from the colony prop
erty go that 50 much fertile Land will support good
sized town Now when land Is mentioned. 1t IS 10 be
understood that 1t ~ not such land as farmers
are used to the States yielding good crop
TINT Yields ike the richest garden ana without the least
discount providing, OF course, that good work Is done
Twenty-Five bushels OF wheat 10 the aero IL the average,
and aftera farmer gets fairly 10 work he should b.
asrnod 20 produce less while he ought 10 be content
vi n nOthu. short Of 50 or 40 bushels IAat aDd Nlh
at moor aftor cropping question, for II is well known
that the water used much fertility, chiefly OF
mineral character Manure "a highly useful because IT
supplies humus the clements OF vegetable matter, or
IL antics with alkaii OF which there "a more Or less
everywhere and this is IN excess ltde vii grow not
because the land Is poor but too rich In such salts .
West aud s0nt from Fort Collins the country Ia wholly
unoccupiod is 20 be largely watered by the canals
mentioned. The view from the town is striknyly IN.
pressve First IL a boundess uuduating plain to the
hnIo IN iu ill
appearing to be scarcely more than a mile, aud tins
plain covered with rich grass terminates 30 abruptly
that one can stand tine border and touch mountain
with his hand The general aspect OF the PLAIN OF
hi cultivation, and no lawn over which the mower has
ust ran smoother, 60 the very base or the
mountains.
NATURAL FEATUREs OF THE COUNTRY