New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-18
SUMMER LETTERS.
1870 r,,p corORADO CANONS.

DpN or THE GODS, MANIrOU AND CHkfENNE
cANoN-soENEs AND PEOPLE AT THE SPRINGS
,ypox AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBuSE'l
CoLokADo SPRINGS, Col, July 26.-When
one studIes the gudebooks to Colorado one becomes
vaoue upon tho subject tabular literature in general
and Is more than ever inclined to doubt tho great use
uness of wade mecums and close descriptions Here Is
country as much bowrten Palestine ever was the
valleys and hills, and climatic pecuharities OF winch
have appeared upon thousands OF pages Butthe reader
knows little about ALL except by absolute pres
ence there is not like describing striking scene OF
a single compact locality. These peaks rear their
bald heads one beyond the other for hundreds
OF miles, with all the valleys and WATERWAYS
and glens and oaming torrents and boiling springs MD
den between Aud higher than all lie those white nelds
OF snow which, far off, seem as though one might
gather them with the hand, but which feed hundred
torrents as the Rhone fed The places and incidents
which this letter will embrace cover two weeks OF gooo'
honest hard working Sightseeing and the writer knows
he has hardly yet entered the porch The VISITOR cano'
follow guide-boo in this wonderful region Every
where he may turn there mountain ROADS ana pains
amid wonders Men work hard, with every ala ITO"
culture and science TO make bit OF landscape vi
house. or fountain natural and lovely; but here the III
srtcia scenes which excel all that can do are on
every hand and VIC wonder we look that these cas-
cades have fallen these serried ranks OF pines S'oo
signing and these yoceess lain for ten thousand
years unchanging and unseen.
ACROSS THE PLAINS
Colorado Is q vast amphitheater whose rocky gates
are entered from the plains The two great contrasts
which are included In Journey thther are not 10 Do
dsregarded Sightseeing begins long before We reaeh
the mountains. What were plains dozen years ago.
Won enter upon Kansas City when you take your seat
In a car of the Kansas Pacific Road which carries 10
Colorado twOhirds Of all that CO. 1t hard 10 DeheVe
as YOU reflect upon that the car In which you s amid
the scenes of the busting terminus, will traverse the
yastness of the wilderness Of ten ago. and 90 on
and on through days and nights 100 miles westward,
Joining the corn fields OF the Missouri with the snow OF
the mountains.
But not until the next morning do you enter upon
what are considered tho plains There you oegin
to feel freshness Of the keen wind and your eyes acne
as they try to scan the far blue horizon line. Noon
comes and you surprised to nd no absence at the
Of the delicaces OF civilization, but even
additions In the way Of antelope outlets and Dunaio
steak Then you region which at the proper sea-
son of the year still the feeding ground Of countless
herds of buffalo, them IN squads on the nth OF
this month, awkwardly galOpng away over the low
hills at once the largest rapidly disappear
ing of all the beasts OF the border. Sometimes there Is
COYOTE VINO regards you with the knowing leer OF All
his race, over his shoulder, lolllng MS req
tongue like his cousin the dog trottng of toward tnat
unknown supper which it is hs chief occupation ana
only ambition to find. Antelope skurry away win
graceful heads high in air, putting space behind tnem
with infinite ease the curious tufts OF white hair upon
their hinder quarters shining far in the distance There
too is the ridiculous with ears rs iong a
his namesake's. But your'respect for him increases
when you see him lay his aurcular burdens down anu
dash away through grass and sage In tremendous leaps
which no hound ever attained. And upright and daunt
less upon houseop sits the prairiedog jerking MS
diminutive body with convusive barks as the train
thunders BY and evidently taking to himself due credit
that 1t nearer He Is courageous marinot
and leave his home on account OF mere rail-
TIE METROPOLIS OF COLORADO.
A the hours pass you begin to wonder that you do
not see the dim blue shapes under the red western sky
which arc the faroG mountains The sun sinks ana sup
per comes partaken of under brilliant lights, with the
spashing of fountain in your ears. To reflect for
moment upon common things, you are served with the
decaces of the season. and with iceream itself at this
supper In the Of the desert" The sun sinks and
the gray weird darkness OF the wilderness creeps over
the world. you ask the man who is letting down the
beds over your head, he will tell you that you are only
halfway You retire. and waking in the watches
of the night you hear tho ring OF the wheel upon the
rail- and peerng forth feel the cool night wind untaint
cd with the exhalatons Of Cities and dmy see the out
lines Of the hills slumberng beneath mighty silence
But at dawn IL you look to the southwest may see
huge shape rising through the msts. radiant with
light which Is the bright spot amid surrounding
darkness 1t ishe Peak OF Pike, hundred miles away
1t Is useless to describe Denver, because all Western
cities are less alike. and not our theme 1t
s the metropolis Of Colorado full Of modern improve
ments to which one needs no guide. That it is OF
the quick growing wonders OF Western enterprise, all
know. 1t is necessary to go to Colorado Springs 10
miles southwark by the narrowgauge road. But there
are no springs at Colorado Springs, and what you go
there lies within radius OF five miles. But there
is szeabe hotel here chosen by many preferable to
an actual stay among the caons, rocks and springs,
for the village is itself upon elevated plateau 5000 feet
above tide water. The manner Of making town which
this illustrates worth mention There several miles
of green eottonwood upon the streets watered by sys
TEN OF irrigation to Eastern people. In many
streets there is ditch acqaa, after the Mexican
fashion, and all fed from the Fountaine qu BOule.
In year two the arid little town will be green
bower. But irrigation is study OF itself, and will
only mention further to say that the endless network
Of little clear streams which You in all impossible
places is wonder You them high up on the hill
Sides and cannot tell whence they whittier they
go. There is lady OF my acquaintance who will leave
these regions with q weestablished belief that In
numerous instances purng streams cunnilgy made
to run uphill
CIRCLE OF WONDERS AT COLORADO SPRINGS.
II you please you visit the famous places this
neighborhood in half days and then go elsewhere
Int If residence Of few weeks is desired, then the
Manitou House. the name Of which, ira nslated into
English might be considered bla sphemous, Is the
proper and fashionable place to CO. will try to give,
in as few words possible some of the impressions
produced upon q sojourner by the wonders which
attract people thousands OF miles, and even bring them
across the sea- viz Glen Eyre, Garden Of the Gods,
Manitou and Cheyenne (5hian Canon. Localities could
not be more conveniently situated than these
magnificent places are, for they lie around the
base Of Pixies Peak, at the very edge Of the
plain Glen Eyrie triangular gorge, entered from
the PLAIN by narrow gap and named from an eagles
nest which you the face OF the perpendicular cliff
ON the right as you enter. Though entirely accessible
Rad Inv a fne and
occupied by an elegant mansion when you are once In
and the rustic gate closed behind you you have feel