New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-03
COLORADO SPRINGS.

COLOKA ~ SFhINUO.
A CENTER OF REFINEMENT AT THE WEST
HISTORY OF COLORADO CITY-ITs GROWTH AND I'M
Observation-Disclosures OF THE PLAcE-A
CENTER OF WEALTH. CULTURE, AND REFINE
MENT-ENGLIsH COLONIsTs-INFLUENCE OF THE
SPRINGS COMMUNITY.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
GREELEY, Col, Sept. There was never a
more successful enterprise than what was originally
known as tho " Frontier Colony" IL was not long,
however. before this name was lost sight or ana the
locality is now universally known as Colorado Springs
The plan originated with Gen. Palmer, President OF the
Denver Grande Railroad and che chief features
were follows Several thousand acres were pur-
chased lying three miles of tho base OF Pixies
Peak on most suitable ground, but with only a mod
crate supply OF water The merry so grand that
it compensated for every disadvantage. and there were
several remarkable objects OF interest such as the
Garden Of the Gods, Cheyenne Canon. and Ute Falls
while the soda and iron springs, seven miles from the
colony. and owned by the Company. possessed great
attractions. The land being surveyed, irrgat
ing bitches constructed at a great ex-
pense, streets laid Off the town was
plotted, and members were allowed to select
certain parcels Of land for the sum of $780, But only
part of the lots were open selection the rest being
held in by the Company. In addition to many
improvements, made without cost to the members the
streets were planted each side with shade trees and
the wide with four rows two rows being In the
middle. For some cause difficult perhaps to explain
enterprise colony proper seemed not successful
although a great deal Of money was expended. and
among other investments hotels costing probably
100000. change Of operations then took place. or
rather new men became managers the colonial feature
became less prominent at least to the public, and soon
of wealth and standing bought lots and built GOOD
houses and the progress up to the present time has
been uninterrupted and perhaps unparalleled Tde en-
| terprise properly is a Land Improvement Company
having scarcely any colonial features. and 1t is GER
tainly that the management has been wise and lib
era 1t must said however. that the great success
due the matchess scenery Of the locality and that
less marked progress would result with only common
| surroundings
RAPID GROWTH OF COLORADO CITY.
Colorado City is town of over 5000 inhabitants
and improvements constant that some 400 me-
chanics find steady employment There are seven or
eight business where stores Of all kinds have
large fine stocks. All Of the Church organizations
| have good buildings There several fine hotels,
while at the Springs proper there are six or gh hotels,
first class in short the town Is only second
Denver In wealth and population while 1t Is laid
much better plan There are several streets two
and half long, with residences through most ofthe
distance and they regularly planted with trees,
the view both beautiful and surprising 1t Is fire.
quently the that Of means thither to visit
the springs and to ascend Pixies Peak having no idea
enchanted with everything that they buy lots and build
and bring their families and thus the town seems to
occupied largely by wealthy men, able and perhaps
DESTROYS pass their days in elegant leisure but
there Is another class more or less wealthy who are
invalids, or some of their families are and the un
doubted heathfuness Of the climate makes residence
any where in Colorado necessity No class of invalids
receive 80 much benefit asthmatics, and IL is remark
able how many Of them are found everywhere In Col
orado. Consumption in the early stages almost always
yields dry tonic atmosphere but Colorado Springs
is not so favorable for this disease its elevation Of
about 1000 stimulating. and places like Gree
ley 1900 lower, should be preferred, certainly
the first arrival.
The chief attractions of Colorado Springs aside from
sanitary considerations. Pixies Peak and the adion
ing mountains that present broad face Of at least 20
miles and from 5000 to 1900 feet high they are
and such the conditions of atmosphere,
clouds and tempests that there is constant change OF
views So various are the shapes and profuse the
gorges and forests. and projecting eminences
that every visitor expresses surprise. especially
upon the first arrival 1t is fair to say, how.
ever that after few weeks months this scenery
becomes resome objects attract the attention.
so that days and even weeks pass during which
the mountains will scarcely be seen. aud finally they
become old story though when strangers express ad
mira,oa the interest in part hH & Inc
that there is small mound at no great distance from
a called It the
that it is almost exactly Of the same hight as the cele-
tempests and barrenness divide the year while here
green grass every covers the ground aud the
Shines with and even hot rays during 800 days IN
The minor attractions of the locality would, by them
lofty. thin pnnacles OF red sandstone; Glen Eyrie
with its noble Douglas spruees ana other rare ever.
greens Cheyenne Canon with it's twin precpices
1000 feet hgh Ute fan, with lis fearful wagon.way
medicinal springs; and Park with hundreds
of of curious sandstone remains, give rare and
| varied combination.
RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY.
Something may said of the soil and o. ITS agricul.
tura capacity The surface soil certainly good
il has that purpsh cast hold in esteem both by Ameri
can and English gardeners as being every way most
desirable still there is something suspicious In the
extremely gentle lay of the land, reminding OF bar
rem and worthless plains and upon investigation II Is
found that bed OF gravel comes within two feet OF the
surface hence there IS no suosoll ana wafer passes
walks always dry. and crops are only Grown by con,
cultivation Perhaps Oh the whole this is fortunate,
since in the first place. the amount oi water that can
shade trees lawns. and ornamental grounds and
Ond the inhabitants are hot OF that kind who have
G s DOR to labor several Of the were asked
why there few gardens aud the reply was that
II was cheaper to buy vegetables than TO raise them,
since gardener had 10 be hired and therefore large
the vegetables rsv S to from n.e eSse;
from Greeley Cattle and sheep owners have fair rep
ea o4 sns sSd south es
almost unlimited where grass is to he had tue year
ronnd and sheep and cattle kept In large numbers
Herders are employed at from $50 to so month"; with
provisions found while the owners I'VE III toWD, ana
only at irregular periods visit their possessions
Some OF the ventures IN this line have proved
especially with sheep because neither master nor man
| understood the business, and the focks wasted away
from the effects OF storms from depredauons, from
wolves, and from general natteDtOn 1t may positively
stated that ruin quite certain to attend every busi
ness inaugurated by capitalist who does not himself
understand details because there Is possibility
of hiring men who do understand them. since all such
themselves propretors, or so soon as they Learn
they speedily become proprietOrs The days seem TO be
passed. If they here when men could be hired
for money or love- be cOnteDed to do good work for
others when they could at greater advantage, do the