The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-03-20
From Colorado.

Mr. W. p Darst, of this place, handed
Us few days since, letter addressed to
him by Mr.. John L. Sheridan, Register
United States Land Office, dated at
Fairplay. Colorado, March 9Th, lST4-
from which we take the following in
description Of that far away
country:
Taking map of Colorado, and find
ing out the South Park, look at the ex-
treme upper end, and you will observe,
laid down, Fairplay. 1t Is the Frinci-
pal town in the Park, and by far the old
est The name was given it because
when the first rush was made to South
Park, in go, miners were given less
ground to each, than in other digsings,
and nsequently, more men Lad
chance TO earn a livelihood. 1t is on
the middle fork of the South Platte
River, 100 miles from Denver, ~ the
foot of Mount Lincoln, the highest
mountain IN the Rock Range, Il, ,447 feet
above the seattle town itself being TO-
O54 feet above the sea at a point about
100 feet from my Office.
1t has had flush times and dull times
since its foundation, but no such severe
calamity as befel it on the evening of
the 26th of December last, when the
greater part of the business portion
was destroyed by fire. The financial
crash followed and has made this very
hard and dull winter. This is the entre-
Dot for the mines of the South Park,
which are on Lincoln, Brass, Buckskin,
Mosquito and Horseshoe Mountains, and
are as valuable as any in the United
States. Their development is just be-
ginning, and I think another year will
show this an unsurpassed district in sill
yer, gold, copper and lead. Fourteen
miles in a direct line over on the Arkan-
sas is the famed California Gulch, from
which more gold has been taken than
any other gulch in the world, and it YET
yields handsomely 10 the industrious
AiGAS 10 a
the town, which has already cost
$75, 900, but which has not been opera,
ted, as the season of ice set in before the
owners were fairly ready for operations
Next year great hopes are entertained o
| its success. There are two smelling
works for silver in the county, and an
nfhor while ~ l.
temptation in the early spring. Thes,
afford market for ores near the mines
This South Park lies between tn,
great divide of which Pixies Peak is tn,
great feature, the great Snowy Range
and a spur which has not yet beel
named, so far as l know. 1t is 60 mile
long and 40 wide, and is the lovelies
spot in the world. Striking tlie Parl
at Powers Ranch, 45 miles from here
the beholder is amazed at the n,agnifi
cence and beauty of the pros s2ect.-
You can see the Rocky Mountains from
Longs Peak to the Holy Cros: 300
miles in extent-covered over iii mid
summer with snow. The great .livid,
between the Platte and Arkansas, il
scarcely less attractive while stretched
out before you, the Park lies smooth
as meadow. This is a Paradise o
cattle. They run by thousands, fatten
ing on the rich grasses, and c;usin;
their owners no trouble, except the bran
ding never saw such cattle - s.
fat as even to shame our cornfed n,
| feeding in winter is necessary. The,
live quite as we'll as in summer Shee
do quite as we'll, and much better thai
in the States, as they are not subject t
disease. No grain or vegetables can b
produced, as it is too high and dry 70
them. Hay is procured in abunianc
from native grasses, and is a verE prof
table industry, indeed-selling from
$40 to $50 per ton.
This Is the loveliest climate in tn
world April and May being the wors
months in the year. Rain falls in Jul
and August, generally, but brings n
mud, September sets in, and then come
months of skies without cloud. | hav
never seen such splendid winter weather
We had some cold days, but aside fror
that there could be nothing finer.
Yours &C.,
JOHN L. SHERIDAN.