Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-10-22
FROM THE FAR WEST.
Cores pOndencU bo.uont Chronicle.

u D-.NNER, COLORADJ, Ott 10.
DEAR CHRoNICLE-Having been re-
questeu by numerous IrIenus To write
and tell them something of Colorauo,
L thought / would save time and re-
deem my promise to ali, by speaking
through You. Although Istarted from
Belmont August a, L did not reacn
this place tiil September 9th, having
spent nearly two weeks Visiting bel
lnonters Dy t!ie way. 1 stoppcu a lew
days at Farmer City, ILL.,, wnere l met
several OF them, dill anxious 10 know
'How's the folks" and 'How's the
crops:' Their corn crop is very light.
The next place stopped was Quincy,
ILL.,, where spent lew day, with
Dave Lindsey, whom every Oody ou
Captina knows 10 be good fellow ,and
who has lam aside his buuks this SUM-
mer ior the purpose rI ImtrOrl.g MS
nealtb, strengthening his nuscie, anu
at the same time assisting Mr.. James
onipnlan, formerly of beinount coun-
y, Ill IaruIng. Dave and l visited
one OF the large peach orchards foi
Nnlcn Illinois Is fanIOu5-it Was in the
daytime, and the owner was with US.
There were a thousand bushels of deli
cious peaches stIl hanging to the trees,
while as many had been taken away.
wnen we came out of tae orchard We
looked more like MIR. A, who owns 1t
certain brick store OH Captina, than the
slender ouths who entered 1t y short
time before.
Ine srasshOppers arrived at Kansas
City lew hours before l did; but I
@ill only mention one incident concern
ing them, knowing that you have
heard enough about them. One eve
ming there Was wind, aud that night
ram; next morning the citizens were
rejoicing at the disappearance of the
'hoppers,' and wondering what had
caused such sudden departure. The
general opinion Was, that they had ris-
en- in the air aud been carried away by
the wind. Imagine their consterna-
ton, however, " nen the sun peeped in
among the branches OF the trees, AVA
kenlng the slumbering insects, which
came down from their leafy repose az
hungry and numerous as ever.
! know OF no better way of telling
about the productions of Colorado thai
by stating what l saw at the Second
Annual Fair, held here last week, and
every department OF which was we'll
illed. Squashes weighing from 150 to
23o pounds; beets, cabbage and carrots
were very Large, exceeding any ever
saw III Ohio. Corn is the poorest crop
aised here. Wheat yields from % to
80 bushels to the acre. The specimens
from the mines, and mineral curiOsi-
ties from all parts of the Territory, filled
d large hall, and were attractive on &C.
count of their beauty and value. A
gold brick Was on exhibition, the coin
value of which was So, 1894. "a. For
once l wished / had brick in nv
hat,' and to be allowed to choose the
brick. One very interesting and excl
ting feature of the Fair was the Iaditt,
races. Several Indians were furnished
horses by the members of the Associa-
ton. for the purpose of running one
round in a race, to show their efficienc:=
as bareback riders. The horses being
much swifter and more spirited than
the ponies they usually ride, they be-
came very much excited, and each one
determined not to stop till ne. won the
race. The owners of the horses thought
to catch them the second round, but
saw their folly in time TO get out of the
way and keep from being run over.
By the time they came around the third
time they had the track blockaded, ,and
| am sorry to say the race stopped, for
1 know the boys would like to have
seen it out.
A foot race bet ween two Puebla Indians
and two white men, was easily won by
the young Indian, who came in 80
yards ahead. The distance run was u
half mile, time minutes, % seconds.
Before running, the Indians cast aside
all regard for fashion, and very near
all of their clothes. The Hon. Schuy-
Ter ColfaX delivered all address the last
day.
To those who contemplate coming to
Colorado to make it their home, and
who expect to find it Garden of Eden,
| will say they are doosled to disap-
pointment, for what constitutes beauty
in the estimation of those whose de-
scription of the place you have read, is
high mountains, deep, narrow canons,
rocky streams, and clear lakes. The
land which you will have to choose for
farms is now barren and sandy, and