Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-07-29
LETTER FROM COLORADO.
Jos. II. McMonies writes to
the Boys
COLORADO SPRINGS, July II, 1875.

COLORADO SPRINGS, July II, 1875.
Leaving the Grant House, Wheeling
May 22d, We In our usual athletic styl
hoped into an omnibus bound for tn
wharf, on the hunt. Of the Hudson.
A fat old lady-her neat little daughte
and your humble servant, its princi
pal occupants. We we're jostled to tn
wharfa long bean-pole OF man, will
whiskers to his knees, told US in a very
genteel way that our boat was at thu
low er landing. We ordered our maj
to run it down. 1t was a rough be
ginning. We frequently lodged oul
fat companion as she was tumblet
from side to side of that wagon. We
| didn't dodge her pretty daughter; she
was not 50 hefty; we hadn't the spiri
TO get out OF her way-her coming was
always welcome. We have dUdged
mothers before-it's q way we have
We were halted at the post Office
What pile OF Uncle Sans sacks. How
they slash them about! All aboard.
Reached the lower landing just in time
to see our boat rounding out, to return
to the upper wharf Our wagon whirl.
| ed-so did the fat woman-we slid
from under and eased her down as best
our strength would permit. She laugh
ed-her daughter laughed-we all
Iaughed-what else could We do. The
Hudson was found; had more fun for
the money than ever before. The por-
tiers came running from the boat, and
ordered US to see our mother and sister
safe aboard, and they would see to our
baggage. Wei led them along the mar
r,ta nh hHt ~
the weight now on the boards; Of the
strength of the boards, and OF our own
muscle In case Of 5reakage- but they
didn't break. We were aboard; our
mother took our checks and all was
lovely. 1t took us the balance of the
day to learn the officers and porters
that we were neither root nor branch OF
that fat woman's family:
AT Topeka, we find ourselves out Of
range OF the hoppers, and everything
looks prosperous. We forgot to men
tlon that the Missouri river was on
somewhat of high as we passed
along its banks. A muddy, dirty,
stumpy, shaggy stream it is too. The
Ohio is the finest river for scenery,
clear water, and free from drift, that
we have yet found In the west. At the
middle Of June, along the Kansas riv-
er, potatoes were knee high, corn waist
high, wheat nicely out In head, corn
fields so large we could not see across
them; we saw one wheat field of 1900
acres, thick and level on top as a pane
Of glass. II you want to buy a farm,
ride along that road till Silver Lake
city is reached, get OF, and buy, we
saw no particular disadvantages. FL
nally the Great American Desert Is
reached, 400 miles wide, and running
north and south from Mexico to Brit
ish Provinces. This desert Is mostly
covered with short weeds, and buffalo
grass, and looks green the entire way
across. No dust there, and little
streams abound. Wagon roads and
cattle ranches are also plenty. Num-
bers of men are employed hunting and
gathering the bones of buhalo and 9th.
er dead animals, and shipping them to
the bone mills elsewhere. Remains OF
mud or sod houses, prairie dogs In their
little towns, owls sitting on, and flying
among them, antelope, grey wolves,
red foxes, some squirrels and rabbits,
heads Of buffalo, are some Of the princi-
pal curiosities along this road. At a
point called First Sight one hundred
and sixty miles from the mountains,
you ean see Pixies Peak-come nearer
and snow appears. We are acquainted
with the men on the Peak at the y. s.
Signal Once; had an invite TO 70 up
will 60 some day. Denver Is quite
business city, and far ahead Of Eastern
towns cf Its population. Every person
vff1ao sal Arlrao s1A foot Tbn
ranch mon, and herders dash through
big wooden and ran-hide saddles, big
raw.hide whips, hfty yard. Of lariat, a
big blanket strapped on behind, aud
great rattllng spurs, making q strong
contrast with the fancy dressed gentle
men and ladies, driving their fancy
horses, glitterlns carriages, harness
gold mounted, and all other outfits to
correspond. No Eastern city can pile
on more style than doe. Denver. The
narrow gauge Railroad between Dem
yer and Colorado Springs does thriv-
ing business. After q jaunt Of about
230o miles we landed at Colorado
Springs on the 18th Of June. This town
was laid out In July, 1871, and now
they claim $500 population; $50 houses
built since last fall; all business houses
are being built Of stone and brick;
dwellings mostly Of wood. It Is ex.
pected that we will have another rail-
road here before a great while, and
then another start. We walked out to
Mts. Washington and Lincoln, about
two and 4 half miles south, few days
since, and had a fine view of the snr-
rounding country. Three gentlemen
and boy went Out-we was the boy.
We have also visited Glen Erie, the
garden Of the Gods, Monitu and Ute
Passes-they are on the mountains;
crawled on all fOurs into large cave
saw Grace Grcenwood's house among
the bushes; IL Is like humble bees
nest, you are not apt to see 1t unless
you stumble against it. Everything is
first class here-particularly prices
people here from all quarters OF the
globe; the springs are seven In number
all cold; Navijo Is the most cele-
brated Of its class; the water from this
spring Is both used for drinking and
bathing purposes, and can be tempered
to suit. A bath, cold or warm, every
thing furnished, costs so cents. The
Iron Ute Is the principal iron spring;
both 1t and the soda have sharp, spark
ling taste, and flies up your nose like
bottledi pop. The water Is delivered
at 20 cents per gallon through town,
and there are 120 houses that use IL
regularly. The soda water comes boil
ing from a large rocky basin about 30
by go inches at the mouth-don't know
its depth. The Iron Ute Is situated
farther up the mountains In wild,
shady nook, and comes
from natural deep rocky spring; the
rocks are all Of brown iron color.
Comfortable seats, a roof, = mountain
stream dashins and ripping by, pure
and clear from the snow banks Of Pixies
Peak, drink, drink-no charges. This
ravino has a smeoth road, Is full Of
fashion, life, and style. Still further
up, rocks reaching to the clouds on
either side, at our left a deep, rocky
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