Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-01-29
Letter from Colorado.


|
Jan. Is, 1875.
Mr.. EDITOR While the cold stormy
weather is keeping me shut up in the
house, l am thinking that few items
concerning affairs in this territory, may
be of interest to your readers. For
week or ten days past, the weather has
been cold enough for genuine New
England winter, though with sudden
changes which are striking feature Of
Colorado weather The ground is COW
cred with snow to depth of eight or
ten inches, and, had we only the sleighs,
would have fine sleighing Our ther-
mometer has ranged from 23o below zero
to about 400 above. Twice during this
time, it has varied 50' within few
hours. We are close up to the noun
tains; further out on the plains the cold
is greater. At Greeley, fifty miles north
east from here, ii has been reported at
400 below. The older residents say that
such cold weather is new experience to
them in Colorado. We Vermonters rath-
er like it; it is never so very cold in the
middle of the day. Such weather makes
it hard case FOR the stock raisers, and
much worse for the poor stock cattle,
horses and sheep-which are roaming
over the vast plains by hundreds and
thousands, without any protection save
that which nature has provided. In
this region of country, | regard the bus
mess of stock-raising as hazardous, unless
food and shelter are provided, which can
be resorted to in these seasons of severe
weather, which are liable to occur. No
mails have been received from the east,
via the Kansas Pacific r. Rfor more than
week. No less than seven trains are
reported blockaded between Kansas city
and Denver. Trains have arrived daily,
one day excepted, via the Union Pacific
and Denver Pacific Railroad
Last summer Colorado shared in the
grasshopper plague, though to less
extent than Kansas and Nebraska. 1t
is estimated that about one-third of the
wheat crop was destroyed, many farmers
losing their entire crop, obliging those,
who had not surplus to live upon, to
mortgage their farms to raise it, for
which they are paying ! or 2 per cent.
monthly interest.
Farming, though attended with con-
siderable risk, is profitable in ordinary
seasons, since the mining settlements af-
ford an excellent market for all kinds Of
produce Mining is the backbone of the
territory.
Wheat is the principal crop, of which
Colorado raises the best, and more per
acre than any state in the union. Most
of the rain fall occurs in April and May,
after which the farmers depend wholly
upon irrigation. Only small portion
of the land can ever be cultivated, on
account of lack of water for irrigating
purposes, but affords an excellent range
for stock which thrives we'll, the grasses
being very nutritious.
Colorado has already gained a wide
reputation for its fine climate On ac.
count of its clear, dry atmosphere, it is
particularly beneficial to persons atfiict.
ed with diseases of the throat and lungs
Its population is largely made up of re
constructed invalids | think however
the general healthfulness of the country
is over-estimated by the people east
Doubtless the high reputation it ha'
gained is due in measure to the benefit
derived from the long open air journey
across the plains which until the build
ing of the Pacific Railroad all incomers
were obliged to endure. Aside from
throat and lung diseases, there is a!
much sickness here as one will. find il
most towns of the same size in New En-
| gland, The climate is bad for nervous
people and those afflicted with heart dis
ease. Most people, on coming here, ex
perience for time more or less of Ian
guild, tired feeling, because of the rarity
of the atmosphere.
| Boulder, the county seat of Boulder
county, is forty-eight miles by rail north
west of Denver, situated right at th,
base of the great mountains and at tn,
mouth of the celebrated Boulder canyon
which presents some of the grandes
scenery in the country. 1t has popu
lation of twenty-five hundred. 1t i
supported mainly by the rich farminj
country and adjacent mining settlements
and in business point of view rank
| among the first towns in the territory. 1t
| natural advantages are all that could b
/ reasonably expected. Within radiu
| of twenty miles are to be found the bes
t coal, gold and silver mines yet discover
: ed. The growth of the town has beel
: quite rapid within the last few year.
e The following figures, taken from tn
: assessment list, will show the increase
Al