The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-30
Letter From Colorado.

SAGUAoHE, SAGUAcHE Co., CoLoRADo,)
August 10, 1876.
Editor Rutland Globe This town is
situated on the Saguache creek, from which
it derives its name, and is the equity scat
of Saguache county. 1t has several large
grocery stores, enc dry goods. one hard
ware, two saloons, two hotels, shops of al
kinds and printing Office, where is issued
the Saguache Chronicle, edited by Judge
]. w. FELTON,, aud it is wide-awake west
ern weekly.
To the north and west of the town are
the Saguache mountains and fertile val
ley, through which the Saguacbe creek
winds its way. This word Saguache is
pronounced Sa-watch, giving the sound
of alb, and accenting the last syllable. 1t
is an Indian word, with Spanish orthogra-
ply, and means blue waters. The soil of
this valley is very rich, growing nearly all
kinds of grain, and has much fine grazing
land. To the south ard east is the far
famed San Luis park, which has length
of over $50 miles and breadth of from 10
TO so miles. This park, or valley, is so
nearly level that in riding nearly It's whole
length it is hard to tell if you are ascending
or descending. There is luxurious growth
of grass all through it, and on it thousands
of cattle and sheep roam and feed both
summer and winter. There is also excel
lent grain land in it, wheat yielding from
40 to 60 bushels to the acre, oats so to co
bushels, with an average weight Of about
40 pounds to the bushel; peas growing
rank, and having large yield Vegeta-
bles, too, do WE'LL an acre of potatoes near
the town yielding 400 bu.hels last fall.
Pork sold here last fall for $15
per cwt., and they fatted it by
simply giving the hogs free access
to the stacks of peas, and yet venture to
say there is not one ranch man in ten who
plants hill of potatoes or sows any grain,
| and know of but two or three men in the
| township who raise even the pork they
consume. The fact is that the mort of tie
people here and labor a long time since
had disagreement, and time has so served
to widen the breach, that even the crossing
the palms so freely with silver has no lee
onclling effect,
The frat settlement in this county was
made on Klrber creek, about twelve miles
north from here, in September, 1865. 1t
is estimated that there are about 5000 in
habitants in the county now. In 1867 the
amount of assessed property was $35, 5S4,
and now by reference to the county assess
ment roll, access TO which was kindly
given us by the county clerk, we find the
amount asseste ed is $40 34S. The total of
all lands assessed is ,34S acres-home-
steads are not assessed. of this, one man
owns 100000 acres, it being a Spanish
| grant. or cattle there are owned in the
county about q. 900 h6a | ard IL, 600 sh, ep.
or these the greatest number owned by
one party Is, of cattle, 2 GG7, and OF sheep,
5000.
The San Luis park contains $4,000
square milee, and is wa'ered by over thirty
streams. The county OF Saguache, l am
told, has nearly million and half acres
of land. BY far the greater part of this is
government land, and consists of mount
aims, yet In these there is abundance of
very nutritious grass, on which stock
thrive and fatten the year around. Game.
is abundant, and the large streams are full
Of trout. Many an hour have we spent
taking these speckled beauties from the
blue waters of the Saguache creek, the
largest we have yet landed weighing two
pounds, and the finest string tuning the
scales at eighteen and a half pounds. In
the San Luis creek are thousands of ducks
and mary geese, but as the game law runs
until the 10Th inst, and as we wish to be
law abiding, we have RETAINED from salut-
ing them as yet. In the mountains all
around may be found plenty of grouse,
deer, some elk, bears, mountain lions and
mountain sheep,
Looking eastward and across to San Luis