New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-01
THE FAR VEST.
VALLEY OF THE ARKANSAS.


YORK
(rRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNEl
COLORADO SPRINGS, April 24.-That the new
railroads OF the Far West rule better equipped
than the the East cannot be denied Standing
the other morning In Kansas City, the Missouri RIVER
surrounded by the trains of ten distinct roads, all com
paratively new, surprised to hnd them Iurnsheo
with every well established device tending to lessen the
danger and increase the comfort Of railway travel E1
perience will demonstrate that the actual annoyances'
the Jar and clatter and crash the insufficient accommo
datons and general air OF stiffness all cease as soon ~
the open prairie country reached and the sharp curves
and deep rock Of the Alleghanes have been LETT
behind. Repeated trips various transcontinentai
roads enable me to mako just comparisons. and 1t Is
certainly beauty OF surroundings wealth OF
OF cultivation route to Southern
Colorado the cattle ranges OF the Southwest and the
mineral deposits Of the San Juan country and Arizona,
is comparable with this, which winds 80
pleasantly through the two most fertile valleys
OF the Western plains In vain try
TO recall which OF the 20 pretty little towns scattered
along the line south Topeka boasts the biggest brick
church or the ourishing schoohOuse The country
brstles with these evidences OF civilization Dropped SUD
denly passing cloud fter the fashion OF hesh
IN Kentucky or from escaped balloon into the center
OF one OF these spruce little towns, the Dcwdered
traveller would be loss to determine whether nc had
landed in a New-Engand village or an embryo city OF
the plains The neatness and thrift OF his immediate
SURROUNDINGS would certainly suggest the former ana
till the eye wandering to the horizon had raversed
the limtess expansc OF alluvial bottoms fanked Dy
rolling stretches OF grassy upland prairie dotted with
the homes OF pioneers and Aecked with fields OF waving
grain would fully realize his whereabouts. IL Is diff
cult to understand how the worn soil OF the Middle
States long compete in productyeness with the loan
Of this southern section OF Kansas Industry and con-
attention are however requisite here as else
where. The farmer who comes here and, finding that
nature cleared his land ready for the pillow, grumbles
Providence has not turned the sod and built
his fences is no more likely succeed here than in less
favored localities.
At Hutchinson 40 miles south OF Topeka, we entered
the great Valley OF the Arkansas 400 miles east Of Pu-
eblo than five years this portion of the country
was wholly given to the buffalo and the savage
Only the most fearless caeherdcr then dared to locate
his ranch and pursue his occupation beyond the lmrnc-
date protection Of the frontier line OF forts Now all Is
changed. The farmer peacefully s the soil and the
soldier eats the bread Of ideness Game still abundant
enough tempt the sportsman, and We saw plenty OF
buffalo antelope and Wild fowl Inc lndlan mas sought
another huntnground and the Western Valley OK The
Arkansas is reclaimed for civilization
from attractive. Though it drains enormous ex-
tent or territory. and is fed by innumerable minor
sand islands and shifting bars, This ia due IN great
the constant absorption OF its waters by me
Stratum fine moisture penetrates the bottoms miles
either side and retained during the dryest seasons
/
ditces which renders possible the cultivation OF tue up
OF colorado first met with here The ditch is be
gun at he point of the river advantage Is taken
OF the fall OF the river bed, and the water Is
led back often for several miles along inc me OF ue
piulf whence IL spread the grain heids as
occasion may require. This Is doubtless reprehen,
-ible ~ an interference with the established laws OF
nature but the universal opinion Of Colorado farmers Is
that irrigation beats Providence all hollow Wheh inc
weuthcrs dry In general way, however, the valley
~ her adagted for sockraising than for agriculture
Any sheep not cOntented WIN NOME HeIe tho
wear round ought to converted into chops and steaks
\
cuent gramma grass and durlns inc suora minte D
ward 10 lilo smoky River aud southwark TO the Cina-
IRON ought certainly satisfy the most exaeting beast
that ever chewcd the cud.
Thousands of cattle already the river banks on
either side. aud suDsist the year r2u,i Wi' I ~
est suspicion OF artificial food or shelter ihey roam NJ
IN except when rounded up" twiceay
and branding or for saugGtGr OF S tSrorSont the
Territory The process Is an eXhilatlnS one !or ue
men and an exciting one tor the beasts Picture an open
of % or 80 miles. over this extent are scattered
hidden in it, arroyos secreted in its almost mpena
trabe bluerowns OF interacng pinyon trees TINS is
nounced the cattle upon this particular range err
cumscrbed probably by certain natural boundaries OF
river or bun line will be rounded up" at DESIGNATED
spot and the 90 probable owners OF Stock WITHIN Tue
range requested 10 be present 10 assist IN the
select their own animals from the general herd BY day
break the country Is aStf Eacn sloc Ao"Her Win LIS
ersmen starts for the appointed place, securing the
rouutry ms he goes, leaving hoof behind,
10 matter what the brand, and driving AL before MN
toward a common center In this way frequently from
5000 10 900 head OF cattle are collected III single
herd Around the circumference OF this circle OF cattle
ride owners aud herders driving in the wanderers ana
guarding against possible stampede. When all Is ready
The process OF cutting GU" begins. Noun td on
swift-footcd and quckwitted Texan or Indian pony
each rauchman with his selects an animal plainly
marked with his brand and forces II out OF the com
mon herd a convenient distance where u Is heid DIV
others process is repeated aud smaller herds are
formed around the main one This work goes ON Tor
several days I'll at last there remain ohy ahhs Win
indstinct disputed brands. and mavericks, OF AM
mails with brands at all. Al this point IN the proceed
inss the hercest disputes sometimes urlsc conSelh
prOpretorshp aud in the old times many man dropped
ont OF the saddle shot to The heart -, ,... -
The freshest industry OF THIS section is the eipent 10
Eastern OF beef slaughtered here Al Las Ahnasi
from winch point the htenlson Topeka, ala saala re
gherhouse has been built and the possibility OF
shipment in this manner practically demonstrated In
itself this enterprise Is utterly unlnporaht, put as
single toward the equalization OF the relative price
of beef and III Newlor IL is worthy OF careful at
ention. Far western cattle when shipped on the moor
10 eastern markets. after having been driven hundreds
OF miles shipping point, lose 80 much IN weight ana
quality as TO be to worthless upon their arrival.
When slaughtered here on large scale ana snippeu
mo why good beef should be 80 cents pound in
| Ney-York and 10 cents in Colorado:
Pueblo, Oh the Arkansas River, the present terminus
of the road city of considerable pretensons and fair
promise. Four years have elapsed since last saw Pu
prospeTity has been very marked Its advance has en-
croached upon the surrounding wastes Water mas been
led fro the upper Arkansas through ditch II miles
| long out upon an open mesa or table land
south of the river, and trees grow, flowers bloom and
men build upon what was then u barren alkali desert
seemingly forever given over TO the production OF soap
weeds aud brush From this point the Denver aud
Rio 1Iaude Railroad norward to Colorado Springs
and Denver westward TO Canon City. whence stages set
omt trweekly the Del Norte and the mining districts
of san Juan Already the Spring tide Of emigration sets
strongly toward these southern gold heds, IN which all
seem To have much faith. The mule is again hooked
70 The prairie scho0ner aud of for San juan Is the
parng sautation OF the day Meantime we nave turned
aaSiie "a watch from this point the Springme shadows
and SHOWS alternately dakcn aud brighten the face OF
that grim peak which discovered 40 years ago Dy
later the center of gold excitement similar 10 tnht
which now turns all speculative venture to"aru San
Juan.