The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-06-12
Written for The Spirit of Democracy.l
LETTER FROM COLORADO.

readers of The SPIRIT. espcc ally those
who have thoughts Of ming here
In coming into the Sac on the K ,nsas
Pacific Railroad one would imagine it a
barren country; nothing to be seen mt a
few small villages, owned principally bv
the Railroad Company, and an immense
waste Of country fl for no purpose ex
c'pt grazing; but on arriving in DAnver
CITY we fad things presenting a different
appearance We find a neat city of about
10000 inhabitants and to all appearance
husiuess was in fl lurishing cnndition ;
some very fiho b INKS, mercantile houses
and hotels. The country around the city
is not extra good, but very we'll adapted
to farming.
We continued our journey down the
Platte River, ard 1t was MT long before
we c,ull account for the snrcess of Den
yer On the river we find a fertile valley
that grows hay and grain in abundance -
We came 10 the county seat Of Wclde
County, Evans, a small but neat town
Four and half miles from there We
reached Greeley. the incest to wn have
seen. 1t was laid out some six years ago
by Horace Greeley, from whom it took
its name; it contains some very 6ne
churches, dwellings and business houses
has population of about 1000, and is
located on the d p. R. r., distance OF
so miles from the Capital. On entering
the city through the gates the traveller is
reminded Of cities of ancient renown-
lis surrounded by colony fence which
encloses 80, 600 acres of land. The side.
walks on either side of the street ste sha.
ded by nice trees We can look to the
north and see the snow-capped noun
tains, in the midst of which is Longs
Peak, or to the west aud see Pixies Peak
towering high above the surrounding
mountains. We left Greeley to visit
what is known as the South Platte settle
ment, distance of about 100 miles down
the South Platte River. We find houses
and small settlements scattered along the
valley, sometimes a distance Of ten miles
apart; great many OF the houses are
owned by stock men whose herders occu.
py them. On the way down we see, a:
some of the boys remarked, Gods coun
try. There is a first and second bottom,
and then what is called the bluffs, pasture
lands. The first bottom is from half to
two miles in width, ,andl is no uncommon
thing to see the second bottom from 4 tc
6 miles in width, with soil equal to any or
the Ohio River bottoms Fully seven
eighths of this land belongs to the Gov
ernment One might be led to inquire
why il is that so much of this land is lying
vacant; there are several reasons: II il
quite distance from market; the Soutt
Platte settlement have to 60 80 miles to
store Another reason: it has not beer
long since the Indians we're troublesome
in this region. Onour way down We pas;
the walls OF old Fort Morgan; saw th'
American Ranch which was taken but q
few years ago BY the Indians, after a hare
fight; we visited what is known In history
as the battle ground near the Soutl
Platte settlement; also Cap Rock ant
Rock Springs. 20 miles back in the bluffs
stock raising is carried on extensively IL
this country men own large herds o
cattle One man, Mr. Ilitf, known as th,
cattle king, owns over 40, 900 head, and
am told that he commenced in the bust
ness about ten years ago on but little cap
ital. The cattle winter here without feed
ling them. 1t is no uncommon sight t
see from 2,000i to 5000 head Of cattle be
/ tween the rrver aud tue bluffs, at diavrvu
points, that have come in for water. Cat
| lie at this time are fat and nice on th'
range.
/ Sheep raising here is profitable bust
ness; some men have very large herds :
Sheep here are free from burs, conse
quently their wool is nice and clean :
Some focks aretroubled somewhat will
scab, but sheep men say it only cost abou
one cent per head to cure them
This is good farming country, espe
cially for small grain, wheat, oats and bar
/ ley. Some farmers have as much as 50'
acres sown, and tits looking we'll Th
average yield of wheat is about 80 bush
els to the acre. oats go, barley So 1t i
not so good for corn, though have bee
told they raise as much as so bushels L
the acre, but this is not common thing
Vegetables of all kinds do better her
than in Ohio
Colorado, like all other countries, ha
its drawbacks. There is no timber O
any consequence, except in the noun
tains. The people often have to har
their timber for fencing so miles. Cos
is tolerably plenty. Buffalo chips ar
plenty and are used extensively for fue
There is not enough rain to keep th
ground moist enough to raise crop
consequently people have to irrigat
their land, which is far better than raj
in raising crop. Another great draw
back to this country, there is no fru
only that which is produced spontant
ously. There is any quantity Of cul
rants, cherries, plums, sarvices, raspbel
ries, gooseberIies, strawberries, &c,
the mountains, and they are easily gath
cred, as they all grow on small bushes
except the plum, the cherry and the sa
vice; bushes do not grow over four fet
in height, and are loaded from th
ground to the top with fruit. Anothe
cherry has been discovered down th
South Platte lately the cherries resen
BILE the black heart cherry of the east :
They grow on small bushes in the bluffs
the bushes do not grow over 10 inche
high, and when the cherries are ripe the
bend the bushes to the ground.
This country, like some of the otht
western States, has been bothered som
with the grasshoppers. l am told th'
they never come in time to hurt tt
small grain, but when they do come the
get the corn and everything not matu
ed. This is o healthy climate; a gre
many come here for their health. Viii
game is plenty here, especially in I'll
mountains. Plenty Of antelope on tt
bluffs. Yours. W. H, B.
4 Wants a Show for His Honey.
.s l.. IL g. r.