Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-11-19
Western Correspondence.
GREELEY. COLORADO.
Nov z. 1873.
Mr.. EdttOr:-

Mr.. Bditor:-
The last great Indian excitement is
over. Those of our own citizens who
were reported killed 10 the eastern part
OF our county. have come in, 10 dispute
tho report. All is quiet at the sea, of
war; but very many of our citizens rl"ng
the South Platte Valley. fed from he
terrible unseen enemy that was murder.
Ing louuring and mutiating, not very
far away 10 The southeast. The pap, rs
tell us that the Indians had been grossly
abused on their reservation until forced
TO shit Tor themselves; that until they
were pursued aud attacked by the U S
soldiers they committed no excuses, ex-
cept in the line OF stealing few head OF
horses. Idarc say this is all too true, yet il
does not excuse The Indians ven much, in
my opinion.
they found themselvs betrayed and
it may be abused by the government,
officials, and in retaliation ommitted out
RACES upon men women and mere babes,
that no pen will ever dare dmly hint at.
Forty persons are known to have PEI ished.
Is it any wonder that men who know
these things talk OF pursuing and exter.
minating these noble red men? Eastern
men talk very differently about these
things from Eas' ern-Wes,ern men,
be who has found his own home in ashes,
and his baby hanging. liieless, from a
tree, where it has persisted by SOW de-
grees, is not the man to phiIosnphizs very
patiently about the wrongs OF the Indian.
Some ears since heard an aged minis
ter give his views upon the Indian Ques-
ton. Said he, Il would place them upon
their reservation with arms and tools
and say III you find white man upon
your reservation, shoot him at sight.
Then | would say TO white man, III you
find an Indian off his reservation. shoe,
HIM al sight, aud ibis would soon force
the Indian to 60 to work and there would
be no more trouble" This struck me as
hardly the gospel of peace, but not in
consistent with very much al the old gen.
tleman', theology.
Th"se arc degenerate days The old
timer who sold his potatoes tor five cents
per pound, his wheat for twelve and one
halt cents. and water. elons and a pound
of butter each for dollar, ca now get
but three tourlhs Of cent for potatoes.
one cert Tor wheat. twenty-five cents Tor
butter and five or ten cents for wat er
melons Colorado is no longer the land
OF high prices. Many things conspire to
bring them down. The production OF
whes,. corn. hry. potatoes horses. sheep.
cattle All hogs has been greatly in
creased As good flour a. can be found
in the world can be- bough, Tor - 90 per
sack Of 81 lbs. A fore quarter OF beef
can he purchased at four cents per pound,
aud dry goods are said to be proportion
ally as cLeap. Great bitches are being
taken out in all parts OF the country where
there is q water supply. ard so produc-
ton tends 20 overbalsnce consumption.
In years gone by tho remark has not
been uncommon, that Colorado would be
q good country if we could only raise
fruit; and then the sad words would
come with sigh, I'VE shall never have
any fruit" Such remarks are not now in
order; for Colorado is yet 10 have fruit to
those who have both faith and works.
My nearest neighbor, David +. Hapgood,
formerly OF Waterford, has raised over
two bushels of apples this year. Excel
lent grapes are raised in several gardens
10 town, and small fruits are most abun.
dani. 10 one garden i par!ook in one
evening of grapes. apples, plums and
peaches. So it is that we are all taking
courage; and If ever your apple supply
is as short as ours this year, and we send
sou Colorado apples. hope you will no;
have to pay FIVE dollars for the freight on
single barrel. o. II.