Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-09-19
From IngnlundsOn.

Editor Transcript and Friends IL, Mo,Uer County,
Agreeable to promise I will give you a
short sketch Of my journey to this place
and how am doing here.
would first speak of the courtesy of
Railroad men-of course we would ex-
pect nothing but the best treatment from
our own boys at Austin, as no stranger
much less friend, receives anything but
courteous treatment from them, but I am
under obligations that perhaps I never
can repay to James McGrath, Harvey
Allen and Parker Goodwin for assistance
in obtaining tickets over the fastest routes
to this place, and the information fur
nisheG me in regard to the journey, with
out which should have been bothered a
deal. know that these gentlemen did
all in their power and spent much time
in fixing me straight all the way from
Austin via Ottumwa, Moberly and Kan.
sas City to Denver. 1 received nothing
but the kindest treatment from Railroad
men ,as we'll as fellow passengers; on every
hand was assisted. From Denver tc this
place, distance Of rs miles, have moth
ing to say-it is over the Denver and Rio
Grand r. r., a narrow gauge; l should
judge the management is about as narrow
as the gauge.
I arrived at Colorado Springs at noon
and went to the Colorado Springs Hotel,
kept by ]. F. Atherton, Esq, formerly of
Austin. I was used up native when I
got there, and it was all I could do to
crawl to my room, which I kcrt pretty
close that afternoon and night, but the
next morning I felt better. [ called no
doctor, thought If had to die 1 would
die a natural death, or words to that
effect. Asthma which had left me two
or three weeks before left Austin re-
turned "dou ble- geared" the night I
stopped in Denver, and it continued
though lighter, for some time, and now
there is scarcely symptom Of it left
although l exert myself considerably.
Atherton's family, every one of them
d id all IN their power to make me com
Portable and to cheer me up. The Hotel
is A No. I, the best IN Colorado Springs
and that is saying great deal.
Last Wednesday was invited to take
ride with Frank Atherton through the
mountain passes up to the foot of Pixies
Peak. Tie first place we struck was old
Town." the original village two miles dis
tant. There Mr.. Hawley. The man who
drove the horse Little Sam" at horse.
race in Austin some years ago, keeps q
hotel. The next point We struck was Moni
ton, near the foot of Pixies Peak; here is
where the famous Mineral Springs bub
BILE out of the rocks. The Soda Spring
is situated in the center of the village aud
one mile further up the gulch, we foun
the Iron Ute the waters Of whick arc used
by lnvalids more than that of the other
springs. Here dlsmOunted and to TX a
drink; The gas is so strong that it feels
like corkscrews going up ones nose. II
is beautiful spring, with Improvements
around it of course and situated in a very
romantic place.
Monitor has three magificent hotels
and number of smaller ones, and in the
summer they are all thronged with guests
One of the principal hotels has already
closed for the season as it is getting quite
cold up there and guests arc leaving every
day by the score. Besides the hotels
there are many fine cottages, built by
wealthy eastern parties who spend their
summers here, and every available spo
has tent or covered wagon on it, where
visitors are rustlcating.
After taking in Monitor we returned
home by way of ''The Garden of the
Gods" one Of the most beautiful, roman.
tic and picturesque spots I ever saw
Single rocks rise. hundreds of feet perpcn
dicularly, only two or three feet in thick
ness at any place between base and top
One rock called the balancing rock,'
that should Judge weighs thousands oi
tons and stands 80 feet high has base OF
only few square feet, and its diameter
must be Is or 80 feet. The road runs
close up to this rock and admit felt a
little nervous while examining it. There
are hundreds Of magnificent rocks all
over the Garden, and the ground is GOV.
cred with beautiful green carpet. The
place deserves good name and "The
Garden of the Gods" seems to have sug.
gested itself to the discoverer. I sup.
posed from the name that 1t had p!ur-
ality of owners and suggested to my com.
paaion that we ought 10 find at least on e
al the owners at home when distinguish.
ed company from Minnesota was expect
ed, but on thorough inspection we found
the Garden vacant-not even an usher
left.
We returned to our hotel after a ride OF
fifteen miles and I felt much refreshed.
This city has q population of about
5000, wide streets with shade trees or
each side of every one and an irrigating
ditch by every row OF trees; for without
irrigation nothing can live in this soil
But much of this is old to your readers.
I came here of course for my health
and expected to receive benefit from thu
climate. My friends had given me up al
home, 50 far as cure was concerned ,and
in fact I was more like corpse than q
live man. If I am not the worst deceived
man in the world, should say am 8
hundred per cent. better than when
came. I am gaining In everything ex
cept in flesh. I have lost lbs. since
came, and had but very little to lose.
don't walk with cane any more and car
trot up and down stairs every day dOzen'
of times If necessary; I walk miles ever.
day around town and feel better for it.
I will avail myself Of this opportunity
10 thank my many friends in Austin wh'
showed my family and myself 50 mucl
kindness during my last spell of sickness
The sympathy received there from 81
many is enough to make man wish t
have his days prolonged.
/ r. Yours very respectfully,
i .@ I. 1NGMUNDsON.
~ q e.. . (N-N