New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-13


the mineral riches Of this part OF the Territory.
Perhaps ut may be serviceable to your readers If
warn them against embarkiDg their fundS in either
Of the mines named above before making inquiries
the spot and seeing the property with their eWn
eyes.
The transition from the observing stations in
Wyoming Territory to those the Centennial State
is a striking one. The chief In the latter were ut
Central City, Denver, Pixies Peak and Pueblo. OF
the citizens of Denver consider that nowhere
the eclipse and studied TO greater advantage
than in the capital of the State. The Rocky Mountain
Nelos holds that the event cannot be better known
in history than as the Denver eclipse. II the title
Rocky Mountain Eclipse" had been suggested 1t
might have had more likelihood Of adoption. In
some respects the observers on Pixies Peak had the
best opportunity for making observations One of
them was so affected by the rarefcation Of the air
that he had to be carried down shortly before tho
event; another, Professor Langley, whose sclenthc
eminence is both well meFited aud widely apPreci-
ated failed 10 make any special discovery, though
he obtained an array Of facts which will prove OF
service to astronomical science General Niger care
fully studied the phenomena with aview OF gaining
new facts for his weather forecasts.
Yet what was most notable at that lofty spot was
the eclipse as a spectacle Standing so high above
the plains the mere sightseer. as well as the man
awo-inspiring prospect Of the moons vast shadow
sweeping over the region below HIM. That region
is one of the most wonderful thus theatre OF natu-
raj marves. Nowhere on the earths surface IS
piece of ground TO he seen bearing clearer impress
of Natures eccentric handiwork than that which
is STYLED the Garden of the Gods Indeed the entire
mountain range, of which Pixies Peak constitutes
but one of the lofty heights, cannot easily be
matched for variety Of scenery and for grandeur OF
outline and effect Many astronomers paid VISIT
70 MantOu after the eclipse, and explored the sur
rounding places of interest. Among them were
men who had seen all the notable mountains III
India, China and Japan, France, Switzerland and
Italy Some of them traced a likeness between the
Rocky Mountain Range and the Alps, as seen from
BeFne, the Apennines from more than one
Italian city, the range stretching into Chinese Tar
tary, as seen from Pekin, and Fusyama, the great
mountain of Japan, but none OF them could
deny that, as o whole the grand backbone OF
the continent differs from and suIpasses any other
mountain chain. and yields 10 the Himalayas alone
in majesty and vastness. The view OF the noun
tains is almost equalled in impressIveness by the
sight of the canyons which intersect them. One OF
the many views of the kind is obtained during a
trip from Golden TO Central City. The railway,
which Is a narrOw-gauge one. winds up the canyon
like long drawn out and snuous serpent. Now
the height Of many hundred feet BY the time
Black Hawk is reached. the railway Is beheld a
long way up the mountain side and it seems as If It
were impossible for the 10 attain such an ati'
tude However, by zigzaglng backwards and for
wards the eleyationis reached, aud the train stops
in due eonrse at Central CIty. This is largely com
posed OF miners who have left the impoverished
lodes of their native Cornwall 10 find mineral
wealth in another and more favored land. They
have pFOspeTed exceedingly. he population puin-
hers 1000 The sum on deposit IN the baDk -
100000. However the failures here have
been even more abundant than the sue
cesses. On the way over the mountain and
down the valley from Central City 70 Idaho
Springs abandoned mines can be counted by the
hundred the only relic OF capital lost and broken
hearts being holes in the ground from which roth
ing of value can be extracted. Here and there a
miner is still at work buoyed up WITH tho hone OF
one day or other making Big strike. ana tons
idaho Springs nature has supplied what II quite rs
valuable as the finest gold, waters which invgorate
those who M health and restore strength
TO the debiltated. These mineral waters are SAID 10
lac unite rs cfilcacious those Of Mantou. Having
drunk both, and bathed IN them also, am inclined
to give the preference TO the former. Some OF my
companions who were more tastidiOus pronounced
both TO be equally nauseous
Many columns might be filed with an account Of
the strange and interesting things to be seen in
Colorado. / have but given a summary outline Of
few which struck noe the most But. instead Of con
tinuing to describe places let me tun to the persons
who have played the chief part in the eclipse ex-
petitions. Where mnny famous men unite 10
gether for common object il IA difficult as IL GER
tanly Is inYidout 30 single out any one for particular
mention and exceptional praise. feel sure, how
ever that In giving precedence TO Professor Wat
son but interpret the sentiment peryading his
estimabe and distinguished fellow-workers. 1t is
upanestionablo that the discovery of the planet Vul
can is one Of the memorable incidents IN this eclipse.
MANY astronomers searched for II, but 1t has
fallen TO the lot Of Professor Watson TO find il. He
il a man of whom the University Of Michigan NAV
well be proud. The irony Of events - often more
pungent than that of the most eauaic phrases. Can
there be more striking illustration II tIs than tine
fact that Professor Watson, whose association with
the Uniyer sify is in itself an honor TO il. will have
do1Ipfs next OctoGeTi His fault a. well a. that Of
his colleagues appears TO be that OF having been too
devoted and successful IN teaching. They are Ivy
ing examples OF the mistake winch, according TO
TaIeyr nd, is committed by those persons who dis
play too great zeal
Both as an observer and traveller, Professor
Watson has had long experience. lie went with the
party Of astronomers dispatched TO Pekin
TO observe the transit of Venus. Before re-
turning home he trayersed Japan, India,
Egypt and a part Of Europe. While in Egypt.
he gave special attention to the problem of the Pyra
mids and tested by experiment the strange specula-
lions of the Scottish Astronomer Royal. Professor
Pazzi Smytbe. The Khedye would have been glad
of his services. and would certainly have rated
them az higher peeuniary rate than the Legislature
of Michigan. But he preferred his own country to
any other and hence he has been able 10 render it
signal service as original diseoyerer the planet
Vulcan is but the last OF a series with which he is
credited IN scientific annals. No less than twenty
tour asteroids have heretofore been added by him TO
the chart Of the heavens Personally he is modest
Thoroughly master Of his subject to convey TO
Others In the ceaTest way, the results which he has