Middletown transcript., 1878-09-28

formed a nucleus from which spran
the fourishing city of Denver, tina
which there has been no city Of NOR
rapid growth in this country. Th
other stream of gold seekers turne
their eyes towards Pixies Peak, il
which untold wealth in the shape Q
ore was supposed to be hidden AM
ready to yield itself up at a few stroke
of the pick. The Pixies "Peakers'
encamped on the level plateau wher
the Fountain Creek rushes down from
the mountains, where they laid Of
Colorado City, an immense thing OF
paper, and in a few years the settle
ment grew into'a fourishing town o
twelve or fifteen hundred inhabitants
and it is said that its early growth was
much more rapid and solid than even
that of Denver, and that building lots
reached higher figures than did those
Of the latter city in its infancy Min.
ing was an utter failure around Colo
RADIO City, or in the vicinity of Pixies
Peak, and in few years the gold
seekers hied to other localities, but
Colorado City continued TO grow as
an important trading post. The min
ing settlements in the Mount Lincoln
region drew their supplies from the
thriving village at the foot of the
"Peak," ranchmen of the surround
ing country came there to trade and it
was climbing steadily along with Pu-
eblo, growing up with the country" !"
when the inevitable surveyor came
along with his chain and compass
stalking out the most favorable route
for the Denver and Rio Grande mar
row gauge railroad. The company
were desirous of running their road
through the "city" and made favorable
proposals to the citizens and land
holders, but the citizens and land
holders were independent and "ofish"
and told the company if they didn't
feel disposed to come to the city and
pay what was asked for the right Of
way they could go to the d with their
railrOad| The company did not do
this exactly, but they went tive miles
west Of the "city," laid off the town of
Colorado Springs, thoroughly 7adver-
tised their new town and killed the old
"city" dead as a hammer. How often
has this very same thing occurred on
this Peninsula, when citizens of town
or village have only awaked to the i'm
portance Of railroad when the iron
horse has given them a few miles the
go-by, and some heretofore ingignifi-
cant neighbor is reaping the advan-
tages and prosperity at one time with
in their grasp, and which they lost for
want of a little exertion, enterprise
and liberality on their part. As Col
orado Springs climbed up the hill of
Colorado City went down
IN the other side, and in few years
will be known as a thing of the past.
As our stage drew up before the adobe
'tOre, in which the pOst-Ofice is kept,
md threw out the little mail sack, I
ooked around at the scenes of desola-
ion to be found on every side More
han one-half of the buildings on the
main street, some of them large adobe
md red brick structures, were deserted
md going to ruin. Doors stood wide
pen or had been torn from their hin
res, the sash removed from the win
lows and the fences pulled down. In
ONE of these buildings horses and cat
lie were stabbed. Two or three adobe
torres we're open, but there was no
Gene Of activity about them; indeed,
be only branch of business that ap-
cared to prosper in Colorado City
Tas the whiskey business, there being
bout dozen saloons and liquor stores
4 full blast. Colorado Springs being
temperance town (on account of the
law there in force in re-
ard to the sale of liquor) Colorado
jity gets the whiskey trade of thes
ounding country. Ifa man gets Bit
IN by a tarantula, or imagines that
e will be bitten by one, he must go
the "city" for his remedy. So Col !
RADIO City is like an old topper on his :
lst legs. Whiskey keeps them alive, :
ut their lives hang on slender
lread that will some day suddenly '
zap and both will be forgotten. The !
ade from the mining camps in the
ountains, that used to fall into the =
p of Colorado City,nOw goes through :
er streets (Only stopping to take !. :.
ink to her more enterprising neigh :,
n, Colorado Springs; where the ! !,
.eat canvass-coyered wagons are load =
! with merchantable articles and :
arted daily for the mountain towns. L
Colorado City is truly a deserted = Y
llage and I was glad when its d. :
pidated buildings were left behind. :,
fter leaving this point the road be- ).
mes more winding and the ascent :
ore noticeable. We are getting al J,
ost into the mountains now. The 8
'epressible patent medicine man has :,
en- along here and decorated every :,
ject of interest with his abominable