The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-09-25
LETTER FROM COLORADO.
FROM OUR wAsHrNeroS comsEsroNDENr

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST;
Coming from Leadville here, by way
Of Georgetown, we cross the main range
Of mountains twice, and have the bene-
fit Of some views Of snowy peaks and
rock bound slopes. But the journey is
a hard one The roads are very had, aud
this slow, tedious climbing, varied only
hy equally difficult descending, becomes
exceedingly monotonous, to say the
least. Middle Park, through which we
come, is anything hut real park. II is
simply a sandy plain Of several hundred
acres extent, lying between the ranges,
and covered with deadlooking grass,
called "bufIalo grass" But il is fine
for grazing purposes, aud here they call
il a park. The word park. however,
conveys the idea Of something more
fertile and inviting than / have seen
anywhere in this barren region. Not
the least interesting sight incident % a
Journey such as we have just taken is
witnessed in travelling in the sunshine
along the base of mountain, while a
violent snow-squall RACES at the top,
seemingly tut a short distance away.
But even such scenes as that grow mo-
notonous after time.
Colorado is indeed a wonderful eoun-
try. The grandness Of its mountain
scenery and Gallons can only be appre-
ciated toy those who have been here.
This is my third trip-the first having
been made in 1873, and the second last
year-and l shall not take back any Of
I the e5travagaut things | have said Of
/ the scenery-the lofty mountains and
I the suow-capped peaks the wonderful
. formations and marvellous evidences Of
a terrible angry upheaval Of nature
some time in the distant past, th housands
and thousands Of years ago, the contem-
-platiOn OF which fills one with awe and
amazement. II is, though disappoint-
/ ing to some, to my mind well worth
coming to see. The disappointed tour
lists are those who expect to find land
flowing with milk aud honey-trees
covered with gold and silver foliage, aud
alive with birds OF gorgeous plumage.
But the grandeur we find is quite the
reverse Of that. 1t is Of the cold, stately
aud barren sort, yet none the less grand.
Yet 1t is not in any sense an attractive
country, for these lofty mountains,
"grand, gloomy and peculiar" are all
there is TO see. 1t is not, aud never can
be, an agricultural region. 4 soil Of
sand and alkali, without water, can
never become a profitable producing
combination, though 1t Is possible, by
irrigation and the application Of abund-
ant artificial means, to obtain here and
there a respectable garden spot. Aud
the journey across the plains is a trying
one TO the traveller Of aesthetic tastes
The last 800 or 400 miles Of the road lies
through what is known as 'fThe Great
American Desert" dreary, barren,
sandy plain, upon which sage brush and
prairie dogs are the only living things
that can exist. never knew real
fatigue from travel until ! took this
journey. IL tires not only the body, but
the mind, while the terrible alkali dust
in hot Summer day is almost intoler-
able. This is particularly the case COM
ing in by the Banana Line" at Pueblo,
which surrounds the most God forsaken
country the sun ever shone upon. The
Kansas Pacific route is not so bad,
though there is plenty of desert either
way. In 1873 there were plenty of buf-
falo and antelope along this route, but
now only few antelope are to be seen.
The buffalo are not only becoming COM
paratively scarce on the plains, but the
railways have driven them farther
north. Like their enemies, the Indians,
they retreat before the advance Of civili-
cation.
Six years ago, Denver was a smart
town of perhaps 1900 or 5000 inhab-
itants, all very busy. To-day It is a
handsome, well-built, bustling city Of
three times that size, and doing an i'm
mense trade-over thirty million dollars
per year. Besides the resident popula-
tion, there are present here four or five
thousand tourists, coming and going,
during the Summer season at least.
They spend good deal of money here
in one way aud another, aud make the
hotel business good. David A. Gage,
formerly City Treasurer of Chicago, is
managing the Grand Central, and ma kes
successful landlord. He was at one
time considered among the Wealthiest
and was certainly one of the most pop
ular, men in the great western metrop-
oils; but The panic troubles of 1873 broke
him down badly, and he came here to
begin over again. Mining is, and will
continue to be, the overshadOwing in
! terest Of this State, aud this city, which
is the great supply centre, will continue
to grow and prosper. Towns like Lead
willie may spring up in night, as II
were, aud grow amazingly for time,
but they must soon reach the limit
, perhaps ultimately die-while here there
+ is the substantial basis OF commercial
T growth. Yet il il not the place for pro-
. fessional men or for the unemployed Ia
come. Every avenue Of business is full
and many of the professions are over
crowded. or lawyers, for instance
Denver has nearly 200, which is three
times as many as are needed.
Since 1853, about So, ,OOO,OOO in silver
D has been taken out Of the mines Of Col
orado. Last year the amount mined