The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-08-14
A LETTER FROM THE ROCKIES.

A LETTER FROM THE ROCKIES.
ALPINE. COL, August ;, 1879.
To 1s Editor ef ~ ks91s:
Ihave been meditating that no doubt
some of your readers are interested in
this locality. and having the leisure at
my command, win attempt to give them
q faint description Of our trip and of
Alpine and her surroundings, conse-
quently 1 will obtrude myself upon your
notice as an inconsiderate and defective
correspondent.
We took the six-o'clock evening train
at Wichita and arrived in Canon City
the next day late in the afternoon. We
found Canon pretty place. 1t is situ-
ated at the foot of the mountains. The
State Penitentiary is located there. 1t
is large stone structure, and it is said
to contain over five hundred convicts.
We remained at Canon over night. The
next morning we took the stage and
travelled eighty miles, over the most
rugged mountains imaginable. That
was the toughest, but pleasantest part
of our journey. Two cadets from West
Point were on the coach-one gradu-
ate, the other to spend his summer va
cation in the mountains.
The scenery was grand, the water
flowing over great rocks down the noun
tains, with the surrounding scenery
made a beautiful picture. During our
trip we passed Chalk Mountain. The
rocks and soil were perfectly white. The
scenery does not become monOtonous-
there seems 10 be continual variation
of scenery. We reached our destina-
ton late in the afternoon, the next day.
Alpine is small place of about five
hundred permanent inhabitants. The
residences and business houses are most
ly built of logs. A smelter has already
been established here, but has not COM
menced work yet, but intend to soon.
E. Harrison, of St. Louis, intends to es-
tablish smelter here in the course of a
week or two. He has two smelters in
operation at Leadvi,'e. He has bought
properly here and speaks very highly of
the mines IN this locality. 1t is predict
ed that wren LeadviIle has passed into
oblivion, Alpine will still be permanent
thriving mining camp, as it will be long
years before the mines are exhausted Of
their treasures, as they are Of the true
assure vein. But the fortunes made are
mostly dearly won, for it requires hard
labor, patience and capital to open the
mines.
The Tildcn mine, one Of the richest
now in operation, is bonded to S. h.
Knox. Another mine has recently been
discovered, and 1t is said to be exceed
ingly rich.
We viii undoubtedly have two rail-
roads here very soon, as two different
companies have surveyed through this
place several times.
As to the climate, it is exceedingly
cool for this time of the year, and as for
the healthfulness of the climate, will
not warrant that. They say it is much
warmer here in The " inter than in the
valleys, or at Canon. We are surround
ed on all sides by the mountains, and
consequently we are shielded from the
cold wiater winds. The greatest Objec-
ton is that the winters are extremely
long,
The scenery is grand, and is constant
ly changing. But what can be compar-
ed with our moonlight scenes? One
evening we wandered down to the little
brook that was flowing on in its dream
full course. While directly confronting
us rose the mountains in their majestic
splendOr, the mountains and the land
around seemed enveloped in grayish-
blue mist that even crept into our very
soul, and seemed to throw cloud over
all gay and happy thoughts, and make
you think of the great God of the Uni
verse and His wOndrOus works, above
all roe the moon, between deep cut in
the mountains, to shed her hallOwed
light over all, the good and the bad.
Oh! Byron, knew thee not as l know
thee now:
The stars are forth, the moon above the tops
OF the snow-shining mountains-beautiful.
lingcr yet with Nature, for the night
Hath been to me a more familiar face
Than that of man, and in her starry shade
OF dim and solitary loneliness,
learned the language Of another world.
Twas such q night
IT'S strange that l recall it at this time;
But have found our thoughts take widest
flight,
Even at the moment when they should array
Themselves in pensive order.
MYRA JOHNSON.