The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-08-07
ON THE KANsAs PAcrFIc R. 3.

OQ xhE AANSAS IflACA1AC Ss us
Through Colorado and KansaS-The DroVes Of
Cattle-Ths Round Ups and the Brandihg--The
Wide, Wide Plains that get no Summer Rains
Tho Fertile Farm Lands OF Ksnsas--The Fine
Growing Towns, Abilene, &c-Visiting Friends
"A Sweating Fourth Of July, &c.
In passing over the Kansas Pacific rail.
way one may realize what railroads are
doing for the rapid settlement Of these
vast plains beyond the Mississippi. AL
ready for half the distance or more be.
tween Kansas City and Denver the coun-
try is considerably settled; thriving
towns are in existence and increasing
rapidly in population, and fine farms
gladden. the eye for the land is gener.
ally rich with fatness.
AS the settlements advance westward,
the rainfall is found to increase. This is
probably owing largely to the increase
in vegetable growth, and Kansas gener-
ally does not now suffer from drouth
more than other sections. 1t is claimed
that as this vast region becomes settled,
as trees grow and vegetation increases,
the arid region will become less. AS to
this, time will tell. At all events the
millions of acres of fertile plain land yet
unoccupied will afford room for settle
ment for some time. AS rule this thing
of getting hold of fertile piece of moth
er earth is better and safer than search
ing directly in the mountains Of Colorado
for the precious metals. 1t may be slower
in some cases to secure great riches, but
assuredly safer for moderate returns and
livelihood. And as livelihood is all
we get in this world, it would be well,
sometimes, to ''let we'll enough alone"
LEAVING DENVER.
We left Denver on Sunday morning
train homewsrd bound, and were soon
out on the extended plains that get no
summer rains, They nevertheless sup
port great droves Of cattle that were fat,
showing that the grass nourishes, These
cattle find water in the beds of rivers or
creeks, that generally appear dry, and is
a singular feature of those plains. The
greenness of the grass along the margins,
and the appearance Of the struggling cot
ton woods give evidence Of moisture,and
by digging down in the sand that fills
the beds of the streams, water is found
for the cattle. t
THE DRY RIVERS,
however, are full and flowing during the
wet season, and sometimes lively, not to
say dangerous. Near Bennett station,
35 miles from Denver; is the Kiawa, 3
broad river bed with no flowing water
to be seen. In the wet season, three
years or 80 ago, during storm in the
night time, freight train ran off the
track, and the locomotive plunged into
the bed of the Kiawa, then raging tor
rent, and sunk in the quick.sand out of
sight, and has never been recovered, al
though forty or fifty thousand dollars
have been spent in the search. 1t must
have been taken down stream with the
moving body of sand. The only one
saved that stormy night was man who
was stealing ride, and who climbed a
cottonwood tree.
Denver had similar case some years
ago by terrible food in Cherry creek.
in which the safe containing the city
records and forty thousand dollars was
washed away, and sinking in the quick
sand, has never been found. That flood
induced building on the other side of the
creek, where the land is higher, and
where now the city is mainly located.
From communicative passengers on
the train we got considerable informa.
ton. These had been to Denver on bu-
siness and were returning; were familiar
with the region generally in the cattle
trade in some way, and seemed to
delight in such a life. One young man
from Toledo had been trying it two
months and thought he should follow it.
He said they lived we'll in their ranches,
even their "dug outs" are comfortable
homes oftentimes. A "dugout," let us
say, is a cellar with o roof of some kind,
the roof frequently high enough to ad-
NIT of small window in the sides, and
stairway entrance, generally with a
window door. These are common out
on the plains, and are secure domiciles
in case of storms.
A man we conversed with lived 35
miles from Denver, and had 5000 sheep;
he had sold $50 in Denver at So head,
and would drive them in that week.
Near Bennett station was pointed out
the farm house Of a widow who had
dairy of 10 COWS, and sent her butter
fresh to Denver, where it commanded
25 cents per pound. She had lost her
husband couple Of years ago, and the
good woman was thus caring for her lit
tie ones.
Out in those rolling plains Of Colorado |
cattle raising is great business, and we
we're fortunate enough to witness
SEVERAL ROUND UPS
as we travelled along, and saw little of |
the operations. Itseems droves get con-
siderably mixed from one year to an.
other, and it is necessary to separate and
brand once year, This is done after
the spring calves are large enough to
seize and brand. Over large circuit, a
hundred miles or more, the cattle are all |