The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-01-02
LETTER FROM COLORADO.

Spring Valley, Col, Dec. 20, 1879.
EDITOR OF MIDDLEBURY REGIsTER:-
Please allow me to answer through the
columns of your paper, a part of the
many Inquiries from friends in that
part of Vermont In regard to the farm
ing prospects of this part of Colorado.
The " Divide" as this part of Colorado
is called, is situated little north of
the center of the state, and is so named
because IL is an elevated tract of land
that separates the waters that flow
north into the Platte river, from those
that flow south into the Arkansas.
These two streams and their tributaries
water the farming land of Colorado
east of the mountains. The top of the
Divide is about $500 feet above the
level OF the sea, and on account of its
hight the amount of rain fall in sum-
mer and storms in winter far exceeds
that of other parts of the state except
in the mountains. The result is, the
farmers in this locality are able to
raise their crops without the aid of ir-
rigation, while in other parts of the
state they are unable to do so. At the
same time 1t makes it more unpleasant
living here in the winter, as there are
many cold storms here that do not
reach the less elevated parts of the
state. A greater amount of rain also
causes greater amount of timber. In
fact, this is the timbered bel, of Col
orado outside of the mountains. Prai-
rie and timbered land are very pleas
antly and very conveniently intermin-
gled. Water is also more abundant
than in other parts of the country, and
is of fine quality either in springs or
wells. Nearly the entire state is noted
TOR It's healthfulness, especially In re-
gard TO throat and lung diseases. The
soil, except in the bottoms, which are
rather narrow, is not as rich as that of
Kansas and some of the other western
states. On account of a greater abun-
| dance OF water here the country is more
thickly settled than in most parts of the
state. The nsst of the land is " taken
up" but there is still some government
land around here. There are no loose
stones in background except on the hills.
and there they are SO thick that the
land is useless. One could easily i'm
agine that they had been picked from
the land and thrown into immense
piles, as they entirely cease as soon us
the level land is reached. say "level''
land, but the land is but little of 1t en-
tirely level. 1t is some broken and
mostly rolling. The climate here is not
as cold as in Vermont. The nights will
average as cold, but the days are con.
sderably warmer. There is plenty OF
wind here in common with nearly all
the western states. Farm and dairy
produce bring good price as will be
seen by the following list: Corn, &C
cents to 81 bushel; oats, 20 to rs:
rye, go to 10; potatoes 80 to 81; flour
81 to $50 barrel beef by the quarter
.05 to .07 pound; pork, whole hog
dressed, .O6 to .0S; butter 80 to 40
cheese, 10 to 20; hay at depots, $2t
to 1928 a ton; cows, common, 500 to $50
each; ponies, $50 to $40; horses $75 te
800; mules, S75 to 1925. The above
are the principal articles produced OIL
the Divide" The cost of producing
them may be seen from the following
facts. Horses, ponies and mules raise
themselves without any feed except
what they get themselves. Beef, cat
tie and cows do the same nearly, bu
cows that are MIXED have to be fec
some. have fed some that have thu
care of, four or five times this winter
during storms. Farm hands get from
fifteen to twenty-five dollars month
and are in good demand. There il
plenty of work for those who are will
ing to take hold of it, but those Wit
are looking for soft job" with bi,
pay" are not needed here, and thos'
who anticipate coming here TO get ricl
specializing will find they have 90
among people as sharp as themselves
and who propose letting every one earl
f their own living; but any man or woman
who comes here bringing capital or la
Dor to invest will receive hearty wei
come. Woman's labor is valued a
from two to four dollars q week a
homework, and it Is harder work to &c
the labor than to pay for it even at tina
price. Trustworthy persons desirin.
to take farms on shares find but littl,
difficulty in doing so. The owner O
the farm furnishes team, tools and seet
and pays the taxes and divides the crol
equally, or the renter furnishes his owl
team, tools and seed and has two-third
of the crop, sometimes three-fourths
Tools are trifle higher here than there
Society is about as good here as there
Schools and churches are established
We are not on the frontier but in |,
settled country. We have nearly al
the privileges enjoyed by the people B
Vermont. Many persons are surpriset
that stock thrives here winters with s.
little feed when there is 80 much coli
weather. The secret is not in til,
weather but in the grass. We usual,
have no rain here during the latter par
of summer and the entire fall. Hence
the grass dries up after getting it
growth and before the frost comes, re
tanning all its nutritious qualities
Freezing it does not hurt it any NOR,
than freezing the hay in the barn. 81
any time when the snow is not too deer
for the stock to get at the grass they d.
as well on it as on hay fed to them.
Hoping those asking information
about the country here in Central Col
orado, will accept this as a personal re
ply, remain, respectfully,
WI. WHITTIER.