Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-01
Ihe Colorado Mining Country.
CORRESPONDENCE or he Evening Sdr.l


SILVER CLIFF. Col, April ~, 1854.
til. Dsdr Mdr;olt was quite late In life before
,To. horace Greeleys advice TO go west" But
be ,sSinS 81 r. empire seeming more especially TO
cIndad ~ us Us way westward this season con-
thnmsanSS ,oiiow Ia Its wake, and here am, two
the eierns I sn rom home and confronted by
The iourn sIV ,rsr OF me Rocky mountains
thing Sten described by others 10 need any
S Si,ns aodiuonal nom me- Sweet-scented psach
, nIossSlns and fast advancing yeriure were all
leit behind. and the nearer annrnechas a., a.,
Ss,.ing sun the more barren and desolate ever
S S.ans IN nature appeared. Miles and miles ~
reached the city OF Pueblo. Col. This Is nr, We
lslng Town. a railroad center; but 10 one c1mine
from the middle states II is picture OF oesola.
My objective point was this particular m n.
Ing camp, but before coming here I desired "a
see the metropolis OF Colorado. which is u n.
yer. i therefore made my way thither. Ju GA
OF my surprise 10 ind a city OF which any ea p
ern state would be proud-a city OF 90 noO n
haoitants-splendid dwellings, magniic, nc
and alive with traiic and business on ev nv
hand. Six or seven railroads already cen er
there. and more are being constructed. Lea =
every hand I'm beautffying the city with palat al
residences and superb blocks. Hotels OF grant
proportions are being completed, 4
a. arc eom IN for tourists and travele
are OF the very best. or these from
our 10 nve thousand enter the city by tie di
pI railroads every week IL is said tn
psnSer mas doubled her population in the la :
."o Years. ana IL is confidently predicted tina
In less than five years II Will show a populated
OF one hundred thousand souls. The situation
y, 1ne ely Is very hne. and the citizens hay
taken great pains TO beautity Il by lining all q
suTts Win snade trees. lt Is amply provid, q
with churches. The Episcopalians are con-
nn lnts an imposing cathedral, and other d.
FOUNDATIONS, not willing 10 be left behind are
preparing TO build better temples OF worshin
Una IMAM raey now have Newspapers of metropoI-
v. tn
Denver first class city.
Having done Denver took my leave for this
mining camp, passing Colorado Springs the
next finest city I'm the state and arrived I'm dun
tlme at the farthest point west which the Den
Yer ana Rio Grande railway has reached Canon
city. There L took The stage for Silver Gin.
passing some or the widest spots and viewing
lhe grandeSt scenery ever beheld. A ride of
lnlrly miles, made tedious only by a violent
WIND that blew continually i'm our faces brought
US IN view or the most imposing range of noun
talDS In the whole chain known a. The Sanpre
de Cr1sto range. II Is here where the largest
Stretch or snow clad mountains is 10 be seen
anu al, Tue slght Is grand beyond description. They
ourst all at once upon the vision upon entering
silver CHI. and stand out boldly in cold mag
innocent grandeur, and al this season of the
year are clad In snowy nantes from summit 10
Silver Cliff is about Is months old. IL is not
longer than that since the first shanty was
erected. and now IL has a population OF about
1900 souls. The streets are regularly laid out
and Clean The houses are all very small and
the most OF them built OF rough boards. within
other adornment II las four churches with
no greater pretenSionS of architecture and intsh
THAN the dwelling houses. IL is expected that
before Tour months have rolled around AT least
TWO railroads Will enter the CITY,
1here is, no doubt, great future before this
camp, and prosperous one. Two stamp mills
are In working order. and others in course OF
construction and projected, as also smelling
furnaces Silver and gold ore underlies--
ms region for miles around. and the
Wnole country Is honey -combed with
mining shafts. Silver ore IS found
wherever shaft is sunk but the most of n
runs low In value, although there is a great
quantity that runs up into the hundreds per
Ton. We hear OF new strikes every day or gold
lead, copper and silver. and believe thai tina
great mines are yet TO be found In uhe Sangre
dc Cr1sto range that seems only mile away.
put which is from 10 TO Is miles distant
Silver CHI is lovely for situation. being Sit
uated In broad valley called the Wet Noun
TAIN valley. My experiences thus far have not
peen very pleasant The wind blows more or
less here at all seasons OF the year but IL 4,
especially violent at about this time. But being
5000 feet above the level OF the sea the air IS
light, and however strong the wind blows
scarcely any damage is ever done. A gale blow
Ing at the rate IL does here would raise an east
ern village from Its foundations.
More anon, ISM