The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-09-06
NEW MEXICO LETTER.
"Crutchie Field" Furnishes
Another Of His Enter
tanning Letters,

In Which He Gives a Descrip-
ton Of the Far West
Country.
Correspondence OF tine Bszoo.
LAS VEGAS, y. W., August 2, 1881.
We have Just arrived at Las Vegas, but
before we write it up We have something
more to ssy about Colorado. There are
two independent sources OF wealth in Col
Orado. These are mining and grazing.
The mines in the mountains are very rich
and are vet comparatively undeveloped.
The cattle and sheep intere., ON the plains
is also very great. All other branches of
industry are dependent upon these two.
Railroads are penetrating the noun
tains from every direction, and they will
be supported Tor years BY the mex haustable
mineral wealth Of the San Juan and Cum
nison countries. II requires great deal
OF money To build and operate the rail
roads and to work and develop the mines.
! The enormous amount that Is expended
for this purpose shows the confidence that
capitalists have in the resources Of the
country. Colorado is \ good place IL. Ia
borerS and mechanics They need never be
! idle here. and can always get good wages
but will have 10 trough it," The entire
western part Of the state abOunds in min
cral; almost every species has bcen found
within its limits. and the names OF Boul-
der county, Georgetown, Iezdville, Silver
Cliff and Ten Mile are almost household
words The state is equally famous for its
health resorts, aud Colorado Springs aud
Msnitou have national reputation. Col
orado has long been noted for ats healthful
climate. The winters are pretty severe
and the atmosphere Is not 50 genial Is Al
Las Vegas OF other points in New Mexico,
but it is nevertheless very bracing, and for
many bronchial complaints il is excellent
The scenery can not be surpassed. The
Grand canon of the Ark2usas has not its
superior in the world. RO val Gorge. Toll
tee Gorge, Grape Creek canon, Temple
canon, Vetx pass. Dump mountain. leo.
CALI mountains, Twin lakes and the Mount
Of the Holy Gross are monuments Of
grandeur that no other country can ever
excel. II is = line sporting country. The
principal varieties Of game are deer, ante
Iope, elk, bear, Wild turkey, quail, sage
hens, wild geese and ducks Mountain
sheep are quite common in the Elk noun
tains, and frequently a mountain lion is
slain and his hide added to the collection
OF some museum. The mountain streams
abound in sPeckled trout.
+, Colorado is not an agricultural state.
Ii don't claim to be. They don't raise
ANYTHING except along the rivers and
This j. the great drawback to the place.
. = ta
| and monOtonous To a tourist from the east
With all It's attractions there is still an
aching void" to any one used to the rich.
and vcrdant hills and dales Of Missouri.
! The towns and villages are not SO large
names would seem to indicate,
: The people are Of rowing turn OF
mind and the floating population is per-
haps in the majority. A town Of thou
sand inhabitants to-day NAV not have FIVE
hundred two weeks hence. The conse-
Quencc Of this is most Of the towns have
more business houses than dwelling
houses. Such towns as Denver. Pueblo,
Colorado Springs and Trinidad, centers OF
trade, possess. Of coarse. more elements Of
stability.
!, The southern part Of the state il por-
ton OF the territory acquired BY the
United States - = result Of the Mexican
war; This accounss for the Me1iczns be-
ing 50 numerous. They own about all of
the land that is suitable for cultivation,
and do the mos, Of the farming. Corn and
wheat don't do very we'll. bu, they raise
oats and barley, beans, potatoes, cabbage
and onions. Ono can hardly ne how they
manage to ,ub-ist o. the small crops that
they raise ON their little ranches; but
they have enough and some to spare, and
you will -se them around the little tow n
peddling their produce. Fresh ranch eggs
and butter are in great demand. but arr
not very plenty. These, like mort If their
fruits. grocrries and provisions, are i'm
ported from the agricultural states, such
~ Missouri aud Kansas. The Mexicsns
mostly live in little towns Of dozen or
morr houses each, along the valleys. Their
houses arr built Of mud cOlorcd, sun-dried
brick. Ono Of these adobe houses is gen
erallv about ten feet square, seven or eight
i.~t high and perfectly level on top.
Around the houses You will sec lev bur.
ros. or Mexican donkeys, and little flock
OF goat. and sometimes one or two ponies.
You will generally see the woman Of the
house Uut with shawl On her head, milk
ing the goats, or at work in the truck
patch. The old man will perhaps be losf-
ing around amoking cigarette and doing
nothing, while three or four children are
riding around on . burro.
Alter spending six week. in Colorado
and rambling over the Gunnison and San
Juan countries, visiting all the principal
towns and mining camps in that rich min-
eral region, We returned IN Pueblo and
steamed out on the Atchi>on, Topeka &
Santa Ee railroad for New Mexico.
At La Jnnta We got supper, and at day
light We landed At Trinidad. This Is the
last Colorado town that We visited. 1t is
the county scat Of Las Apimas county,