The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-10-05
Colorado Camping.
Ia CAMP, NORTH PARK, Colo, !
September 15, 1881. !

Ia CAMP, NORTH PARK, COLO,
September 10, 1881. !
ED. REPUBLICAN,:
1t being too cold to
work in the field, and feeling lonesome
for something to do / win write you a
"stickfull' or two.
We have succeeded in getting down
from the summit at Muddy Pass and out
through the canons OF Grizzly Creek, and
are now in a fine open plain known as
North Park. We have crossed the Cont
mental Divide and the "Back bone" of
America is far off to the west of us prob
ably twenty miles, while the Park Range
is east Of us about one hundred miles, al
though plainly visible with the naked eve,
even unto the stratifcation of rock con-
tanned in their almost perpendicular sides
so pure and rare IS the atmosphere. We
are at an elevation of 5000 feet above the
ocean level at our present encampment.
Last night the mercury registered 80 below
-nothing-and to-day it stood at 100 in
tho sun. How is that for sudden changes
in Sept? 1t freezes every night in the
year. No timber to speak of except few
aspen and Rocky Mountain spruce-a
species of pine midway between
our white pine and heml lock. There are
no minerals to speak of in this immediate
vicinity; this being a volcanic region we
find scarcely anything but "brimstone'
or mud lava and other igenous rocks. We
have some splendid specimens, however,
of small fragments of pellucid quartz and
other forms of stratified and pumary
rocks.
The water is OF good in this. section at
all. IL is highly impregnated with alkali
so much so that after washing ones hands
in the water and allow it to dry an incrus-
tadon Of alkali is visible on the smoother
parts Of the hands this is creek water, /
mean. In the east we read of the splendid
water in the Rocky Mountains. l would
sooner have one good old Forest county
sand stone spring than a dozen Rocky
springs. In the plains the water is all
impregnated with alkali, and in the
mountains with arsenic, as most Of it
flows through carbonates and arseuics of
copper and arsenics of lead before reach
ing the surface. The same hubbub is also
rife about the mines. I travelled over I5O
miles through the best mining region Of
Colorado, and as our wagon train was
very slow had ample opportunity to in
spect the best mines and still keen nm
with our wagons. None Of them come up
to what the people are accustomed to read
and think of them in Pennsylvania. I
have read Of mines, the ore of which as
sayed 5000 ounces to the ton Of silver, and
90 per cent. of lead, Well, these same
mines assay instead, 140 ounces of silver
and about 30 per cent. of lead. Colorado
is not half the State it is represented to be,
although I am hardly competent to Judge
h9ving been in it but so short a time.
We have very poor mailing facilities in
this country. One hundred miles from
Larimie City, w. t., and seventy from
Troublesome, post Office on the Grande,
tributary to the Rio Colorado of the
west, so if you don't get this until Christ
mas don't blame me. All the mail we get
is what is brought in by the Denver q Rio
Grande railway company's carriers.
Among the most welcome news received
by me since l have been out here was
letter from our townsman, d. w. Clark,
Esq, whom here take occasion to most
heartily thank for the newsy, interesting
letter.
Game is very plenty-ell1, antelope,
deer, bear. grouse, sage hens, partridges,
wild ducks, jack rabbits, sc. It is with
considerable satisfaction that 1 sit down to
fine elk steak well done and other wild"
luxuries which this country affords. One
of my men Went out less than one hour
this morning and retnrnod with q hnn nll.