The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-08-09
Another of Crutchie's Spicy
. Letters From the
West.
Colorado as Seen by Sedalia
Eyes-Incidents Of the
Journey.
The Scenery from Cheyenne, w.
T., Across Colorado to Espan-
ola, u. NJ, as 1t Impresses
the Tourist.
E:>PANoLA. u. ~, Angus; l..

E>PANoLA. u. ~, Angus, l..
From Cheyenne. in Wyoming Territory,
across the state vi Colorado to this place,
pnc can feast his eyes upon some Of the
vrsndes, scenery in the world. The rail-
road skirts along the edge OF the great
plains on the cast, while the Rocky mount
aims are ever in sight on the west for the
first three hundred miles Of the distance.
We stopped in Denver both in going and
returning. Here We find a city little
more than ten years old, planted on an
arid plain almost . thousand miles from
any large manufacturing center, and con-
tanning all the appliances and luxuries Of
modern civilization. The telegraph, tele-
phone. electric light. steam heating works,
gas and other modern inventions which =
Of 10000 people have found it
necessary to employ, md extends tO the
hotels, private houses and stores. Denver,
like CINCINNATI and Sedalia, calls itself the
Queen CITY Of the West Fiftv-two miles
south Of D.nver we cross the water shed
the valleys Of the Arkansas
and Platte rivers. Here for half mile
the train skirts the shores Of little lake.
Thence it glides down the Valley OF the
Monument, and twenty three miles further
arrives ut the live and tony little town Of
Colorado Springs. We stopped off here 4
day on our return from the north. This
town, in connection with Moniteau, i've
miles west, is undoubtedly the prettiest
and loveliest place in Colorado. Leaving
here on the Denver & Rio Grande railrOsd
in the afternoon, forty five miles further
south brought Us to the town Of Pu-
ebIo, where We stopped again until
the ncxt evening. From the Rio Grande''
railroad extends up to Leadville, and the
Gunnison county. There are six different
branches leading of from this one branch
Of the road to the different towns and min
ing camps up in the noun aims. In the
afternoon OF the next day AIT r our arrival,
W. left Pueblo to 60 down into the famous
San Juan country. Delightful as the
scenery is from Dnver to Pueblo, ii Is
merely an introduction TO the greater and
grander wonders that are unfolded when
the railway penetrates into the Businesses
Of the mountains and lays bare the very
heart OF the Rockies. From Pueblo the
railroad takes q course triAe to the west
Of south. for a distance of fifty miles to
Cuchara and CROSSES the st. Charles river
at San Carlos aud the Huerfano river at
Hucriano.
These rivers have now got their backs
up and cross the railroad, but this won't
last long. The valleys Of these rivers and
also the Cuchara contains some good farm
ing land, and furnishes many valuable
cattle and sheep ranches. but the farming
land is rather scarce. and AS a general rule
agriculture is possible in Colorado, only
where il is aided by irrigation. This
portion of the country is inhabited princip-
ally By Mexicans. and the buildings are
nearly all of adobe or mud colored brick
i'm true Mexican stvlc. The read from
Pueblo tn this point lies along the plains,
leaving the Grecnhorns mountains 20 the
the right The charming views of these
mountains and the Spanish Peaks to the
south give constant variety to the other
wise sombre landscapes, while the aiten-
tion is continually occupied 10y the 'nxur-
lent vegetation along the streams and
primitive and picturesque surroundings Of
the ranches and corr:i!s.
From Cuchara.a branch of the Rio Gran
de" railroad. extends south thirty-six miles
To I'll Moro, which furnishes an inexhaust-
able supply ii fine coking coal. But the
main line Of the road turns westward toward
Veta Pass. following the Cuchara river in
the direction oi the Sangre de CristO range
which il must pass on its way to the San
Juan. To the left are the Spanish Peaks,
two isolated. sharp cones rising from the
plains 1900 feet high, with their bald
heads often hid among the clouds. Their
magnitude grows upon the beholder till
they are lost from sight IL the train winds
around Dump mountain, and forms pic
ture that memory will always recall with
pleasure.
From La Veta, a pleasant village in q
beautiful agricultural valley twenty-one
miles from Cuchara, it is steady climbing
up the mountain side, rising 2ll feet to the
mile The serpentine windings Of the
train varies the relative position Of the
mountains, and changes their aspect. The
valley deepens below; the backward hOri.
zon recedes; the plains grow vaster, and
the Spanish Peaks take ON grander pro-
portions, while a mountain brook dashcs
down from the heights in front. The train
moves slowly; the engines labor and puff.
The sensation is inspiring.
Up beautiful ravine, wild flowers grow
in gorgeous profusion in reach Of the pas
sensers. The flashing cascades On either
side rise seemingly from the track
The smooth side of veta mountain on the
right extends thousands of feet above US
covered for short distance up with Dor.
der Of small pines, beyond which it has
become smooth and barren. A stone
started at the summit would fall a mile be-
fore it stopped.
Looking ACROSS the narrow valley "a
the left, thousands Of feet high, away up
near the top Of Dump mountain, We see
the railroad, like . red line seemingly
parallel to the train, winding along the
side of the mountain, SO high and yet 90
near, that it seems impossible for the train
to reach it. We are in narrow glen be-
tween Dump and Veta mountains, sudden.
~ We reach the head of the gorge. The
track makes an abrupt bend, the train
changes direction like . soldier at the
command of "About face" passes Mule
Shoe curve, and goes diagonally up the
mountain side. We look almost straigh,
downward for thousands of feet into the