Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-08-18
LETTER FROM COLORADO.

disappointed. Since my arrival l have
been constantly on the go, and hnve gather.
ed so much material that scarcely know
| where TO begin to unrnvd the thread; yet
! have but just commenced my cxplorn-
tions. Approaching the Centennial State,
IRON the east, we have bees gradually as
cending since we left the Missouri River
and cross it's ens ern border At an elevation
OF 1000 feet. Up to the foothills run
| plains intersected by streams and by the
"Divide, a ridge 5000 feet high, fifty miles
south Of Denver-giving room for many
cattle, sheep and farming ranches. OF
these there are many interesting facts for
| future letters. Boldly out among these
foothills comes the great lateral buttress
capped by the famed Pixies Peak; then
comes the majestic range itself, the back.
bone OF the continent, describing torluous
course through the State, which, rs the
slang phrase hasi,, "covers more outdoors"
than any other State in the Union, except
California and Texas.
This vast area lies between the thirty
seventh and forty-iirst parallels Of north
| latitude and the one hundred and second
and one hundred and ninth meridians Of
west longitude. It's average extent, north
aud south, is 2z5 miles, aud east and west
$50 miles, the total area being l04, 800
miles. The plains in the eastern part com
| h., III; ,,f o. H..
State, and the mountains occupy the re-
naming two othir,ls. The main range OF
the Rockies passes through the center Of
the State from the north to the south. The
plains in the eastern part ARE drained on
The north by the South Platte and ON the
south by the Arkansas. The continental
divide fol ows the summit Of the main
range from north to sOuih. In the centra
part of Colorado the mountains form four
vast basins, called parks-North Park,
South Park, Middle Park, and San Luis
Park. North Park, with its area OF $500
square miles, at an elevation OF about 8, ,000
leet, has nor hcentrnl location. Just
south Of North Park is Middle Park, with
| its area al 5000 square miles, Mt an eleva-
ton of S, 500 feet. Still south of Middle
Park is South Park, wit its area of 1900
square mi es. at an elevation OF $500 feet
The fourth park, San Luis, is near the
| south line Of the State, has AN area of s, ,00C
square miles and nm elevation Of z 900 feet
| The mountains are drained chiefly by the
Arkansas, the Rio Colorado, Rio Grande
and the Platte. The latter runs through
the valley in which Denver il situated, and
though this is said to be II country where
rain seldom falls, and where agriculture !,
only possible by irrigation it has severa
times gone on the rampage and caused
great damage. In 1864 one Of these food
occurred, perhaps the largest ever known
at which time the county safe WAS carried
down the stream aud has never yet been re
covered, though saw in the Denver Re
publican few days ago an anonymous
card in which. the writer claims to hav
discovered it in for,ling the river, an,
promises to have it in Denver before DC
tober. The heavy rains OF this week hav
done great damage heie also, and cause,
many lnnd slides.
The stieam of humanity which OF lat
years annually flows into this Rocky Noun
tain region has been larger this year, ar
parently, than ever before, and still tn
greatest rush has not begun, if the expec
tations OF the Denverites are any guide
Thousands come here every summer a
pleasure tourists, and many come in searcl
of health, though the number OF these la,
ter seems to diminish rathey than increase
at least so far as downright invalids ar
concerned. From what | can learn / fee
convinced that Colorado rs Il health resor
! is MI IL has been Cracked up to be-" bu
for all that it is becoming known that per
sons in the last stages of consumption com
to these high lnlitudes only to die, If re
c lief is sought from the pure air OF thes
mountains it must not be put off until TO
, late. This season the proportion OF th
people who have come here as prosperity
settlers--seekers after hidden riches, n
e tracted by the reports they have heard
greater than any year since the Leadvill
excitement subsidized, and probably in e,
, cess .pf all other classes. Some Of thes
y have been successful If not in finding ric
: silver mines, in at least securing good bu
; iness openings; yet how few are they il
y comparison with the hundreds of disal
! pointed ones who have met not alone di
= appointment, but misery and destitutioi
OF the lew who have ''struck 1t rich" ;
q they say in the mines, we hear great dea
As the railroad companies and others
, whose o'ijcct is gain-lnke pains to widel
+. advertise them; but of the thousands wi
Il So oN-N iio"t anu NlNel 'lCH,
- the hundreds who cannot get back, we he,
a nothing. On all the lonely, barren roul
), in the mining districts one daily nieetspoO
sorry.looking fellows, to whom sqna
meal and relurn.licket home would brii
4 unbounded joy. And right here | want
Il say that it is the sheerest folly for you
men OF others 10 come here with few d,
8 e lars in their pockets expecting to step rig
= upon the high road tn fortune. The lit
- they have will Soon melt away and unle
- they are prepared to go right out into Il
:, mines at hard work, or rendy TO seek ei
ployment ut teaming or herding, Il
chances are II hundred to one that desiit
tion will overlake them. There is no Il
, mand Tor clerks or soii, white hands
!. other clnsses OF light, genteel employmei
10 and even men with capital do not find su
e openings ms exi.ted here few years ne
~ Bit my letter III getting long enonl
70 without getting very far into hesnbjech
ls had intended writing about, or saying M
NJ thing OF Denver's gre event-lhe Indi
~ trial Exllib tion Just opened. 1t CONNIE
nj ces tardily, some what like the Centenni
,o many OF the exhibits not being in poslIi
~ yet. The affair promises to be chiefly
,n teresling from mining standpoint, Al
.o among the somewhat sonibrc exhibits
'I n, ores from all parts Of this and adjoini
M mining States, the small displays vi fnl
n. products appear like oases ina desert. y
~ terday | 200 men were employed in and
as y the building. In half an hour took, Ii
n. in the evening, the following notes: Ne
n. ~ all the counties of the States have tn
10 displays OF minerals nicely arranged. !
ii izona, with n series of fiat cases, il well r,
~ resented. Utah has only completed pay
.e ion, bnt has seven tons coming to put
IL Grant County, N. NJ, is making gra
+. exhibit, but seems the only county in Il
,s Territory coming up. Very little mach
rs cry is in The building, and exhibits of m
of chants and manufacturers are, so far, mi
il ing no figure. Al least ten days will q u
he before things get into any shape.
as SPOT
fk The purity and elegant perfume OF Parkt
I,s Hair Balsam explain the popularity of this
Il 4.