South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-08-25
Letter From Colorado.
Especial Correspondence
LEADv,LLE, CoLonApo. Aug. III


MIR. HARPER: The shortest route
from Denver to Leadville is by the
Denver & South Park narrow guage
railroad though the route vii, Canon
City and the Arkansas Canon is pro-.
badly the most picturesque. The
ride over the mountains by the form
er route is certainly as exhilaratipg
rs could be wished. A few miles from
Denver tie railroad strikes into the
canon OF the Platte, which it follows
up through narrow gorge between
the mountains for about fifty miles,
gaining an altitude ut the summit of
lO,O40 feet, or about 900 feet above
Denver. The scenery through this
canon is grand beyond description.
AT no place is it much more than n
stones throw i'll width, and most of
the way the railroad bed has been
eXcavated out OF the solid rock. As
we assembled the mountain cool brcez-
cs swept through the canon as through
a funnel; yet in spite OF this little dis.
comfort passengers cannot resist the
| temptation to ride on the platform OF
the cars in order TO enjoy the grand
and impressive scenery. On one side
OF the track The Platte River, here u
Wild mountain stream, dashes down
through the canon over an almost
unbroken succession OF rapids aud
cataracts. Here and there deep
pool OF clear water was provokipgly
suggestive OF trout fishing, aud the
disciples OF Isaac Walton will invol.
unfairly divide their attention be.
tween these tempting spots and the
rocks that rose hundreds OF feet on
either side, worn by the river into
all sorts of fantastic shapes, and
sometimes appearing almost to close
over the river aud railroad.
X is not an easy task to adequate-
~ describe this the most wonderful
OF all mining towns. There is no.
thing like it in Colorado, or anywhere
else, and with all that has been writ.
ten concerning it only those who have
been here to see for themselves have
Il very correct idea of the place.
Though the rapidity of its growth is
NV cuNL 40 IL was tIiICC anu IOllT
years ago, when the Leadvile excite.
ment swept the entire land. yet it is
still wonder, growing and constant
ly changing. 1t has from the first
been like IA Kaleidoscope in the sud-
denLess of its transformations, though
Its colors were OF the simplest kind,
and OF the most s0mbre, too. In the
early days entire streets were opened
up, built upon and settled within a
week ; and even now stores, houses,
log cabins, and hotels spring up sud
denly, side by side There is i'm OF.
era house constructed out OF rough
pine boards, with its dress circle and
gallery, and looking for all the world
like an unfinished livery stable.
There are also variety theatres where
the illegitlmate drama tiuurishes to
the delight OF sturdy miners. Two
years ago there was but one church
and one school house here and the
principal hotel WAS two story frame
building with neat gables and an i'm.
ltation mansard roof. The office OF
this hosiery is about six feet wide b.,
sixteen long, and WAS evidently not
| planned Tor the accommodation of
loaters. That large class OF the pop
ulation are given room III the bar
aud billiard hall opening from the
Office. A solitary barber plies his oc-
cupation at one end OF the same IL
partment, charging . cents for a
shave and so for IL hair cut. The
Grand has i'll It's day turned away
from 80 to 100 people day over
and above all it coull acconmo Late
with lodgings Leadvi,Ie has never
been particularly religions place,
and even i'll the days wne. there was
only one church to 10000 n,habi-
tants an audience OF 30 worshippcrs
was about the average. | have been
told about the following notice post.
ed In the old church, but have not
seen it please do not shoot the or.
ganist he does his BEST
In the general character of the
| place there has not been much change
| from what it was from the first, ex.
cept that the evidences OF haste arc
not so plentiful and the buildings are
better and more substantially bull. and
there IS little more of the atmosphere
of permarency. But all the details ]
might give would after all afford the
reader little idea OF Lealville "a it is
or lis surroundings as they appear to
| the actual observer. Let one ina
CINE himself penned up in the Wild
est Businesses of the Rocky Noun
tains at an altitude of 10000 feet a.
bovc the sea. lie is literally on the
mountain tops. Yet far above Lead
vile on every hand rise the bald
crowns OF the snowy range -dcsolato,
bleak, and absolutely without vege.
] tafion of any kind. Here i'm the