Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-10-13
LETTER FROM COLORADO.
Special Correspondence.

PUEBLO, Coll, Oct. G, 1882.
Nearly every one who visits this part of
Colorado for the frst time, even IL partial
ly informed about 1t beforehand, is griev-
ously disappointed at the arid aspect OF
tho plains, and finds 1t hard TO believe
that the application OF that beneticent
agent, water, can make every inch OF these
barren. looking table lands literally "blos
som like the rose" One can hardly imsg.
inc more dreary.looking country than
that lying about here. II we except the
spots here and there that have been devel.
oped by irrigation, there is nothing to be
seen but sand, dry bufialo-grass, sage brush,
and prairie dogs. But IL is wonderful what
transformation irrigation produces in
this comparatively rainless area-upon
this "barren and dry land where no water
is" Of the Psalmist. A stream OF water
here Is worth more than a dozen silver
mines. They say irrigation is simply sci.
enli6c farming. The uller pf the sol here
is chemist whose laboratory is a certain
area OF land; everything but the water is
at hand-the bright sun, the potash, and
other mineral ingredients, not washed out
OF the soil by centuries of rain. The eli
mate secures him always from an excess OF
moisture, and what nature fails to yield,
grenter or less, according to the senson, he
supplies from his irrigating canal, and
with it he introduces, without labor, the
most valuable fertilizing ingredients, with
which the water in its course through the
mountains has become charged. After
what have seen Of its results am thor
oughiy satisfied of the beauties of irriga.
ton, aud II these whole plains could. he
subjected to the process what an Eden this
would be. But there is where the trouble
comes in. 1t is just as difficult to. irrigate
without the necessary conditions of situn-
ton as to water, etc, as IT would he to i'm
woke rain from the clouds. Hence these
barren plains in this year a. ID. 1882.
The country about here ns well as about
Canon City and Colorado Springs, and fur
ther south III New Mexico, is largely de
voted TO grnzing-both cattle and sleep
being included in the industry. Although
in many respects the sheep business is less
attractive than cattle raising, it deserves
attention as an important and growing in
v,
pcrty of this region. There il, to he sure,
something exciting, and in u sense roman.
tic, about the steer and his breeding, while
| the sheep ia quiet and modest animal.
| One can fancy the brond hated "cow-hoy"
on his fleet horse and throwing his lasso at
full gallop, as feeling himself sort OF
Spanish toreador, and perhaps imparting n
spice OF danger to the chase by haunting
red scarf in the eyes of the lordly bull.
But the Mexican sheep herter, ON the 9TH
er hand, plods monotonOusly after hIs
fiock, aud all the chasing is done by his
shepherd dog. Only one man that ] have
heard of wns ever able to find anything
alarming in the nature Of tins simple ami.
NAL. Desiring n supply Of mutton for his
table, he shot one of his neighbours sheep,
and was overtaken by the owner while
carrying it away on his shoulder. Snow
Ive caught you, you rascal" said he ;
"what do you mean by shooting my sheep?''
Siernly and grimly replied the accused
"I'll shoot any mans sheep that tries 10
bite me-"
However, it is not for the excitement OF
amusement there may be in it chat men
pursue the occupation of herding either
sheep or cattle. 1t is the "almighty dol
lar" they are after, like all the rest of us
| i"rp iCt'Oit shSiS i'
enough in it hereabouts TO make it inter
esting. THIS is no less true Of sheep rails
ing than of cattle herdng. 1t may bellere
stated that between the flock and the herd
there is an irrepressible conflict. Bitter
feuds have sprung up between the Cattle
and sheep men of this vicinity in conse
qnence OF which whole tlocks OF sheeI
have been poisoned in n night, and som'
years ago several bloody encounters oc
Cured The difficulty is the sheep ant
cattle will not Craze on the same ground
The rowing steers stampede The sheep 81
til at they often get lost, and cattle stan'
, and trample so long in the water that tn
dainty sheep Will not drink. On the othe
hand, cattle do not like sheep, and refu'
to herd where they have been, for one rea
son that they gnaw the grass so close ther
is nothing left. 1t is clear case of Gin
compatibility of temperament" and sep
aration has generally to be effected.
OF the profits of sheep raising as carrie
= on in this region, and the methods and iii
of the herder, shall not have space /
tell you in this letter. My next will b
devoted 10 that subject, and then after
I glance at the town OF Pueblo itself, nn
also Colorado Springs, the bandsomef
place in the State, we will so down int
New Mexico. SPOT.
| ~--------
| hn ni,u In FRI