The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-08-29
LETTER FROM COLORADO.
lspcclslc correspoudenec,l
LnApvILLE, Coz. Aug, %, 1882.

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tainly as exhilarating as could be
wished. A few miles from Denver
the railroad strikes into the cannon ol
the Platte, which it follows up through
narrow gage between the mountains
for about fifty miles, gaining an alti
tude at the summit Of 10000 feet, Of
about 5000 feet above Denver. Th,
scenery through this cannon is grand
beyond description. AT no place is il
much more than a stones throw in
width, and most Of the way the rail
road bed has been excavated out Of thl
solid rock. AS we .ascended tn,
mountain cool breezes swept through
the cannon as through funnel; yet il
spite OF thus little discomfort passen
gers cannot resist the temptation tc
ride on the platform Of the cars in or
der to enjoy the grand and impressive
scenery. On one side Of the track tho
Platte River, here a wild mountain
stream, dashes down through the can
nou over an almost unbroken success
sion Of rapids and cataracts. Here
aud there deep pool oil clear water
was provokingly suggestive Of trout
fishiug, aud the disciples Of Isaac
Waltou will voluntarily divide their
attentions between these tempting
spots aud the rocks that rose hun.
dreds Of feet on either side, worn by
the river into all fantastic shapes, aud
sometimes appearing almost to close
over the river and railroad.
1t is not an easy task to adequately
describe this tile most wonderful Of all
mining towns. There is nothing like
il in Colorado, or anywhere else, and
with all that has been written concer.
ming i. only those who have been here
to sec for themselves have very cor.
rect idea oi the place. Though the ra-
pidity OF its growth is not sach as ia
was three and four years ago. when
the Lsadville excitement swept the en-
tire land, yet it is still a wonder,
growing and constantly changing. 1t
has from the first been IKE a kaleido'
scope in the suddenness of its transfor-
nations, though its colors were Of the
simplest kinds and oil the most sombre,
too. In the early days entire streets
were opened up, built upon and settled
within u week; and even now stores,
houses, log cabins, and hotels spring
mp suddenly, side by side. There Is
an opera house constructed out oi
rough pine boards, with its dress cir.
cles and gallery, am looking for all
the world like an unfinished livery sta
ble. There are also variety theatres
where the illegitima:e drama flourish.
es to the delight Of sturdy miners.
Two years ago there was but one
church and one school house here aud
tue principal hotel was two story
frame with nest gables and an imita
ton mansard root. The office Of this
hostlery is about six feet wide by six
teen long, and was evidently not plan
ned for the accommodation Of loafers.
That large class Of population are
given room in the bar and billiard hall
opening from the office. A solitary
bsl ber plies his occupation at one end
Of the same apartment, charging q
cents for shave and 80 for hair cut
The Grand has in its day turned away
from 50 to 100 people day over aud
above all it could accommodate with
lodgings. Leadville has never beer
particularly religious place, and even
in the days when there was only one
church to 10000 inhabltants an audi
ence oi so worsbippers was about the
average. / have Been told about the
following notice posted in the old
church. bat have not seen il: "Please
do not shoot the organist; he does his
best"
In the general character Of the place
there has not been much change from
what il was from the FIRST. except that
the evidences Of haste are not so plenti'
ful and the buildings are better and
more substantially built aud there is a
little more Of the atmosphere Of per-
manency. But all the details NIGH
give weuld after all afford the reader
little idea Of Leadville as it is, or its
surroundings as they appear to ths
actual observer. Let one imagine
himself penned up in the widest fast
ncsses OF the Rocky Mountains at an
altitude Of 10000 feet above the sea
He is literally on the mountain tops
Yet far above Leadville on every hand
rise the bald crowns of the snowy
rauge--desolate, bleak. and absolutely
without vegetation Of any kind. Here
| in the gulches are forests Of pine and
evergreen, which extond far up tn,
sides OF adjacent peaks. But the tim,
Der line is as strongly marked and al
clearly cut on every side as If human
hands had been at work cleaning away
every trace Of tree or shrub along tn
ll;,a ~ n survev and ma If tbe sam,