The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-04-07
From Colombo.

From Colorado.
Editor Registcr While ne are
not able to paint for your readers the
more sparkling scenes and incidents Of
mountain life in Colorado, doubtless
the great Arkansas Valley affords
many points Of interest to those not
acquainted with the state.
Our location IL at West Las Animas
on the A. T. 4 8. F. r. r., four hum
dred and fifty miles west Of Emporia
with yet eighty miles to the mountain
city of Pueblo. Although some
seventy-five to a hundred miles from
the mountains we can plainly see
their ragged and snowy peaks project
ing above the horizon at different
points, and seemingly at q distance Of
ten or fifteen miles. The most re.
maFkable instance being that Of the
Green Horn which is plainly Visible
from here although one hundred and
forty miles distant.
The mining interests Of the State are
such that the grazing interest, al
though gigantic in itself, is generally
ignored because of its relative unim-
portance compared with mining. The
greater portion of the populace of "the
States" into whose ears the fabulous
stories of sparkling gold are continq-
ally poured, are not aware that Colo
RADIO has an important grazing section
fully equal to Texas, where Greeley
said, and with much truth, it cost
less to raise cow than it did to raise
a hen in the East. This great peculiar
feature arises from the dry climate;
the grass growing and ripening slow
ly retains its nutritious substance to
such extent as enables stock to winter
on it in shape without other feed or at
tention. While the stock men of Kan
sas are feeding and sheltering their
cattle at considerable expense the
stock men of Texas, New Mexico and
Colorado are enjoying their leisure
many of them spending the winter
in the cities of the east" while their
cattle find their own living without a
cent expense and generally come
in fine condition.
A stranger flying over the railroad
at first concludes that the country is
none other than a sandy, barren des-
sert; but on closer inspection will find
a light coat of fine grass, grazing on
which are to-day thousands of cattle
fat as your stall fed stock over in
Allen county. This to some may
seem little extravagant, but is only
the record of facts which are demon
strated by thorough experience. Some
idea Of the magnitude of grazing here
may be CLEANED from the following fig
ures which we have taken the pains to
copy from official returns of the
of this county for last year
and shipment from this station, which
stand as follows: sheep 7O,6Sl, cattle
8s, 1885, horses 1888, mules Ill, ship
ment Of cattle 6lO cars, number of
square miles Of territory 1910. This,
owing to the imperfection of assess
ment, is generally claimed to represent
about two-thirds of the actual amount
Of stock. The only attention given
cattle 10 in summer and consists in |
branding and shipping. |
The sytematic manner in which the
work 10 done incurs comparatively |
little expense. We have met a num-
Der of persons who began five or ten
years since with small means or few
cattle and are now quite wealthy. But
the man with small means must work !
against great odds as he is compelled
to compete with men. who own from
ave thousand to twenty-five thousand
head of cattle and who are worth their
millions.
Regarding the agricultural interests
Df course little can be said. While MOTH
ing can be raised without irrigation, it
Is claimed that by irrigation over
three million acres along the Arkan-
sas can be made profitable farming
land. An unsuccessful experiment
by the Agricultural Department for
an artezian well near this place from
which to irrigate was made last year
at an expense of $4,000. With it's
failure in all probability dies the enter
prise until its merit is demonstrated |
by private experience. Where irriga-
ton is practiced the soil Is found to be
productive, being generally quite
sandy. In many places the county is
covered with a heavy growth of cedar,
It and the cotton wood being the only
living shrub we have seen in this
section.
The inhabitants are generlly tram
'ient and society much neglected.
Very few persons can be found who
expect to make Colorado a permanent
home. While there seems To exist q