Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-08-24
Asnlpssatlt,&oHtbmest.
LEF9EH FROM coIoRADo-
Especial corrsspOnasnce.l
prsrrR. coLoRApO, aug. IS. Iesa.


The. .tour.st v ho comes to Colorado szpectins q
see IN there IL to be seem or TO learn all there z
10 he learned OF The scenery resources and eharsc
teristics o. the state In few days, or even vedk
win be disappointed. since my arrival have been
constantly on the 90, and have gathered 50 mpen
material that scarcely know where to begin 70 IN
rayel the thread; yet / have but just commenced
my explorations. Approaching the Centennial
state from the cast, we have been ezduhpJ ascend
ing since we left the Missouri river and cross its
eastern border ht an elevation Of 1900 feet Up to
the hills run plains intersected by the "Divde,
ridge 5000 feet high, fifty miles south Of Denver
giving room for many cattle, sheepi andl farming
ranches OF these there are many tuterestrig fhcts
for future letters. Boldly out among these foot
hills comes the great Aterol butrnss capped by me
famed Pixies Peaks then comes The majestic range
itself, the backbone ot the continent, describing
tortuous course through the state, which as me
slang phrase has IT. "covers more outdoors" tnan
any other State In the Union except California and
Texas L.
This vast area lies between the thirty-seventh and
forty-hrst parallels Of north latitude and the one
hundred aud second and one hundred and ninth
merdians Of west longitude. Its average extent
north and SOUTH Is 80 miles, ana east ana west S'O
miles, the total area being lVa'ooo miies, Inc PaHis
in the eastern part comprise about onetnro Of tne
area Of the State and the mountains me fe1
naming two-thirds. The main range Oh tne hockics
ipasses through the centre ot tne sta'e e
to the south. The plains IN tne eastern part gre
dAiped on the north by the South riatte, ana on tne
south by the Arkansas. The conunehiai "'iue ioi-
lows the sunmito OF the nam range ron nortn 70
sonths In'the central part OF ooiorado tne moun-
tains form four vast basins, caieo parKsENortn
Park, South Park. Middle PARK ana san Luis fark'
North Park, with its area OF sooV q. An
elevation OF QUO feet, mas nortn-cehrai
just south Of North Park 10 Middle farK, Win Us
area OF 5000 square miles, AZ an eieSaon Oh oioVo
feet. Sell south OF Middle Park Is Soutn Fark, win
its area Of 22e0 square miles al an elevation
feet. The fourth park, San Luis Is near the south
line Of the State, has an area OF eVoV square mics
and an elevation Of 4 600 feet. The mountains are
drained chiefly by the Arkansas, tine MO Voioraqo,
the Rio Grande, and the Plstte. The latter runs
through valley In which Denver Is situated, and
through this is said to be country wnere ram sell
dom falls, and where agriculture Is only possible py
irrigation 1t has several times gone on the rampage
and caused great damage. In 1854 one OF tnefe
floods occurred perhaps the largest ever Known, ~
which time the county safe was carried down tne
stream and has never yet been recovered, tnouen
saw in the Denver Republican . few Gays ago an an
onymous card In which the writer claims 70 nave
discovered t In fording the river and promises 10
have II in Denver before October. The heavy rains
OF this week have done great damage here also, and
caused many land-slides. a
The stream Of humanity which OF late years annu-
ally flows into this Rocky Mountain region mas neen
larger this year. apparently, than ever Deiore, and
still the greatest rush has not begun,h the expecta
tions OF the Denyertes are any guide' Thousands
come here every summer as pleasure tourists, and
many come in search OF health, though tho number
of these latter seems to diminish rather than
at least far as downright invalids are concerned
From what can learn feel convinced that Colorodo
as health resort is all 1t has been 'cracked up 70
be-, but for all that 1t is becoming known that pet
in the last stages Of consumption only come to
these high atitudes only to die If reliefis sought
from the pure air Of these mountains 1t must not be
put of until too late. This season the proportion Of
the people who have come here o. prospective set
tiersseekers after hidden riches, attracted by the
reports they have heard-is greater than any year
since the Leadvlle excitement subsided, and proba
bly, in excess Of all other classes. Some OF these
have been successful, If not in fading rich silver
mines in at least securing good business openings
yet how few are they in comparison with the hun
dreds OF disappointed ones who have met not alone
disappointment, but misery and destitution. OF the
few who have 'struck 1T rich," as they say in the
minds, we have great DEAL as the railroad compa-
nies and otherswhose object is gain-take pains to
widely advertise them; but Of the thousands who go
back home sadder and wiser men, and the hundreds
who cannot get back, we hear nothing. On oil the
lonely, barren routes in the mining districts one
daily meets poor, sorrylooking fellows, to
whom square meal and return ticket home would
bring unbounded joy. ~ &.
And right here want to say that is the sheerest
folly for young or others to come here with a
few dollars in their pockets expecting to step right
upon the high road to fortune The little they have
will melt away and unless they are prepared to
20 right out into the mines at hard work. ready to
are hundred to one that desti'ution viii Overtake