The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-19
DENVER.
A RICHMOND MANS OBSERVATIONS.
One of the Wonders OF the West-The eli.
mate and Water-A New and Strange TX.
perience-The Exposition.
Correspondence of the Richmond DIspatcb.l


DENVER, COL, August Q, 1888.
The whole trip was fullo OF interest. Al
ter leaving Virginia my route lay through
the finest Blue-Grass region Of Ken
lucky. | had the opportunity to see th,
splendid herds OF short-hon cattle anC
droves OF fine horses and mules.
The real novelty commenced after leaving
st. Louis, more particularly from kansa.
City. The eye wearied with the sight o.
the immense fields OF corn spreading be-
yond the view. also OF wheat and oats. Tn,
crops OF all are excellent. The fine prairie
lands are being well settled and cultivated;
every depot is village or town. The
wonder eliminates when the great plains
are reached. The ocean does not appear
more bOundless, and the view is unbroken
to the horizon. There IL no cultivation.
| Herds of cattle. ranchman's cabin, few
cottonwood trees on little streams and
moist spots give the only relief.
In Colorado there is but little rainfall ;
it does not exceed fourteen inches during
the entire year, and in some sections il
does not seem to rain at all. One sees many
channels OF streams, but they are dry-the
water has eyaporated or is absorbed by the
sand. All crops and vegetation, flowers
and fruits, are grown and developed 10y
means Of artificial irrigation. BY the con-
struction of large canals the water is con-
| Quoted from the mountain streams: from
| his main channel laterals or branches are
cut at convenient distances, and from them
| the water is distributed through the fur
rows OF the cultivated fields. The largest
| irrigating canal I've seen is the Platte,
which takes its water from the river OF that
name. II is eighty-two miles long, forty
feet wide, and seven feet deep, and carries
water from the river 10 the prairies north
east and southeast Of Denver. These irrl-
gated lands are valued from $40 to 300
per acre. Every farmer is his own rain
maker. This work has been done by IN
English company.
ONE or THE WONDERS OF TIE WEST.
Denver is one OF the wonders of the
West. In the last three years it, populI-
ton has increased more than 10000. II is
claimed the total population is now 10000.
II has many magnificent buildings and
stately residences. The hotels are splen-
didly built and furnished and constantly
crowded. There are no such bank build
inss, stores. &c.. in Richmond. There are
various places of amusement. The Grand
Opera-House, built by Tabor. cost $780,
600. The opera-room is not 50 large rs
some others. but is perhaps the finest in
the United States. IT. seating capacity is
| 900 or LOO. Janauschek is now playing
| in il.
The water from the irr1gaiing canal Is
made TO flow through each street, hence
trees and shrubs and flowers grow every
where. The sunflowcr covers the plains
and springs up in the city.
TIE WATER AND CLIMATE.
| Denver is watered (for drinking and do
nestle uses) by works on the Holly system
and by artesian wells. The water from the
former is not pure, and has to be filtered
from the latter is eXquisltely clear. and
free from all impurities. The atmosphere
| is clear and bracing and very dry. while
the temperature since my arrival has beer
rs high as il was in RichmOnd-say 800 oil
more. do not suffer from heat, because
there seems to be "A constant. gentle breeze
The moisture from the body evap0rates a
| il rises. I've not had my collar damp; anC
though the sunlight is peculiarly bright
and strong. | have not raised my nm
| brella. nor have | seen one in the hands
OF citizen. The climate to me i.
delicious, although / hear some say
the atmosphere is too rarefied fol
them. The population is heterogene
ous-made up OF people from all the
States and foreign countries. John
| Chinaman has his quarters here. too. III l.
on the lines OF the great Pacific roads, anC
in what was, before irrigation was adopt
ed. desert. II lies under the shadow Of
the Rocky Mountains. about sixty miles
distant, and is about 5000 feet above the
sea-eyel. look out from my window and
see Pixies Peak reaching to the heavens,
and Grcy's Peak, and another, which i
still higher--l4. 400 feet. II is a wonderful
and strange sight to see gardens with rose'
and other lovely flowers in full bloom; hnC
vegetables, such ~ eggplant, peas. toma'
toes, potatoes, &C., the Thermometer at 800
yet the mountains. apparently just Over
YOU. are white with snow.
| A NEW AND STRANGE LAND.
| feel all the time am in a new ant
strange land. The geological formation
constantly engages my attention. Volcanic
action everywhere appears. Many OF The
finest buildings are partly constructed o.
lava.
While the hotels here are very fine, prce'
Of living at them are also very high. The
first.claSs houses. like the Windsor, charge
from 81 to s. for single rooms. In The
lower grade hotels the company is made
up OF miners, traders. cowboys. &c., asSo
citation with whom would be neither SAT-
nor pleasant.
THE EXPOSITION.
| find | am in full time for the EXposi
ton. Very many exhibitors have not We
larrived in fact, but little Is in place eX
cept minerals The Exposition bulldin!
is very large and handsome. | have eX
ceIlent space assigned me. The display o
the minerals peculiar to these regions
viz, all the varieties OF silver, lead. cop
per. and goId-is immense ana truly mag
nificent. The inspection OF them ILLS M
with wonder and delight. There il also
good display of coal and iron ores from
some Of the counties. Notwithstandin!
the immense richness of these displays
do not fear but the Richmond and Dan
Vile exhibit will appear well and attrac
much attention. NJ