The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-05-02
"REMINISCENCES OF COLORADO.

yer we were Ordered Oy y. ". MCMur-
trie, Chief Engineer of the Denver &
Rio Grande Rail~ay Company, to
proceed to Muddy Pass, on the Con.
tinental Divide, in the very heart of
the great Rockies" and commence
our work. There would be no train
for Lsadvills until 7:20 PM. so we got
our things 10 our western valises,"
two. bushel oats bag, tied it securely
and took it to the baggage room in the
magnificent union depot IN Denver
to have it checked Cor Kokomo, that
being as far as we could 60 by rail-
Here we we're Informed that we would
require tickets before they could check
our baggage. A few,minutss sufficed
for me to get a pass for the whole
party and this ,part'of the programme
was at amends We we're next taken
to the armory where each man was
well armed with gun, pistols, knives,
ETC., etc. At 700 pm. we went to the
depot and found eur train awaiting us
on the D. g. j.. G. track, consisting of
a baggage car, four day coaches and.
two Pullman sleepets We bade our
few Denver acqsaintances good. bye,
for it must be remembered that we
were going where civilization was not.
Neither of US knew anything what
ever Of the country or climate and
did not know how we. could bear the
rare atmosphere of such an enorm Gus
elevation probably more than one
aeked himself, "are we ever TO re.
turn?" ~
The bell sounded and in minute
more we had crossed the bridge across
Cherry Greek and were moving at a
rapid rate toward the Rio Grande
slopes. Here we stopped and Hor-
ton Reclining Chair Car was put in
the train to which tho humble engin.
eer corps very soon Accommodated them
selves. By the time we were com.
fortably seated the train was again in
motion. This being the LeadvIlle ex.
press did not stop at small stations
ard we dashed past Burnham, Little.
ton, Acequia, Sedalia, Mill No. 2, and
stopped at Castle Rock, for only
minute, 33 miles which we had run
in forty-eight minutes since the last
start. With but one or two except.
ions we did not stop again until We
arrived at Colorado Springs, near
where old Colorado City used to stand,
for that place is now almost a mere
nothing. Colorado Springs has about
500 inhabitants and is very pleasantly
located. Here a branch road leads to
Maniton, five miles, which is the way
to reach the "Gardons of the Gods"
of which | shall speak again. Also
Pixies Peak aad other noted places.
At 1890 a. m. we reached south Pu.
eblo.
AT South Pueblo we waited twenty
minutes for the arrival Of the Denver
express from Leadville, and the train
from Durango, Espanola and Elmoro;
also the AtchisOn Topeka & Sants Fe
express from the east. Pueblo has a
population of 800, and aside from
Denver is the most important city in
Colorado, Notwithstanding the claims
made for Leadville. Here are located
the extensive mills of the Colorado
Iron and Steel Company and also
numerous smelling and reducing
works for reducing the silver and 9th
er ores found in greater or less abun-
dance throughout the State, The city
has fair, average schools, and withal
is an average town. After twenty
minutes we left South Pueblo and
passed Goodnight, Meadows, ETC., and
at 200 a. m. reached Canon City.
Here is located the Colorado State
Poison and one or two charitable in.
institution. 1t has about 2000 inhab-
itants and is located on both sides of
the Arkansas river. From here the
scenery is grand aud almost indescrib-
able. The giant mountains rise to an
elevation of from 10000 to $4,000
feet above sea level and are capped
with annu y. Iaau, thia TN O0o L.