Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-29
LETTER FROM COLORADO.
A WashtnxtqPatan In Search Of Health
Among the Mining Camps-Over the
Divide-Doyyn 60 Glenwood SPRING.
The Lost Trail. Etc.
rrsspondenoe Of TIN EVENING srxa.

Correspondence OF The EVENING SrXA.
| GLENwOoD SPRINGS, GARFIELD COUNTY,
| COL, Sept. 16, 1SSS.-After i've weeks spent
| in DenverS several physicians united In the sug-
gestion to yourTenderfoot correspondent, "If
your expect relief for your bronchial trouble
from this climate, you must go out to the noun
tains O.! Colorado, camp out, sleep in the open
air, keep, awaynrom the hotels, and learn to
rough ftwith the ranchmen; hunt, fish, and ride;
let the tent andothe log cabin be your home, !"
etc. Obeying the voice of science, Mr.. Tender
foot laid by his store clothes, purchased two
blue flannel shirts. rubber and other blankets, a
waterproof, ETC., and thus equipped set out for
| the Wilderness
| LEADvILLE
Taking the train for Leadville early next
morning the rich and fast city Of one-story
frames was reached The positive meanness Of
the place on leaving the cars makes disagree
able impression, but ON going farther into it,
the appearance of the city improves, and on &C
quaintance, one is pleased with its citizens.
Here is first noticed the almost universal habit
| of carrying the pistol, (styled "gun" In this
country) Notwithstanding its output OF
| twenty millions year, it does look as if decay
| was dreaded, people do not erect substantial
residences Though it raned every day during
the week of his stay In july. Mr.. Tenderfoot was
in no way the worse in health, but the high alti-
| tude compelled leisurely movement.
The object being to get into the Wilderne So,
road-a camp Of frame houses. supported by
| moderately rich mines along Battle mountain.
The town is on small level spot on the forks of
Eagle river and Turkey creek-no other avail
able place for a town for miles, it thus happens
that Red Cliff loses somewhat in being too far
| four or five miles-from it's supports, the mines
| on the mountains.
| Haunting the blacksmith shop, Tenderfoot
| soon flnds man in buckskn with q strong
wagon and stout team. The load consists of
| household utensils to furnish a new log cabin.
AS the ranchman had also in his wagon a 16-
pound breech-loading rife, shotgun and on the
hip pistol, with belt at the waist filed with
cartridges the fact that he had Jumped" the
l6O acre Claim Of another was ignored. and Ten
| derfoot placed himself Internationally under
his protection. Hiring an extra pair Of draft
mules for the pull up the mountain. we were
soon under way for the wilderness. Some six
or eight miles from Red Cliff we enter level
(here called "park') between the grea hills,
some half dozen tents scattered over about a
| hundred acres constitute AstOr City. Stopping
| at large canvas TenderfOot and his ranchman
! divide quart bottle of very poor beer for which
the tax was fifty cents.
Pursuing our weary up hill journey we come
about sunset to a ranch in the Mountains we
get supper of trout, elk, venison and bear, with
milk and coffee and various luxuries. The
name Of the Baltimorean who owns the ranch
has escaped recollection, but the excellent fare
is well remembered. 81 should never be con-
tent to live in the east again" said mine host as
he fOndled his WinChester-he was about to 90
out for venison. Sleeping in the open air in our
blankets, lthere were number at supper) next
morning after good breakfast we again took
our uphill road.
& THE WILDERNESS.
We find ourselves sat home' in the evening in
log cabin on the Eagle river, about fifty miles
west of the divide between the Atlantic and
Pacific, and thirty live from the nearest railroad
The strip of leyel land along the Eagle is all
taken up by Settlers who have not yet COM
pleted title under the law. The Indian reluc-
family left only three years ago; the skeleton,
head and horns, ON the roadside attest the pres
| ence of the buffalo in recent times. But the
immense extent of mountain on either hand
will always be the refuge of the bear, deer elk.
etc. The trail ID said to be on the old route to
California. and some call it the ''Ute trail" All
| the waters flow into the Pacific. Sage-brush
and cacti every where; good hay on the low bot
| toms. splendid potatoes and other vegetables;
| but nothing useful elsewhere without irrigation.
The fact is, the country is too new and it's capa-
| blities not yet ascertained: improvements are
behindhand for the same reason.
The climate is remarkable for its salubrity
Meat and fish that would spoil in few hours in
your city will here keep indefinitely, even WHEN
| hung up In the sun. And here it may be OBJ
i
S0o the rays of the sun are more powerfully felt
than in Washington when it registers 1902 in the
shade. as TenderfOot learned at the expense of q
| fearful scorching of face and hands and lips
The nights are ever refreshing in the Rockies
| The dry, rarefed atmosphere cOOls rapidly az
| the sun goes down. The effect of this on weak
| lungs is, Of course, remarkable. and the change
of itself beneficial to one In ill-health. The ap.
petite improves. One eats fat bacon fried with
his wild meat and fish with relish. One feels
ilx0 1vin fhA
the news Of the day ceases the fringes on the
buckskin suit no longer look absurd; it ia the
| proper thing to carry arms; one gets ambitious
to get . bear; one learns to COOK and wash
dishes as the most natural thing in existence
| and, with cough checked, finds himself DESTROYS
of digging into the hillside for more precious
mineral than that which crops out everywhere
| for even the stones and powders along the trail
are multicolOred and glisten in the sun. The
tent Is pleasant home; the wigwam and tepee
cease to be desptsed; one builds roaring fire
and camps out with as much unconcern as if,
belated In the settlements, he would seek lOdg-
| ing in hotel: and so TenderfOot understands
the growth of the feeling that makes man say
and truly, Il would not be content to live in
! the east again."
The constant coming and going Of miners and
prOspectors to Carbonate in Garfield county,
the site of the latest mineral ''strikes," and the
desire OF Tenderfoot for change to higher alti-
tude. and to visit and try the hot springs OF
UiouWOOu, recently come lnCO favor, the curative
qualities of which are pronounced marvellous by
all who mention the subject make the stiffness
and quiet Of the Eagle Valley irksome after q
months sojourn. Horse or other conveyance
being out OF question, the valise is relinquished
blankets packed and shOuldered knapsack
fashion, and the march OF thirty-flve miles
undertaken. The Eagle Is forded on horseback
and tramp Of twelve miles in the hot sun
brings one to the junction of the Eagle aud
Grand rivers, the site of the town of
| DOTSERO.
| There are here about twenty tents, with q
population Of about one hundred. The post
office in tent corner supplied missing mail.
The future Of this place depends upon the sue
cess of the mines in Carbonate. from which It Il
distant some twenty-odd miles; this is the route
most frequented. A fatboat with wire rope
ferries man and horse across the Grand. Rest.
| ing one night. the march is resumed in the
morning care being taken to lay in a supply Of
water. The distance Of six miles is accomplished
In about as many hours; but there is an increase
in altitude ofab0ut q mile. Tenderfoot never
before put In such an up-hill days work.
| ~ WILLOW SPRINGS.
Surrounded BY groves of beautiful cotton
woods is the ranch OF Mr.. Hull, who few years
since left his southern home with lungs in bad
condition. The lovely grassy park which he