The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-04-22
Lspeelal COrrespondence Of DE Press. /


Especial Correspondence of thePress.
IRoNToN, COL, Apr. 1884.
1t is well known that Colorado leads al the
States and Territories in the production Of the
precious metals. The grazing interests In this
State are great and growing; plains and high
tablelands or mesas are utilized for the support
OF large herds OF cattle and fiocks Of sheep.
These find nutritious grasses at elevations whore
few varieties OF vegetable life flourish. The
agricultural interests of the State are BY no
rneanssinsig ni6cant Agriculture is confined
principally to the valleys Of the many streams
which flow east and west from the backbone OF
the continent, but more land is yearly utilized
for this purpose by carrying large irrigating
bitches to greater distance from the main
channels. Here, as in the greater part OF Cs.-
ifornia, irrigation is essential to reliable farm
ing Grain, potatoes OF admirable quality.
melons, vegetables, etc., are raised. With
characteristic American energy many are now
testing the theory that the sunny slopes Of the
foothills are Favorable spots for fruit culture.
Grapes, apples, peaches, pears and berries viii
be raised II possible. Mining camps MIKE an
excellent market for all agricultural products,
and are consequently an incentive to efforts
that might not otherwise be made-an illustrA-
ton of how one industry promotes and fosters
others.
Mining, in fact, may be regarded as the ba-
sis OF all the enterprise and prosperity Of the
the State first attracted people aud nE9s-e2t
erted steady influence to increase population.
Exploration, settlement, the discovery OF other
resources, and the building mp of other indus
tries are due to the search for the precious
metals. That search Is rewarded by the pro-
duction of geld and much silver, but 1t has al
so led to the discovery of coal, iron ore, lead,
copper, and other minerals in great variety OF
combinations and in almost inexhaustiblo
quantities. This is usually the work Of the
prospector; he who goes forth in the spring ~
soon as the mountain sides become bare with
"pack train" of two, three, or four animals,
sometimes mules, more often "buTros," which
seem to be diminutive mule or q mAgnihed
jack-rabbit, having ears that never fail 70 at
tract attention. The mountains are their hab.
itat. On these occasions they are laden with
provisions, among which canned goods are al
ways conspicuous, sheet-iron stove, few
simple cooking utensils, picks, shovels, fire.
arms, and blasting powder.
With this "outft," which is sometimes
bought with his own money, bat more often
furnished by some man of means, who Ia to
share in the rewards Of the enterprise II there
are any, the prospector is prepared for a sum-
mer campaign in the hills. His efforts may be
fruitless; they may enrich him and lead to the
blooming" of new country, as is seen to-day
in the Coeur d'Alene region in northern Idaho.
1t may be said that the element of chance Ia too
prominent in this life. Many, however, pro-
fer it to some certainties. as, for instance, IN
inferior social position in the East. About ono
year ago mountainous region somewhat az
ceeding twenty miles square, in the southern
part Of the State and west of the main range,
was the scene of "boom." People swarmed
upon the hills, and the whole surface Of some
was marked off into mining claims. This 10
known as the Red Mountain country, so called
after three peaks which are nearly in straight
line, and which are named Red Mountain No.
/, No 2, and No. 3. By enthusiasts it Is some
times termed the Leadville of the San Juan,
as it is situated in the San Juan range Of
mountains. Two new towns have been estab-
lished, Red Mountain, and Ironton where this
letter is written.
The main line Of the Denver and Rio Grande
R. R. may be reached forty-ive miles to the
north at stontrose, which is about equi-distant
from Salt Lake City and Denver. A branch Of
the D. & r. G. line may be reacked less than
twenty miles to the south at Silverton. Iii
expected that branch will be built this sea-
son from the main line to Ouray, eight miles to
the north, in order to facilitate the shipment
OF ore to Salt Lake City, Gunnison, Pueblo
and Denver.
Climate varies greatly here within short dis
tances. Forty miles to the north there 10 no
snow, the sky is clear most Of the time, and
the suns rays seem intensely hot, 3 dry heat
there being no humidity in the air, no moisture
in the adobe soil. In the mountains the con-
ditions are reversed. There is great precipita-
ton of moisture in the form Of snow in tho
winter, and there is much rain throughout tbs
summer months. This winter has been unus-
ually severe. The Coolest inhabitants" agree
that it is the hardest they have experienced.
The burden OF snow is immense, and snowslidcs
have been uncommonly numerous and very
disastrous to life and property. These ava
lanches are often one-eighth to one-quArter OF
mile wide, and they descend precipitouz
mountain sides and perpendicular cliffs with
frightful velocity.
Travel during the winter is very difficult,
and is mostly on snowshoes. The daily mail IL
transported on horseback, except In very in
element weather, when mans back is suhsti-
tuted, first class mail only being carried. The
indispensable burro is used to ''pack" provis-
ions and keep the trail open. That which we
follow In order to communicate with the outer
world is mere footpath now, but under it and
to be revealed with the disappearance Of the
snow is a magnificent mountain road construc-
ted last summer at an expense Of over ten
thousand dollars per mile. It follows the
course of the Unoompahgre river, which ID
here a rapid, brawling stream. 1t is hundreds
OF feet above the river, and for long distance
is partially cut into the nearly perpendicular
wall of rock that almost seems to pierce the
sky. The view is grand and awesome. The
mineral resources of the region are not yet de-
veloped. 1t is still prospector's country.
AS is the case With most pioneers, they who
came earliest into the country were poor and
could only work their claims sufficiently to
have legal title to them. At least five hum
bred dollars worth of work must be done year.
| ly in order to hold mining claim and prevent
Pumping" A claim, by the way, is 1900
feet in length and 800 feet wide, comprising =
fraction more than ten acres.
Notwithstanding the fact that 80 little st-