The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-24
PRETTY SPOTS IN COLORADO.
A Region that Brings Health to lnvallds
and Mortal Ills to Newspapers.
The Magnificent Scenery Along the Denver
and Rio Grande Railway, and the Beau
ties of the San Juan Country.
of the indianapolis Journal.

DURANGO CoL Aug. 20.-The pretty, mu-
steal, Spanish name in the headline by no means
Indicates Spanish village, but on the contrary
one of the prettiest and neatest of American
towns, we'll built and busting. nestled in the
Animas valley one of the prettiest valleys in the
United States, heading in the San Juan mount
aims, in extreme southwestern Colorado I did
not drop down here from the clouds, although
that would seem to be very appropriate manner
OF entering paradisaical retreat. On the
contrary came i'll palace-car over the great
Burlington route--which is by all odds the most
delightful of all the great transcontinental lines
to Colorado-making many detours by theway,
in other parts of the State leaving the best wine
till the last, in accordance with scriptural in
junction But must first tell you of my jour
ney.
The Burlington route, consolidation of the
C., B. & O. and B. & NJ R. railroads, extends
from Chicago to Denver. crossing the Missouri
river at Plattsmouth. 1t passes through south
ern Nebraska, which is the best portion of that
State, beautiful farming region, more undulat
ing than any other portion of the great plains
beyond the Missouri, and certainly very pros
porous section, judging from the fine, farm
buildings one sees along the route, and the
immense acreage Of grains of various kinds.
Orchards also numerous, and artificial groves
of forest trees, doubtless many of them set
out under the timber culture act, which has
done a great deal for this great treeless country,
and should not be repealed until it has accom-
plished still greater transformation.
In Colorado, irrigation is necessary, except in
L.,
are being taken up by settlers this spring, in a
section where the experience of a few, earlier
pioneers has demonstrated that crops can be
raised without it. The limit of the belt of suffi-
eient rainfall for agricultural purposes, is, to-
day, hundred miles farther west than it was
supposed to be, even ten years ago. Ones
prejudice against irrigation, however. vanishes
after talking with Colorado farmers who will
soon convince one, that although it involves
extra labor it more than repays the husbandman
in the enhanced quality and increased quantity
of his crops to say nothing of their greater
certainty. No crops are ever lost under irriga-
ton, by drought or on account of rainy weather
during harvest time.
We passed through many prosperous and
beautiful towns in Nebraska, Lincoln, the CAPT
tai being the most impressive and attractive.
In a number of places large, brick buildings
were pointed cut to as, as this that college or
seminary or university, and public school build
ings were the most prominent objects in every
town we passed; substantial indexes Of the en-
lightened policy of the people of the State.
Colorado, east of the mountains, is by no means
so attractive q country as farther west. One
must go into the mountains to find the para
discs, although along their eastern base some
charming places.
Denver is one of the best built best shaded,
cleanest and prettiest cities of its size in the
Union Colorado Springs is lovely place,
with gardens and lawns that would put to shame
those of many eastern town, where irrigation
is not necessity. SO of Greeley and its beauti
full surrounding country, which twelve years
ago was cactus waste. The fruits and flowers
in the Denver markets, grown right at home,
are simply wonderful The potentlalities of a
large agriculture arc here, although it must
necessarily be limited to the area of irrigable
land; so that, as a whole, Colorado can hardly be
regarded agricultural State But owing
to the very fact of it's natural limitations farm
ing pays here better than in any other State in
the Union, railroad transportation rates for
Kansas and California fruits and other
products acting as protective tariff
to keep up prices to high figure
and the mining camps always furnishing a ready
market for everything that can be raised.
Mining and stock raising, however, are and
must in the nature of things, continue to be the
chief industries of the State. But what indus
tries they are, to whose wonderful profits every
town in Colorado bears testimony In its magnif
cent homes and public buildings, which stand as
monuments to the gains of their owners through
one source or the other!
The ID. & r. G. railroad practically constitutes
the circulatory system of the State through
means of which the bulk of its local commerce is
carried on. A trunk line extends from Denver
southwark to Ell Moro, near tho southern boun-
Diary of the State. From Pueblo, the great
manufacturing city of the State with its big
steel works and shelters, located one hundred
and twenty miles south of Denver. the road
branches in several different directions into the
mountains like the spokes of half wheel, and
these branches branch again and again, in many
directions notably at Leadvile, seeking out all
the prominent mining camps beyond One of
these secondary branches is to be extended from
Red Cliff, down the Eagle river to the Grand, and
down the Grand to the Utah line opening up an
almost virgin country off TO the west and
northwest of Leadville including the White
river country, the scene of the Meeker massacre
of 1879 and this branch will also send out a
shoot up the Roaring Fork of the Grand, to
Aspen, which is, just at present, the most pros
porous camp In the State. They call all the
mining towns camps" out here. Aspen has
from 1000 to TO- 200 people, but is still camp
This branch will also make the wonderful Glen
wood Springs accessible, which are in the Grand
river valley, at the mouth of the Roaring Fork,
where nature has provided over 100 hot springs
of varying quality for the healing of the nations
Some of these springs rise in caves, which they
convert into natural vapor baths. They are
already greatly sought by Cooradoans for the
cure of rheumatism and skin and blood diseases
One of them. it is asserted, will restore hair to
the baldest head. If this be true, what pro-
session of bald pates will put in an appearance
by the first train! Already there is town of
several hundred inhabitants there, which sup
ports newspaper or rather has one published
there, which may be quite another matter This
Is great State for newspapers. town that
hasn't one by the time it is month old. at least
is considered a slow goodfor nothing place
Although the State is prolific in news
papers, the climate doesn't seem to agree