The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-04-16
A WESTERN JAuNr.
Travelling Among the Mountains OF Colo.
rads oRioo.

1
rads toRioo,
Rico, Colo, April 4th-0nce more |
hall you from another part of the hemi-
sphere. A few weeks ago bid adie1 TO
the green hills and warm climate OF
California. Az | passed southwark
through the State the green fields disap'
peared aud the country hhd a barren
look for that season OF the year. There
was but one object every body around
Los Angeles was anxiOnaly awaiting
rain. The country needed II, like the
Texan with his six shooter, needei II
bad. l hope ere this the country Ia
again smiling. Coming across the Ter
rit0ry OF Arizona there was nothing en-
couraging In the way OF vegetation or
aught else TO DO seen, as tine country
looks poor at its best, and dry year
don't improve II. Al Demibg we cnange
cars, when the road passes along the
Rio Grande river. There are quite q
number OF Puebl0s along the stream,
where they have lived for hundred
generations no doubt, by the looks OF
th country A Albuquerque, the largest
and most thriving town IN New Mexico,
We stop an hour, why no sable Il don't
know. } perhaps see the town. When we
again start out In a northeast direction,
at the same time climbing o steep grade
towards the Ration Mountains, snow be.
comes quite common, rather close; as we
descend the hill II again dlsappears,
Finally La Junta 10 reached, when |
changed cars for Pueblo and Denver.
reached Denver Just 1i2 hours from San
Francisco. The weather there was very
fine Cor the season OF the year. Az |
was sick when leaving California, | be-
gan 10 Improve az soon ~ reached the
mountain air once more, aud after O
two weeks stay In Denver felt strong
enough, or AZ least advisable 10 journey
on towards Rico. Az times were very
dull In Denver, went over the Denver
q Rio Grande 10 Durango, 450 miles,
Who can imagine the scenery that is
seen and admired In that distance The
mountains are crossed as easily. appar.
entity, as though travelling on the
plains. Yet what sights one beh0lds
looking from the window; now crossing
chasm, or diving through q tunnel, or
scaling along a precipice, oil OF which
are maryels OF engineering skill not 10
be met with on any other road In the
world.
Durango Ia reached. and Ia rather q
quiet town. Change cars again for q
bed next morning. Cars again TO Rock
wood. Now comes the climax OF noun
tain travel, 2S miles OF staging 10 Rico,
First l take a seat In an unpl eientious
looking vehicle, termed stage. Away
we whirl through mud and slush, over q
T ad the best In that section, for they
had the whole country TO pick from,
Three or four miles OF that mode Of
travelling when we reached snow line,
Transferred ourselves and everything TO
q pair OF b0ba, and away we 20 again.
should not advise any timid people TO
attempt this ride, for sometimes we
aleighed, tten again we rolled, down the
mountain aide, I'LL some tree stopped
our downward flight. Then getting
back 10 where the animals and sleigh
was, called q road, was qnite q task,
when the snow was from four 10 four.
teen feet deep, Eventually we reached
Henora Jack for dinner, not any too
soon, when a change OF horses was made
aud We commenced 10 climb up on
mountain No. 2, where the same routine
Ia gone through, with more vim as the
driver was more reckless than the for.
mer one, and thinking me q tenderft OF,
After lounderlng about In the snow
about q dozen times In binding snow
storm, we lnally resort again To VIII els
and roll into Rico, where the atreets
were quito duNy, Yet the last 28 miles
travel will be Horace Greeley's ride In
the Rockies ever remembered. | found
the camp very dull nj present, with
every Indication OF an eirly spring. IL
has been showing some eyery day since
l have been here, yet II goes faster than
II comes; something remarkable, as "
thunders and also lightning while snow.
ing and the sun shines all In an hour.
| The snow lies four feet deep around the
cabin. Ny partner and | went up the
hillside after some wood to-day. and
quite a time we had, IA one log came
down with such speed II almost made
ua homeless by smashing our cabin.
Been thawing out mud aud closing up
the seams again the past hour. There
has been some very large mines struck
here lately, and think the future OF
this camp In AZ bright as any In the
State. We put In aIsupply OF provisions
the past few days aud intend 10 COM
mence In the morning on our property
| for the summer. shall lot You know
occasionally how the camp Ia progress.
Ing during the summer. With regards
10 oil. remain fraternally yours,