The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-02-13
SALIDA, Col, January 81, 1885.

EDITORS COLUMBIAN Having been a
reader of the COLUMBIAN for some time and
noticed communications from the different
| towns and villages of Columbia county, all
| of which are read with much interest by
| the writer, who was born and raised in
that county and is personally acquainted
with many of the persons spoken of in the
communications from the different places,
| and have as yet seen nothing from the
west in your columns except an occasion
al extract from some Western paper, and
thus if you will kindly grant me little
space will give the many Eastern readers
| of your valuable paper some idea of the
little town of Salida, frequently called
"Thc Paradise of the Rockies" at present
the writer's home its surroundings, and
how the place is reached from the East.
After leaving the Missouri river by the
Santa Fe route one passes through some of
| the most fertile and productive counties of
Kansas, extending as far west through the
State as Dodge City where the rainfall be-
comes much less and where very little can
be grown in the way of grain owing to the
lack of rain, but here is where the great
| cattle range begins, and thousands of cattle
can be seen surrounded by COW boys
! mounted on horseback, to hold them in
waiting for shipment to the great markets
of st. Louis and Chicago. After leaving
Dodge City we speed on our way to the
city of Pueblo, which is reached after a
ride Of over 200 miles over one of the most
, dreary and desolate looking countries the
writer ever beheld. There is nothing to
break the monotony except an occasional
glimpse of the Arkansas river and small
clusters of cottonwood trees along its
banks. Beyond the river, on either side,
| the rolling prairie stretches away until the
sight is lost to view, only here and there
, can be seen few head of cattle running
at large in a half-starved condition, thou
| sands of which die every winter for the
want of protection, feed and water. Most
of the stock is now owned by foreigners,
as well as about 81, 900 acres of the West
ern stock range, who roll in wealth and en-
JOY all the comforts of life, while thousands
of their poor dumb brutes on the plains are
dying of hunger and thirst in the cold of
winter. The government of these United
States is certainly very tame in allowing
such terrible outrages to be perpetrated in
this country. One will also notice an oc-
casional flock, of several thousand head, of
sheep, generally in condition similar to
that of the cattle, but are guarded by
shepherds and dogs in order to keep them
from being destroyed by coyotes, which
make the nights hideous by their howls
when collected in great numbers on the
plains, One is still very forcibly reminded
of the Great American DESERT in cross
ing this stretch of country.
The city of Pueblo is located on the
banks of the Arkansas river few miles
east of the first range of the Rockies, and
is fast becoming the greatest iron manu-
featuring centre of the West. 1t is not
only very important iron manufacturing
/ point but millions of tons of gold, silver,
lead, copper zinc and all the precious
metal ores taken from the immense treas
ure vaults of the Rocky Mountains, are
here smelted and reduced to bullion,
ready for shipment to the markets of the
world. After leaving Pueblo we pass
along the Arkansas river through fine
arches a distance of 40 miles when we
reach Canon City, located at the base Of
! the Saugre de Cristo range of Mountains
and also at the mouth of the Grand Canon
or Royal George of the Arkansas This
/ place is beautifully located, and is sur
rounded by grand scenery The climate
here is excellent and is sought by many
people from the different States of the
East for health. Many arrive here in the
different stages of consumption, and with
proper care in bathing in and drinking of
the mineral spring water located here, are
greatly benefited and in many instances en-
tirely cured. The Colorado State peniten-
| tiary and Military School are located here
and the place possesses fine streets, fine
business blocks and residences, good
churches and schools, and is altogether a
| very pleasant place to live.
After leaving Canon City by the Denver
and Rio Grande Railway we pass through
the Royal George on our way to Salda,
which is reached after ride of Sc miles.
The Royal George spoken OF is one of the
grandest canons in all the Rocky Mountain
ranges. Its walls are almost perpendicu-
lar and about 5000 feet in height. At the
base the walls come almost together. al.
lowing but narrow channel for the pass.
age of the river, which passes through in a
rushing torrent, beating itself into foam
rs II goes pell nell over the huge boulders
lying in its way. Once through the ca non
which is 10 miles long, we dash into al
open park and soon Wellsville is reac he'd
where are located the celebrated Wells willie
Hot Springs. The water issues from th,
ground boiling hot and contains many
medical properties. A bath house hal
been erected over the springs for the ac
commodation of invalids and all who Nyisl
to take bath and swim at the s am,
time.
| The town of Salida is located near tn,
| junction of the Southfort OF the Arkan sa
with the main stream in one of the m os
beautiful valleys in all this rocky region
The town was first laid out in May, ls 80