The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-03-04
From our Own Correspondent
LETrER FROM COLOR ADO.
DENVER, January 81, 1885.

From our Own Correspondent1
LETrER FROM COLOR ADO.
DENVER, January 81, 1885.
Editors Fzoridian My last letter was writ
ten from Leadvile, which left some days since
was not allowed to come away, however, be-
fore being shown everything of interest 10 and
around the city by the friends whose acquain-
lance made at Twin Lskes. and who treated
me with great Kindness during my entire
stay.
One of these gentlemen called for me one a.
ternoon in his buggy with an invitation to visit
the Soda Springs and Evergreen lakes, and in q
few minutes we were driving westward over a
really foe boulevard, some fifty feet in width,
which after descending the foot hills Of the Park
Range among which Leadville stands, crosses
the valley of the Arkansas to the base of the
Divide, six or seven miles away. To our left,
and near at hand, was California Gulch and the
enormous smelling establishments which men,
toned in my last, the smoke of whose furnaces
has never ceased for seven years. Each one Of
them has side tracks of it, own connecting with
the main stem of the railroads, and the dozens of
cars loaded with ore which were constantly roll
ing in and the bars OF shining metal stacked mp
ready for shipment, gave evidence that each was
steadily adding its quota to the four hundred
tons of bullion with which Leadville yearly en-
riches the world.
But the gloom and grumble of these busy fur
nances were soon left far behind, and we cross
ed the grassy levels of the valley, and the clear
rapid stream flowing through wiIIowy banks,
leaving on the right the grounds of the Lead
vile Jockey Club with its half-mile track and
grand stand, and pressing on to the mountain
wall in 'front.'
The wonderful clearness of the air which
had first noticed at Salida, was still more re-
markable here. Looking southwark then the
scene was closed by group of snowy peaks in
the distance, and now, though was sixty miles
farther north, the same white outlines could be
seen clearly marked against the sky. A craggy
mountain which knew overhung the town of
Buena Vista, thirty-seven miles away, seemed
almost within an hours ride and every undula-
ton in the slopes Of Mount Elbert, at Twin
Lakes was discernable.
The Soda Springs are in q little wooded gulch
which opens back into the mountains, and has
lately developed into q mining camp Of some
prominence. Indeed, from my observations,
am disposed to think that all the hills around
Leadville win ultimately yield fortunes to lucky
men IS rewards for intelligently directed work.
Constant production is going on from st. Kevins
gulch, and several large wagons passed as we
were at the spring. loaded with tons of silver
ore for the Leadville smelte-s. The mines are
couple of miles up the gulch but We turned
aside into finely. graded road and wound
among the fir-clad slopes of the Divide towards
the Evergreen lakes, which were reached in an
other mile
There are three Of these lakes, and they occu.
py the same number of terraces on the eastern |
slope of Mount Massive. The lower lake is first |
seen, then as the road winds along its banks, |
constantly ascending, the second lake is observ-
ed through the trees at an elevation of sixty or
eighty feet above the first and the third and last
is yet farther up the mountain. Like the Twin |
Lakes these are connected and fed by . stream |
which descends from the perpetual snow fields |
Of Mount Massive, and are surrounded BY many |
beautiful building sites which are occupied BY |
summer cottages belonging to citizens Of Lead |
vile. There 10 q really good hotel at the upper
lake, and driving parties from the city can be seen
there at all hours Of the day and evening, boat
ing and fishing in summer and skating in the |
winter.
About hundred thousand young speckled |
trout have been placed in these lakes and afford
good sport at nominal cost.
l would like to attempt . description Of the |
view from the gallery of the hotel, but have been
led into 30 much descriptive writing that fear |
10 weary you. / will only say that Il is finer |
than anything have yet seen except the ascent
Of Marshall Pass
can see no reason why this beautiful valley /
should not become favorite resort for those who
ravel to escape the heat of summer months.
The scenery is OF the finest the air Of the purest
.he hotels are good wherever have stopped and
he charges reasonable. Sportsmen can fnd
rood hunting and fishing and the temperature Il |
arely over 20 10 midsummer. while the spectacle
If August snow storms on the mountains can be
Witnessed from the valley. Invalids can find re-
ief ct POncha or Cottonwood Hot Spring..
whose waters are Of high repute, and all places
VI interest are within few miles Of the railroad
which traverses the valley from end to end.
bringing the tourist within nights ride of Den.
'er. The average altitude from Salida to Lead.
lille is about eighty-6 i've hundred feet above sea
evel, which fact insures cool days and niehts.
md the healthiulness Of the country d affeste3
y the mortality statistics OF Leadville which
how death rate for 1885 Of less than IA 10 the
thousand.
/ returned to Denver by the High Line Of the
Union Pacific road, 90 called because its ayersce
ltitude Is greater than any other railroad 81
quail length In the world. The ascent Of the
Mountains was begun on leaving the Onion De-
.ot and for many miles We ran along the side of
he range. hundreda Of feet above the Arkansss
which, now .dwiudled to . pebbly brook, VA
cred narrow valley far below rs The Pacific
lope was gained by Fremont Pass over which
ur train glided at an elevation Of nearly twelve
thousand feet and here obtained nom dis
ance OF forty miles good view of the mountain
{ the Holy Cross, the train being delayed fDr |
ew minutes on the PasA The crosa 8 formed
y two deep ravines which indeut the easiern
ide OF the mountain In the form Of the eocred
ymbol, the upright being about ffleen hundred
Bet long and the cross beam Of proportiouaie |
xtent These are filed with perpetual nov.
he cross standing forever Ia pureit vhtte
gainst dark purple background, looking down |
yer hundreds of miles Of forest and sarcam frOm
height Of fourteen thousand feet
Summit county, which We entered b. Free ,
,ont Pass, is as its name Implies, the dome OF |
he continent, having an average altitude Of
early ten thousand feet II waa Formerly of 4
,uch larger area than now, having been roduced |
. business and population increased. 0ray,s
% Longs peaks were once within Ii borders
nd every part Of the county can still be eeen ,
ON their snmmilA Silver mining has been | .
rosocuted with great success II Summit county
y many years. and within The lat yoar Yich | ];
old discoveries hes biousht fortunes 10 several.
The High Line, hAying BEN rscently builE
aase through vesy via ooofton q oountrv
"a be- leit on ny memcy Only confhssd n. |
neeaes through cool green canoaA dry | |
eten6 oveghengtne tumhllns ma66os q
% a. world s. ''', ssc,,c I'll; e ~
q ehaGu hillltdes snd disl5nt nSslrS |
hioa locked down with cold elm oon-