Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-08-16

gOta TO the top OF the pass, IU,ooo Iee
above sea level, the highest RI ilroad ir
the u. s. Well, the train is blowing
for the station and we stop in snow
shed (the depot is inside; everything
covered oyer). We stopped there fully
fifteen minutes to wait for another train
to come up on the other side, and fin.
ally when we got started again night
overlook us, $50, therefore, the readers
will have to wait little and / will try
and give them description, as it was
daylight coming back), SO we lay down
aud slept until A. NJ. We had to get
off at Montrose about 2:30 A. M. so fin-
ally the conductor came around and
we ask him if we were not getting
pretty close to Montrose? Why, says
he, yes, and 20 miles beyond, SO we were
seeing the country on a free ride. We
had to lay over at Grand Junction al
most ten hours.
Grand Junction, the Queen City OF
the Western Slope, is located on the
Grand River, at the mouth Of the Gun
nison, in the very heart of this fertile
region. She is even more naturally a
railroad centre and distributing point
for the Western part of the State than
Denver is for the Eastern. BY consult
ing good map of Colorado, it is easily
seen that all the mountain passes, both
north and south, are already occupied
by railroads which built through to the
Pacific Coast while this location was
still held for the benefit of the Utes. 1t
is therefore clear that among the many
roads now desiring to reach California
and the Coast, not few OF them will
find their way across the Rockies at the
head OF either the Roaring Fork, Fry
ing Pan, Eagle or Grand rivers. After
crossing the range at any of these
places, the easiest and best route would
be down the Grand River, through
Grand Junction and on West.
Finally we left and started on our
backward journey and the mountain
scenery was just fine. I was glad to
think they were SO careless as to carry
us by or we never should have seen
one of the largest irrigating Districts
Delta of Colorado. We finally got
back to Montrose none the worse for
having rode 14O miles free gratis.
Montrose, the Queen of the Uncom-
pahgre Valley, and the county seat Of
Montrose county, is situated on the east
side of the Uncompahgre river, on the
main line Of the Denver & Rio Grande
Railroad, at the junction of the Ouray
extension, and is the natural Quitting
and distributing point for the rich
mines of the San Jaun. Population
], 200 to l, 500. Elevation $3.50.
The city is beautifully situated, being
quite smooth and even, and admirably
located for irrigation. In the distance
the lofty peaks of Mount Sneff1es and
Uncompahgre, together with the chain
of the Rocky Mountains, of which they
are majestic links, raise their snow
capped SUBMITS like grim sentinals,
guarding the charmed valley against
the clear, blue sky, gives the observer
the impression that before him stands
the ruins of some ancientcas tie, whose
turreted sides are the fading monu-
ments of past glory.
Montrose was founded in 1882, and
now presents the appearance of home
like eastern city. with streets at right
angles, and 100 feet in width. It con-
tains handsome mercantile establish
ments that are credit to the thrift
and enterprise of its people. An elec-
trio light plant of an approved system
will be established at an early day.
While an Incorporated company of $5O,-
600 capital will this fall put in opera
ton complete system of water works,
furnishing an ample supply of pure
spring water. An opera house of mod
ern architecture to $4,000 or over is In
process of erection. A Touring mill,
with capacity of I25 barrel per diem
will also be erected by next February,
:" which, with the mill already in opera
ton, will make Montrose q wheat GEN.
tire for the entire Uncompahgre and
North Fork valleys. s. B.
To be continued.)