Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-28
CORRESPONDENCE.

Achison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
branches to 60 south to New Mexico,
Arizona, California and Old Mexico,
and westward to Pueblo, Colorado
Springs, Maniton, Denver, and their
coal mines adjacent to Canon City. It
is the end Of three divisions of the great
Santa Fe system, and here the company
have their largest works outside of
Topeka. Their stone round house and
machine shop has stables for twenty
four locomotives and cost 100000. The
! house when completed will hold twice
this number. Here also are located
repair shops, oil and store-houses which
supply and keep in repair the running
stock and equipments of three divisions
The officers of the western division
| have fine residences here the company
also have about forty houses for their
employees, besides a hospital costing
over $4,000, and reading room and
library costing $4,000 which is kept
well supplied with standard works and
the latest newspapers. A beautiful
| yard and fine shade trees, statues and
flowing fountains, make it beautiful
place to while away a few pleasant
hours. The inside is beautifully finish
ed off and nicely furnished with bill
lard table, chairs, setees, tables, desks,
etc. and is open from to 9p. m. in
Guiding Sundays. The monthly pay
rolls amounts to over $4,000 which is
mostly distributed among the store
keepers. Other railroads are surveyed
through this part Of the country, and
the prospect is good for at least two
more entering La Junta this year. The
town is laid out in blocks 800 feet
square with wide streets and system
of Holly Waterworks supplies the town
with water for domestic and garden
purposes. Three hose company's pro-
tect the town in case of fire.
The fixed population of La Junta is
1,200 but quite a number Of trainmen
make this town their home, making the
population nearly 1,500. A large two
story stone school house costing $4,000
accommodates all the school children.
The Presbyterians have achurch editice
but at present union services are held.
The Catholics also have a church build
ing. The Methodists and Episcopalians
have each recently organized church
and will erect buildings. All classes of
business are carried on in La Junta. At
present we have four general merchan-
disc stores, two drug stores, one book
store, two jewelry stores, three clothing,
two hardware stores, two meat markets,
four hotels, two lodging and boarding
houses, two feed and livery stables, one
transfer, two blacksmiths, one millinery
two dressmakers, two boot and shoe
makers, one wagon maker, one merchant
tailor, five restaurants, one furniture,
two lumber yards, two barber shops
and five builders and contractors.
The secret organizations are repre-
sented by Masonic Lodge and Chapter,
Odd Fellows, Grand Army Republic,
KNIGHTS Of Pythias, Knights of Labor,
Brotherhood Of Engineersand Firemen,
Order of Conductors and Brakemen.
To-day is payday. That wonderful
instrument the telegraph, informed us
that the pay car would be here at p.
NJ and at that hour she came thunder
ing up to the round house, where a
small army of anxious employees, well
coined her, as our fathers used to
welcome the coming of their sweet
hearts in the days of old. The foreman
Of the round house mounted the steps
and called off the names Of his men and
each man, when his name was called,
passed by and took his check as it was
already made out and handed to him
through an opening in the door. But
there is another class of people here
to whom the pay car brings good tidings
and they are the merchants and saloon
men. While walking down street the
| other evening I STEPPED into millinery
and dry goods store and the jr. member
with whom have formed an acquaint
ance) showed me several hats Qadies)
from $1,000 up that was sold, the parties
would take them after pay day, also
some fine dress patterns; SO the mer-
chants harvest here is nearly Il times
year. The company give an excursion
to their employees on the Goth to Colo
rado Springs, Denver and Maniton,
round trip ticket $1.1O. This is done to
give the boys a chance to rest and en-
joy the beautiful scenery of the Mani
ton.
| But few words in regard to climate,
and l must close for fear of the waste
| basket. The climate of this part Of
Colorado cannot be described it las to
be seen to be appreciated. During the
month of January, which is supposed to
be the coldest month, the thermometer
has climbed up into the sixties, and but
once down to zero, and only three days
| have been cloudy and then only for part
of the day. As soon as you leave the
Missouri river on your way to southeast
Colorado and La Junta you commence
to climb steady, but imperceptibIy up
ward at the rate of five to seven feet
per mile, and when you arrive at La
| Junta you are 4,061 feet above the sea
level. Almost at the foot hills of the
Rocky Mountains with fine view of
four different ranges toward the north
west and about 100 miles distant the
hoary top of Pixies Peak rises in all its
grandeur. Some so miles directly west
the snow capped tops of the Greenhorn