Bent County register., 1888-05-19
BENT coUNrY0oLo.
We take the following from a Folder issued
by the a. 7. Il S. +. X. r.


We take the following from a Folder issued
by the a. 7. 4 S. F. Il. R.
And especially that portion of it,
which lies along the Arkansas River
from the west line of Kansas to Las
Animas. did not for a considerable
period attract as much attention from
settlers, as it deserved, and other To-
calities not naturally so promising
were settled and improved before
this beautiful valley was occupied.
For this reason, considerable por-
ton of it yet remains open for home
stead and pre-emtion, or Is to be
bought from present owners upon
terms very reasonable considering
the advantages Of the locality. In
this circular, the facts about this
country are set forth, as far as OBJ
tainable, without exaggeration. All
such facts are not yet definitely
known, because not yet discovered,
and it is rule that experience has
discovered to be entirely true, but
which is not always considered, that
in Western settlement the facts have
finally invariably excelled all the
promises and suppositions.
This valley did, however, attract
considerable attention at time pre-
vIous to any actual settlement. 1t
was the most famous grazing ground
and resting place on the eastern side
of the mountains. The valley, wide,
rich, and in places studded with
groves, with climate mostly mild in
winter and comparatively cool in
summer, was gathering place for
Indian tribes before white men came
at all. When the tribes at enmity
met here, in the heart of the baffalo
range, they were sure to fight
Bent's Fort, the ruins of which are
still visible, was located here, far be
yond the struggling line of western
settlement, and near it's walls began
that famous battle between the Sioux
from the Black Hill and the Paw
nees, which finally ended as far away
as where now is Barton County
Kansas.
The favorable situation of the 10
cality was the cause of all this il
the early times. 1t was the creates
trading point, FIVE hundred miles be
yond any other in the same altitude
The same natural advantages exis
yet. Around it lies an immenc,
tract of country--mountains, mes;
and upland-which is not productiv,
; of the necessities, being devoted t,
grazing and mining, and which mus
be fed from this garden. Already
during the summer of 's7, one hun
, dred and fifty carloads of vegetable
. were shipped from the town o
Rocky Ford alone, mostly going t.
the mountain towns of Colorado, be
sides abont half a carload daily b,
express. Some of this went still ful
I. ther from home-to Chicago an
: many of the Western States and Tel
ritories. The nearest markets ar
Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver
Leadville, Canon City, Salida, Cur
. nison, Albuquerque, San Mareial
: etc., with towns near and far reache
: by railroad trains, large number i
the aggregate. Facilities tor ship
ment and sale are as absolutely il
dispensable as is quality of soil an
/, leniency of climate, and such taciltie
J this valley has to a marked degre,
The important question, always asl
ed by experienced producers anon
, the first, has been already answere
r fer this valley by circumstances.
The first modern settlement wa
made here. at the mouth of the La
Animas River, by Col. William Der
and his old comrades, some of wher
had been here for thirty year
+ Knowing all the vast region int
l. mately, they chose this spot. Thi
however, was not the farming {
modern times, or followed as an e.
elusive occupation. Farming, as
business, did not begin until abor
1ss6s7. 1t will be noted from tn
shipments noted above, that it ha
become, in about two years, remune
atiye and successful. 1t has pal
fror,, tho ctarf RichnnsS Of cni