The Press., 1889-10-03

"A knowledge of the interest felt by readers of The the writer and subject of the following is excuse for the hherty taken in publishing it.]
 Just before journeying westward the few weeks ago met you, and remember we had a little conversation about the in- tended trip in which you expressed no lit tie interest Perhaps few lines may not be wholly without interest. As the gen. eral features of Colorado are in measure SO we'll understood, and certainly by your self I am sure, I will write you briefly | touching one or two local matters concern | ing this region. .-..,.- .- q.
 Just beyond Canon City, going west, is | the entrance to the Royal Gorge, one of the most magnificent canons of Colorado. At the entrance of the canon is another, it's course bearing southward, along which is the railroad to Silver Cliff and it's vicin- | ity. Saying s'is the railroad" is hardly
 correct, for the road in part is missing.
 Some weeks since, as Colorado has little to
 do with common rain, a cloud burst, l
 think they called it, occurred thereabout,
 good deal disastrous in it's consequences,
 tearing away the railroad in each canon,
 and doing considerable damage to the water
 works, canals, etc., about Canon City. The
 railroad in the Royal Gorge was soon re-
 paired, but the one toward Silver Cliff re-
 mains untouched, as 1t may perhaps for a
 long time, as the traffic that way of late
 has been very light. The power of water
 was thus very distinctly manifested. But
 this same "power' has been still more
 prominently displayed, as seen in the mag nifcent fruit orchards roundabout. It
 used to be said the years ago of the west
 ern prairies that it needed little cultivation
 to cause them to bring forth-only tickle them with a hoe and the work was done. G. of A1o <>kh hor~ } lands of Colorado, tickle them with water and they will bring forth abundantly.
 Canon City proper and it's suburbs, with the full supply of water from the Arkan- ,, sas, constitute one superb fruit park. Shade trees abound, but fruit trees much more abound. These are laden with an . immense burden of fruit. Peaches, pears : plums. apples, grapes. of various kinds ! and names, bend the branches to the h ground. Great care has to be used to pre- vent the trees, yet young, from being brok e en and ruined. In more than one orchard n found it difficult to find way through a because of the many branches inte1twinins d and bent to the earth. The smaller fruits 1T now in part past, have been in like abund d ance. And all of this fruit has been and i Q of excellent quality, and indeed almos d without defect, juicy and lusclous. This
 l va g. etables, corn and other grains.
 Q Beyond the reach of water little of veg 1T ,a citation is seen, but within the boundar V of irrigation the growth is profuse. It ,e no wonder then that the matter of irriga re tion in many sections of the state is dc ye manding and receiving great attention a The agricultural products of Colorado ar to already considerable, and if method C
 storing water from the mountains or of gel !, ting it from artesian wells can be found b an n which irrigation can be made general tn 0' universal product will be beyond calculs
 tion. Canon City, pleasant for situation n with plenty of water, with it's miners f. springs, it's fine climate, affords charm r. ing home for the citizen and the tourist ,d and everybody else if they will but g
 there. Here we met Mrs. Josiah Convers i'll and her daughter, and are glad to say ths it the former has nearly recovered from he i'll late severe illness. We are now about t
 go west. Yours truly, J. P. HAwnEY.
 Canon City, Colo. Sept 1889.