The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-12-19
TEN PAGES.
OWOSSO. FRIDAY, DEC. 10, 1890
Colorado Letter.

Colorado Letter.
DEAR EDIToR:-After few days So
journ In the busy city of Montrose, we take
the train for Ouray, situated OH branch OF
the popular Rio Grande road, 3S miles from
Montr0se and $50 miles from Denver. The
ride is through valley dotted with farms,
buildings and signs of industry on every
hand. DalleS, q wee village Is passed, Tor
years the forwarding station for freighters to
'relluside and Rico. Two miles further on
we pass Ridgeway, the starting point OF the
Rio Grande Southern, now building under
the foster care of the Rio Grande proper.
The town is rapidly rounding into form, Tor
you can see five story brick hotel, railroad
Office building, machine shops, school house,
church. stores and dwellings by the score
now rapidly nearing completion. Under
stand this work has all been done since
early summer which gives you an idea OF
the husting abilities of the average Colorado
citizen. From this time our ride Is over
road blasted the most part from solid rock,
along q steep ledge in many places l,00O
feet above the river bed. AS we wind
about the decline, and look out on the val
ley beneath us, or on the snow-capped
peaks above us, that glitter in the sun, the
scene is ore of the most picturesque views
OF the entlre ''clTClc' "Trip.
A few miles further on, the brakeman
calls, :Ouray, everybody change" reluc-
family we give up our seats in the reclining
chair car, and take carriage for the Beau
mont, model hotel. Why shouldn't 1t be,
managed 10y Michigan man, Chauncy
Nichols, formerly of Niles. After indulg-
ing in an ''elbow chaser" and hearty DIM
ner, we are ready for ramble. Ouray,
named after an indian chief, is unique in
its situation. 1t stands unrivaled in its
surroundings of mountain chains, deep
gorges, wild canons, lofty peaks and beau
tful streams, which with its rich mines and
enterprising citizens, make 1t one or sthe
most desirable localities for the tourist,
artist or poet. Ouray Is called the ''punch
bowl,n the drinking cup" or the theatre
pitt for the sPlay of the gods" Whatever
figure you lilxen the place to, YOU vii
find anothdr lust 1sttcnti0h we could nc
sznVggfk M any direction half block withou
going up or down hill, which requires
stranger to keep their breathing apparatu
we'll I'm hand for we are 1000 above SCI
level. The mountain streams are many O
them impregnated with various chemicals
while hot springs are numerous, said to b.
cure-all for chronic diseases. Swimmin,
pools are among the attractions. Waite
power for running the water works, electri
light plant and machine shops is a grea
saving in fuel. Ouray is the center Of TIN
commercial attractions. gold and silve
mines. You can stand in any part of tn,
city and gaze on the white tents, building
and ore dumps, many of them hundreds o
feet above you, reached only by a steep zig
gag trail. Many of these mines have mad,
their owners miliOnaires, while the ''wOOd
are full" of the knOw-it-all prospector ready
TO sell you an interest in a rlch(O unde
veloped mine. The mountain sides ar,
full of prospect holes, representing thou
sands of dollars in outlay and disappointed
hopes. We might go on indefinitely ant
tell you of the beautiful scenery and mining
industries of this wide awake city of $500
but as our time is limited we pass on.
We retrace our steps to Ridgeway ant
take the Rio Grande Southern train e
Placeryillc, enroute to Telluride. The only
incident worthy of note is our pass over {
treSsle about 600 feet long and $50 feet high
said TO be the highest bridge in the State
high enough at all events for Il person one
bit nervous. At Placervllc we anchor our.
selves to the top seat of an old-fashoned
Concord stage drawn by six horses, with
Sandy Hill as driver. Hill is the typical
stage driver, Il man who has pulled the rib.
b0ns over four and six horse teams for thirty
years; he is good natured and full of stories
of his frontier experience. How many of
you can remember the Old-fashioned Con
cord that used to run out of Detroit in the
sos? Well, the Telluride outfit is the same
but thanks to the railroad company, they
will soon be back number here. We can
spare them, for a days journey over these
rough mountain roads calls for hot bath
and three days rest. All along the road of
is miles to Telluride, we saw gangs of Mex
leans and dagOs working on the grade now
and then we passed contractors camp
where the mwashed are fed and housed.
At the top of very high hill we get fine
view Of Telluride. The location of the
town is charming one, at the head of
the broad valley Of the San Miguel, through
which rushes the clear, bubbling stream of
the same name. Telluride is not only n
place for pleasure and business, but the
whole neighborhood is now entering upon n
new era of prosperity, based on the mag
niiicent output of its mines, prominent
among which may be mentioned the Marsh
all Basin group which are saidto have S15.-
100000 in sight, and the Gold King, which
pays at the rate of 5000 day. The camp
has all modern improvements and the
climate is good. Mercantile business done
here in town of 1900 is simply wonderful.
All day long you can see freighters unload
ing goods OF all kinds, and the burro
''punchers" binding anything from rail-
road iron to box of maccaroni to the backs
of the patient and tireless burro. The
steam engine is near by, and soon the
freighters will have to ''pul off," but the
long cared, slow plodding burro is ncccs-
sity, and will always remain to carry
grub" and supplies to the miners camps.
Here in town we meet Will Wheeler, for
merry of Corunna, now cashier and stock
holder in the bank of Telluride. VIII is
full of business and making money ''hand
over fist" For all that the latch string is
always out to any Michganders who hap
pen his way, and we know from experience
they will be royalty entertained. Charley
Watson, brother of OwOsso's Frank, is the
faithful county clerk. His popularity is
best tested by the fact, though the county is
republican by 900 majority, Charles gets
there with both feet election time in spite OF
his dyed in the wool democratic sentiments.
Bert McClelland, another Shiawassee county
boy is deputy county clerk, and we Judge
from his smile Bert has no "kick coming"
In fact Michigan men are TO he found i'm