The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-01-09


about Telluride, we again take the stage,
this time an ordinary spring wagon drawn
by two .'old stagers," horses that we are
told had drawn coach for thirty years. 1t
is unnecessary to say our ride Of thirty
miles to Rico was slow one, and as re-
CARDS scenery, mostly repetition of the one
recently taken. Near Ames, a defunct
mining camp, the Rio Grande S0uthern was
sui.t, nh Tor q double loop tressle, which
will be, when completed, the longest and
highest tressle of any In the world. Near
by for distance of several hundred feet,
workmen were busy blasting out road
bed from solid rock, $50 feet above the
wagon road. 1t is truly wonderful To see
the obstacles engineers and contractors
have to overcome In building q railroad in
this mountainous country. Just think, for
example. of hauling supplies fifty miles,
over a road almost impossible from con-
tinual rains. Think of the engineers work,
in making three or four surveys. then de-
termine by mathematical calculation the
route best suited, to say nothing of the
contract work, which from the nature OF
the country is necessarily slow and tedious,
and you may form an idea of the difficulties
of railroad building in Colorado.
At Trout Lake station we stop for dinner,
The ''hotel" was two room log house,
with frame annex for a kitchen, typi-
cal illustration of the early homes about
OwOsso. The dinner was all we could ask
for. soup, fresh speckled trout, yenison,
potatoes, bread and pastry You will
nulice ali absence of side dishes. IsuppOse
one reason for the omission might be found
in the remark of our lady passenger, who
said soon after leaving the ''hOtel" she
always liked to ''set" down to meal where
they didn't surround her with ''slush"
dishes. can truthfully say, many places
where we stopped, we were not troubled
with ''slush Dishes" and just as well, too.
The lake is a beautiful sheet Of water,
well stocked with the speckled beauties. 1t
is said the railroad officials contemplate
building summer resort hotel near by, for
it is a region full of interest and delightful
scenery. "Billy" Guile, Charlie COssitt
and Dave Blair could have high old time
here, for wild game, from tame goat to
grizzly hear are among the attractions for
the sportsmen. o, yes! this is the same
neighbOrhOOd where Ollie Williams shOt(?}
a bear. Next summer If he talks life in
surance to any of you in Owosso, and you
feel your arm giving way, just ask him to
tell his thrilling experience while bear hunt
ing in southern Colorado, and we will guar
antee he will let up on insurance, particu-
Jar, II you ask him ''hOw much shot"
From here to Rico the ride-is through
canon, very ordinary one at that, with
nothing particular to break the mOnOtOny
OF jOlting ride except dust and the history
Of our lady passengers family, from the
landing OF the "Wallflower" in 1900 to
the meal shorn of ''slushp dishes.
Arriving at Rico about 4 p. m, we put
up at the Hotel Enterprise. For once we are
in luck-a dance In town that night, Con-
gregational church affair, for the benefit of
the building fund.- OF course we were in
yited, as were I'll the hotel guests. 1t Is
unnecessary to say we were there, with our
dollar, ready to salute your partners" at
the opening quadrile, and were still on the
floor when the band played Home. Sweet
Home" waltz Mt O'Clock in the morning.
No wonder we could dance early and often,
for Henry Moore, who for years led the
Owosso orchestra. was leader of the band;.
and right well they played, proving that
Henry was still good drill master. The
church people cleared $1S6 from the affair.
How does that strike the average Michigan
church member as scheme to raise money?
Everything goes i'm this country, from a
dance to a"kissing bee" to help along the
good cause. This church affair reminds me
Of an ev-minister In town who, while engag-
d In clerical work preached two funeral
sermons, charged the Co. $40 and collected
Is too. have secured his photograph, and
will have il on exhibition in Parkill & Sons
show window next July. Remember the
late. might add this same ''elder' found
missionary work too slow and he Is now en- |
gagged i'm The study of Blackstone, with an |
Eye on the shekels Of the living who run |
against the buzz saw of the law.
Well, what about Rico? 1t had boom
year ago and busted, and j. now waiting |
or the railroad to give it new life and
Ictivity. AT present the town is twenty
our miles from either railroad or telegraph
tut expect the Rio Grande Southern early
lext year. One great drawback, particu-
arly when the roads are bad, the merchants
md mine owners are obliged to depend on
'ull teams for hauling merchandise and
re, which is necessarily slow and unsatis-
actOry. A walk about the camp (all min
ng towns are called camps by their in
abitants) and one soon realizes they are on
he frontier, for the characteristics of border
fe have not all been eradicated. Saloons
redominate. Think of sixteen ''wet"
rOcery shops TO less than 1000 people.
Tin horn" gamblers are to be seen at everyI
orner, lOafing about till night, when they
warm about the saloons and gaming tables,
boxing for victims among the good natured
liners who come to town with pockets full
money for ''lay off,"
If there is anything i'm name, Rico can
ertainly take the cake i'm originality as far
$ our observation goes. A dance hall
,losed for repairs) bears the chilly name
1.-THE Bucket of Blood" One saloon
as printed on its front windows, ''Tin Kan
'arlOr;" another, blouse Of David |" Even
ne surrounding hills have caught the name
raze, for you often hear miners speaking
{ their prospects (mining) on Niger Baby
ILL. or their claims on Dump Mountain.
gain the Rico ''400o build their homes on
Iinegar Hill, name somewhat suggestive
sour grapes.
The merchants are enterprising and very
ospitable. The town is growing rapidly
nd with the advent of the railroad, the
ear 1891 will he red letter one for Rico.
The most prominent mines are the Enter
rise groups, the Jumbo and the G. N. C.
he Enterprise has made its owner, David
millionaire in two years.
nd the mine is still far from being ex-
austed.
AT some future time we will try and give
description of our trip through q silver
line, which to MS was novel experience.
'ur next trip we will take you to Silverton
nd Durango. Yours very truly,
I.r~