Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-08-25
THINGS SEEN IN COLORADO


pared Tor phhlnB qudlllles WIN lhdb
plsasant lakeside resort, Chicago, the
old-time dwcllcrs In Vlnlta tell rs that
It has experienced an UNUSUAL amount
0fheat this summer, 1t was very nat
ural thaGa northern tenderfoot should
wish snin of cooler breezcs before
undertaking the work Of another
school year. After debating several
plans foran outing, nothing seemed
quite so attractive as the great excur-
sion TO Denver with its promised ex-
periences Of Rocky mountain scenery
and breczes II not u Sir knight, |
could at least be one of the camp fol-
lowers OF their pilgrimage, a Sir Tour
ist Of high degree. Let me note, in
brief, some incidents in a trip quite
devoid Of stirring incidents, yet full
of delight
or the five days during which the
cheapest rates prevailed the first WAS
chosen to avoid the rush which was
sure TO come later, jand to get fairly
ready to enjoy a sabfjath's rest. After
a comfortable night we left the Frisco
at Burton and crowed into small
train on the Sarlta Fe. A car added
at Ellinwood made the rest Of the
journey more comfortable The cen
tral portion of Southern Kansas was
beautiful arld attractive with It's wide
reaches OF prairie, laughing with album
dant har ,ests present and in promise,
and moe king the dismal forebodings
of "cal amity shriekersn as a republi-
can OF that region quite positively
declfred Further on we met "a dry
win1 OF the desert from the south
wefit, like blast from furnace
mouth, making iron hot drying per-
srjratiOn SO as to be far more endur-
able than a moist heat much lower
The fields looked poor and the waste
places were many OF the region
near the Colorado line, ! heard this
story. A traveller there met a native
hauling water. 'llow far must YOU SO
for water?" he asked. Twelve
miles, mo, down | mean, how far
must YOU dig? Same distance, .
was the answer There We're traces
of irrigation in Kansas, but far more
when Colorado was reached We saw
abundant haryests Of wheat and oats,
and large cuttings OF alfalfa, With
promising crops Of corn where the irri-
eating bitches appeared, while the un-
watered land close beside was dry aud
waste
All day our train, one Of moderate
speed and long stops. followed the
valley Of the Arkansas river, with that
stream often In sight At times il
appeared asa thin lilm of water spread
over a sand bed at times, pardon the
expression. invisible beneath the
sand. 1t was generally bare of trees
until we reached Colorado, where its
course might he traced by the cotton
swoods on the banks. Al last, crossing
the bridge at Pueblo about midnight,
our train bid adieu to the Arkansas.
Had it been daylight we should have
seen that 10y a gradual ascent of a plain
we were coming to that city, whose
elevation is but little short Of a mile
above the sea level, while far TO the
north, behind it,yelled in blue haze,
stretch the Rockies.
At Pueblo, with an acquaintance of
the day, ! remained till the early
morning train, meeting here some Of
the varied decorations with which the
chief cities welcomed the remplars on
fheIr nilprimage. Denver lies nsarly
I2O miles 10 the north. the road rum
ming for a good part OF the way "a doz
en- miles or So 10 The ea-t Of the noun
tains. though the clear air made them
look not half that distance away.
Not far from our track were the
mounds of prairie dogs. sitting ON
which one might occasionally be seen.
some evil-disposed young men in our
car kept Swapping pistols at the dogs.
to their own amusement, apparently.
and with no perceptible harm to the
dogs. soon those watching the noun
tains perceived in the distance dust
colored knob slightly higher than the
other peaks its height heing more
pronounced as we nearcd Colorado
Springs, till in plain pre-eminence it,.
was manifest monarch of all Pixies
Peak showing on one side Of he sum-
init one .ittle spot of snow.
Though Denver was visited briefly.
the objective point OF my own tour
ing was the center OF scenic attrac-
tiunS, - miles this side Colorado
Springs. Thanks to the provisions OF
the Chamber OF Commerce | was very
soon accommodated with apleasant
room in private house. aud board
little distance oil, in company So con-
genial as 10 form not the least agree
able feature in "a s0jOurn every day OF
which was filled with delight Let
me give here not an itinerary. but
few sketches of things seen In round
of busy idleness, which is vet the hard
est work sightseeing
Colorado Springs itself is a pleasant
city claiming 1900 Inhabitants. yet
looking at first approach much like
country village. The houses are we'll
apart, the streets wide, rather i'm
shaded. mostly with cotton
woods. which still kept shedding their
wOOlly seeds How the city has en-
durcd these thin-shading, weed-like
trees So long was past my c0mprehcn-
sion. The visitor would mark with
pleasure in walking the streets the H.
rigating channels. often filed withwa-
ter rushing swiftly ana musically DN.
MANY Hlit ltoluthNts may ht ~tfll c@-
o.