The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-11-24
A RAMBLE OVER UNCLE SANS TERRI
TORY. "'
NUMBER NINE.

| ''I'f-4 N ."if ..atIl q . i
NUMBER NINE. ,.,,..t.n4 .i
The lines showing the various levels
of the water at former periods, can be
plainly seen in the shape of benches on
the surrounding mountains, the highest
several hundred feet above the present
level. Then the site Of the city lay that
much under water, the shore line was
some distance above Camp Douglass
The general appearance of the present
shore would lead one to think that the
lake was slowly bu'i surely growing
smaller, some day to disappear entirely:
but strange to say, this wasting process
goes on for several years, and then for
another series of years the waters rise
steadily. Salt manufactures were To-
Gated at various points along the shore.
1t was necessary for MS to get back to the
city at Z p. m, t0 take the train east:
we consulted the time table and found
there was a train in good time for our
purpose. Too late I'VE were told a
change had been made that day without
notice, and we could not reach the city
until long after our train would be gone.
That was a fix, but we hunted up the
superintendent who happened to be
theres stated the case, and lie at once Or
dered that the train should start earlier,
it was the last train too, so that we had
sufficient time to make the connection:
not many roads would take so much
pains for travellers. On the way in we
passed a special train taking a large So
cial organization out to the pavilion.
They had the exclusive use of itfor that
night; as the last train had left it was as
private as club house; not many clubs
have SO fine place to visit.
"A few miles east of salt Lake City
the Denver and Rio Grande train runs
close to the shore of Utah Lake, large
body of fresh water, and quite summer
resort From the lay Of the land it
would seem as if both lakes wele, at
some time long past, one. great body of
water. Morning found us at Grand
Junction, the point where the narrow
guage route leaves the main line. The
latter is the newest, the narrow gnage
was the original road: Leadville is on the
main road, but to SEQ the famous Marsh
all Pass and the Black Canon, it is nee
essary to take the old road. As narrow
guage freight cars are sometimes used
on the main line, that has to have three
rails, as the Erie and other broad guage
roaGs had in the days proceeding the
universal adoption of the standard
guage. Grand Junction is a very strag-
Cling, unsightly place, having few
stone and brick buildings, and the rest
of wood, as are the sidewalks; and these
cheap wooden structures are scattered
over considerable territory. We were
surprised to find that the farmers of that
section are of the few people in Colorado
who have money to lend; the reason be-
ing that it is the centre of great fruit
raising section: the land, of course, is all
irrigated. This town was one of the
many we saw in Colorado with running
water in all the streets. By very sim
pie device this water can be turned into
any garden until sufficiently watered,
when it is allowed to run on again in the
usual channel. A wooden box is placed
across the gutter: when water is desired
in the garden, wooden slide is put
across this conductor which raises the
water sufficiently for it to flow into the
premises. Colorado people have shown
the great possibilities in cultiyating the
land of that State; so it seems more than
ever foolish for the rest of them to claim
m ming as the only work openItO the peo-
pie of that State. The road followed the
valley of the Grand river, one
of the sources of the Colorado;
the wonderful canon of the lat
ter stream is not very far away to the
south, but a long and tedious horse
back ride is necessary to reach it. The
Denver and Rio Grande railroad is plan
ming to lay track through it, so that
more travellers can view its wonders;
this road has bad plenty of experience in
building through canons; they will get
through if it is possible. All the morn
ing we were constantly on the alert that
we might not miss any of the wonderful
creations of rock all along the river,
lively imagination could see almost any
thing in their queer shapes: the rocks
were of various colOrs, the deep red of
miles on miles of the finest building
stone, to be had for the taking. A cave
in the upper part of a high cliff, just be-
low the general level of the country be-
hind it, was pointed out as the former
rendezvous of notorious b nd of horse
thieves. Just behind the bare, desolate
looking sand hills, or buttes, which lie
back of the river cliffs, are broad
plateaus called mesas, dry, burned-up
looking land where grew only the cactus
and sage brush; in appearance dear at 10
cents per acre, but where water can be
had to irrigate them, they prove to be
the best of farming lands, growing i'm
mense crops, and the farmers are all rich,
but more deceiving looking country
could not be imagined. The people Of
Colorado may be very proud of their
State, but it is dispiriting TO the last de-
gree to those used to the green valleys
and wooded hills of the eastern states, to
see the never ending, bare, desolate look
ing hills and plains; the mountains are
grandeur. The alfalfa, used mostly in
place of hay. is striking looking crop
with its deep green, thick growth, some-