The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-07-26
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo,
INV roth ISor

~ - ~ !
Mr.. EDITOR 1T is a standing joke
among Americans that foreigners get their
ideas of the West from the comic papers
and the funny paragraph writer Never
theless it is surprising to how large an
extent the same sort of ideas prevail
among our own citizens.
The National Educational Association
recently met i'll Denver. More than 5000
teachers were enrolled from every part of
the United States. These conventions
result in much good to the cause of edu-
cation. All the newest methods are dis
cussed, views exchanged and new ideas
obtained, so that the teachers return home
fitted for more effective work.
Many amusing stories are told by the
daily press at the expense Of the teachers;
of how one from the east provided him
self with a six shooter, which he proceed
ed to put in convenient place for use as
soon as he crossed the Kansas line; of
how lady teacher from Kansas i'll reg
istering, spelled Kansas with an "e"; of
how another tried to light the electric
light at the hotel with match, &c, &C.
l have worn my overcoat every day
since have been in Colorado, several
days all day long Many teachers who
have doubtless taught years about the
capped mountains seemed to have
no idea that it must be cold up there,
even in July, as in making the trip up
they dressed for our usual July weather.
l am inclined to think that western
scenery is little eyerdone but the effect
produced depends upon the section from
which the visitor comes. The mountains
are not so marvellous to those familiar
with the mountains of New Hampshire,
New York and Penna as to those who
have spent their lives in the level prairies.
enjoyed most thoroughly carriage
ride of seventy miles over the prairies of
western Kansas. The day was delightfully."-
clear and cool, and the road as smooth as
an asphalt pavement no better bicycle
roads i'll the world. The soil generally is
WY iNlbiiN, Dtil, SA(Npl III lllC valley Vi
the Arkansas where irrigation is possible,
the rainfall is too scant to make farming
profitable. Several times during the day
we were "out of sight" AS far as the
eye could reach there was no house in
sight.
Occasionally we passed the ruins of
sod house, where some enterprising home
steader had lived long enough to get
patent from the government, and then by
the aid of some mortgage company sold
mortgage of from 500 to $500 upon his
quarter section to some unsuspeeting
easterner. He then Immediately located
elsewhere to repeat the process, removing
all the Improvements" except the hole
in the ground. A large part of the tax
receipts of some of these counties COMES
from easterners thus interested"
VS. passed hlough several deserted vii
lages. Description of one will answer for
all. Six years ago it contained about 900
inhabitants, now there Is one family, the
postmaster's A four-horse stage, with
change of horses every 10 miles, made a
trip to this town every day from Garden
City. Men almost fell over each other in
their haste to buy lots at 5000 to $500
each. To-day | should hesitate to pay
5000 for the whole town. A large stone
courthouse was built, in which no court
ever sat. On one corner stands a large
building labelled Grand Central HOTEL"
on another National Bank" "busted"
of course. at the expense of the eastern
stakeholder. A stone business block,
evidently never completed, is in complete
rnins. The only building in the town
which was in decent repair was small
church, aud the school house next. The
stone Of which many of the buildings are
built seems 10 crumble readily when
unprotected, and the ruiR everywhere
produces deep sense of desolation. There
was boom and 1t bursted of course,
because eastern credplity failed, aud it
| could not be sustained on desert air
The animal and vegetable life of the
prairie is interesting. Prairie dogs, owls
and rattlesnakes live together in the same
hole. We only saw one 1attler, which
the young man who was with me skill
fully beheaded with stroke of the whip,
and secured the rattles tor me.
We found the people of the west most
courteous everywhere. The citizens of
Deavef must have gone into training for
the N. Z. A. Citizens, policemen, eeny
ductors, everybody, were always ready TO
answer questions i'll a willing manner,
often wanting i'll our eastern cities. But
this is already too long.
J. G, CONNER.