The Lamar register., 1896-04-18
Williams in Colorado.

hsAlietis FlFefs thIpuSu WHICH ttle great
Santa Fe railway runs. From the over
loaded passenger trains both ways, and
the numerous through freight trains that
pass up and down this valley, we should
judge the Santa Fe was getting the bulk
oC the western traffic. This road has been
the backbone OF this country and prob
ably traysrses more new and undeyelopcd
country than any other road upon the
American continent. The agriculturalist.
the stockman. thelumberman, the miner,
the tourist, the sportsman, the health
seeker, the novelist, the fruit raiser, the
artist. the day laborer and the tramp can
all find a lucrative field for the manipu-
lAtIon or furtherance Of their special yo-
cation somewhere along the main line OF
the Santa Fe or upon its innnmerable
spurs.
The last eight or ten years has wrought
most wonderful change IN this country.
The transformation, growth and devel-
opmeut OF this part OF Colorado was sure
y the product Of the omuIpotent But
yesterday. an unbounded wilderness-a
vast. unknown expanse- the abode OF
savagery the play ground Of the buifa-
lo-t the happy hunting grounds OF the
rod men OF the plains, who reigned in
peace serene. The world does not appre-
ciats the phenomenal growth OF the west.
In one brief score of years We have looked
with amazement at the flights OF the vast
herds Of Wild game. and the advancing
caravans OF the emigrants, seen the loco
motives climb chamoislike over the cliffs
and the very crest of the Rocky noun
tains: seen web OF steel spread over
this great western wilderness by the great
spider Of commerce.; the tepees Of the In
dihns swept away to make room for the
factory, school house and church, and to-
day, the old Santa Fe trail is yet visible
along this Arkansas valley, by the inden-
lures in the earth, as il crosses diagon-
ally over the fields OF alfalfa and through
bearing orchards, and the trail OF these
-i9ers" Is more especially marked by the
bleaching and decaying bones of both
man and beast Amid the roar OF the mill
wheels, the din OF the factory whistles,
the people of the east have swept this
country with their telescopes in search
OF gold and agriculture, and this valley
in particular. has caught the eve OF the
fnrmer. the fruit-raiser and the stockman-
One Of the old-time landmarks We have
visited since our last letter, was that OF
old Fort Lyons. five miles from Las Ami
| mas, long SINCE vacated, the soldiers be-
ing removed to Fort Logan. The build
Ings are principally made of stone and
with its grounds and water works, cost
the United States government at one time
over 81, 10000. The buildings are now
vacant, and look dilap,dated and haunted.
In company with the state Soldiers
home committee, we visited the fort last
| sunday The state is thinking Of appro-
priating the buildings and grounds for
the Soldiers home. which is apparently,
about the only use they can be put to.
Another place of interest we visited
was old Fort Bent, stone fort that was
erected by General Bent to protect him
self and men from the Indians. The stone
walls surround few acres OF land, in the
center Of which are the ruins of IN old
stone house, and all are located upon a
! high stone bluff, overlooking the country
/ for miles up or down the river.
We were accompanied upon this trip
| by A. \. Parrish of Lamar, the superin-
tendent of the Amity canal, the largest
| irrigating ditch in Colorado. This canal,
with its laterals, waters 1900 acres Of
| land. 10000 acres of which have been sold
and are being put under good state of
cultivation during the last two years,
and the settlers are chiefly from Iowa
/ The headgate OF this canal, built OF solid
stone masonry, is located at this old Fort
Bent. and stone cottage is erected there
at. as the home of the watchman. The
words Casa Las Rio" are painted upon
the house, meaning. Castle by the river"
| This is the largest headgate on the river
and cost $4,000. The fall of water
| through this is 81 feet wide and 6 feet
deep. The water in this canal has a fall
at the rate OF 1.5S feet per mile. These
| lands, improved and irrigated, are selling
| f-5,,,, ss1O q, sInD Uar nrra s