The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-06-05
OVER IHE SANTA r ROAD.
The PEARSON" Describes His TEip from Good
land 70 San Bsrnsdine,
The MoiaVe Deserts ANYTHING but Pari-
dise-some Fine Mountain Scenery
En- Route.

COuAJ u OuL t6C0uJ JAAp W JIG hSiLO
coast we submit the following. We
bid good bye to Goodland on Wednes-
day a. m. and left on the Denver and
Colorado Springs express. Daylight
found US at Limon and We breakfasted
at Colorado Springs. Eastern Colo
RADIO is steadily improving and settle
ments along the line from Limon to
the Springs are on the increase. There
is considerable building Of residences
going on at the Springs west of the de-
pot. Movers were seen everywhere
along the line from LimOn to Pueblo.
Irrigation is progressing along the
valley southwark from Colorado
Springs. but there is evidently short
supply of water owing to light snowfall
in the mountains and little rainfall on
the slopes and plains. At Pueblo we
were obliged to lay over to TAO a. m.
Thursday to catch the California train,
as one train only is run each way daily.
Pueblo is situated on the Arkansas
river where it dsbouches from the
mountains and rolls down through the
foothills, has a population of about
$4,000 and is an iron manufacturing
and smelling center. The railway
yards and business portion is along
the river fats, but the best residences
and drives are upon the "mesa" south
west and still beyond is Bessemer, the
name indicating the industry of the
suburb.
The union depot is the finest of such
structures in the west, built of Colorado
sand stone, has a clock tower sur.
mounted by weather vane-"s flying
dragon" significant to say the least as
to the temper and spirit of great cor
porations and the animus of monopo-
lies in free ~ America.
Next morning ran down to La Junta
arriving there about nine a. m, found
the California express three hours
late. On the way down passed "Rocky
Ford" Along the valley above and be-
low irrigation is being extensively
resorted to redeem arid lands and
"make the desert blossom as the rose"
Alfalfa is not as forward as further
down the Arkansas river in Kansas and
pasturage is very short. La Junta is a
junction" with large outlay of CAPT
tai for the needs of a division and
junction point on the main line of the
"longest railroad in the world"
From La Junta, leaving at 1870
Thursday, May 81, we ran down to
Trinidad. The long train from the
east being divided and run in two Sec
tions, the last all Pullmans. On this
run, the mountains are avoided, but a
spur of the foothills is crossed.
Ranches, either horse, cattle, or sheep,
are seen ali the way, with evidences of
lack of water and short pasturage
everywhere. Approaching Trinidad the
Spanish peaks loom up on the western
horizon. The peaks are twins, born at
the same time and have stood by one
another for ages in "eternal brother
hood"
Trinidad is quite an important rail
road and coal mining town. Here
"double headers" take each section
over the first barrier of the Rocky
range through the Ration pass, the
highest altitude being 1922 feet. The
summit is passed through a tunnel and
We are now in New Mexico. Ration, a
short run below the tunnel is railway
division and the "helper" leaves US to
persue our way alone. Here are round
house, shops, railroad hotel and all the
appointments of division.
We ran down the range in the glare
Of the setting sun, which having guild.
ed and closed the "gates of the west,
leaves US to proceed under the stars
and the waxing moon to Las Vegas
"the meadows" This is an important
distributing and shipping point for the
ranches of New Mexico. The gray Of
dawn finds US at albuquerque, on the
Rio Grande Del Nord, or agrand river
of the north" which here finds its de.
Vious way out of the mountains and
foothills on its way to the gulf
Although still dark Albuquerque pre-
sented the appearance of being a fine
town, its electric lights still burning
and its fine cottonwood shade trees
nearly eoncealing the business blocks
and residences Of the town. Chanti
cleer was blowing the first call OF
"Reveille" as We pulled out of town.
The railway follows down the river
for a short distance and crosses il
occasionally, but finally leaves it t.
course its way to the Gulf Of
1 Mexico, and climbs over a ridge Of
bluffs on the long run across 800 miles
Of the American desert, for practically
desert is from Albuquerque to the
Sierra Msdre mountains; and general
agriculture is not met with until you