The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-01-03
A LETTER FROM CoLORA DO.
BUTTEs, Colo,

readers L take up my pen to Jot down
few sentences which you may eth
er throw into the waste basket, or
publish, if you feel justified in doing
so.
I learn from the REGISTER that AL
len county has been blessed with
bountiful crops this year and / have
no doubt but that to-day, our national
Thanksgiving, day is appropriately
observed by many of our friends and
acquaintance. Such crops as are
raised in Colorado, viz: Mexican corn,
alfalfa, blue-stem hay and potatoes,
were exceptionally good this year.
The first three of the above named
crops are produced in this section of
the country, and are grown by irri-
CATION. Farther north and east is
the great potato belt, where this
crop is grown without irrigation.
Along the Arkansas vally, fruits
are produced in abundance. Wher-
ever crops grow at all they seem to
grow well due more to irrigation than
any other cause.
On account of the fine quality of a
number of these products, special
days are set aside to exhibit the var
ious kinds. Thus, in Colorado, we
have Peach Day, a Potato Day and
a Sunfiower Day Each of these days
is observad with great splendor and
show.
1t is little strange why the SUM-
flower should be so highly honored,
but let it be understood that the big
smiling Kansas sunf1ower is no more
at home anywhere on earth than in
this state.
Although fine crops are produced
the country is not free from pests of
various kinds.
The hateful Russian thistle is be-
coming widely scattered, while the
deadly "locO" plant is abundant in
great many localities causing the loss
of large numbers of cattle and horses.
Nearly all of the country east of the
mountains, except along the few val
legs, is covered with short buffalo
grass, with a very liberal sprinkling
of cactus, grease-wood, sOap-weeds,
rattle-weeds and sage-brush. One of
the seven or more species of cactus
found here grows five or six feet high,
and is called the tree cactus. Count
less thousands of prairie dogs infest
the country, living in great colonies.
One ranchman in this locality paid a
hundred dollars to have them eXter-
minated from his ranch. There are
no farms here, only ranches. This is
one of the first things a newcomer
has to learn. If he speaks OF "farms"
he is Immediately set down as a
"greeny." Three crops of alfalfa may
be cut from tho same field each year
and two of blue-stem.
Coyotes roam over the vast plains
in great numbers. Scarcely a night
passes that their dismal howl may
not be heard. Badgers and antelopes
may be found any day. In the noun
tains are fiocks of mountain goats also
a few bears and mountain lions.
My present location, Buttes, is about
midway between Colorado Springs
and Pueblo. 1t takes its name from
the numerous little pointed hills near
by, called buttes.
Pixies Peak is about thirty miles
distant, but appears much nearer.
took view through good field glass
this morning and could see quite dis
tinctly the little summit house on the
the peak.
Some of the Allen county teachers
who visited the peak last summer will
that this house is about
l6x30 feet and one story high. Thous-
ands of eastern tourists visited this
famous peak during the month of
July, many of them taking the cog.
wheel railroad, and about an equal
walking to its summit. A
very large per cent. of those who at
tempted the latter method failed 10
reach the top, being unable to reach
the top on account of the light atmos-
phere. made the ascent on the 18th
Of July, and walked the entire dis
lance, making the round trip in about
twelve hours, including one hour at
The top. 1t was exceedingly hot at
when L started, but when
within about two miles of the summit |
had the pleasure of throwing
snow ball. Water boils on the sum-
nit at 100 degrees F.
1t may interest the teachers to
know that l am engaged in the school |
room. Wages of all kinds are a lit
lie better here than in Kansas. Dur
ng the summer months there is work /
or all in the country, but still the
country is full of tramps and beggars.
l have become acquainted with