The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-09-24

had the pleasure Of riding with the en-
gineer down the mountains on the re-
turn trip. This engine had been OF the
track six times since June. from spread
Ing rails. but luckily without 81 rious
mishap. The run down is made very
cautiously and nearly three hours are
sometimes taken In making the 26
miles.
Ward, the terminus Of the line IL
town 3S years old or in western YER
nacnlar, a camp Every town, city and
hamlet throughout the mining districts
Of the west is called a camp. Old as is
Leadyille it is still called camp.
These mining towns never attain the
dignity OF anything else.
But to go back to Ward. 1t isa little
place Of about 800 OF 1000 people, many
OF whom have been pounding away at
the granite hills 10 these many years
getting their supplies by wagon road
from Boulder. The coming Of the rail-
road has brought new activity to the
town aud new buildings are going up
everywhere. II ever town deserved the
good things stoI ed by the Almighty in
these rock-bound hills OF Colorado it is
tho enlerprising people Of Ward. It
Will be long time before the National
Editorial association will forget the
kind reception they met at this little
town and that elegant and appetiziDg
lunch prepared by the la1ies Of the
camp. It is no small task to feed four
or five hundred hungry exclrsionists
with appetites sharpened by the health
giving ozone cf the Rockies, but the
ladies Of Ward did it and did it easily,
and to top 1t all loaded the visitors with
abundance Of the most delicious fruit,
The visit to Ward was striking i'll
lustratlon Of how perfectly supplied the
mining regions Of Colorado are with all
the comforts and lnxuries of life-that
is. those in touch with the railroads.
And wherever gold or silver,is found in
paying quantities soon comes the rail-
road and down goes prices. One can
travel for days in the mining regions of
Colorado and never see a COW, a hen or a
fruit tree, but at all the hotels restau-
rants and oven in low priced eating
houses cream is always to be had with
ones coffee, creamery butter is used ex-
clusiYsly and fresh eggs and fruit are as
common as in the heart of the finest
agricultural sections Of the east, and
about as cheap. For one thing, much of
Colorado is given to agriculture and the
mining regions are abundantly supplied
from within the borders OF the state.
This is what makes Colorado such
grand young state. Unlike South Dako-
to, the mineral and agricultural regions
OF Colorado are closely connected by
railroads. South Dakota has all the
natural advantages Of Colorado. but ow-
ing to the reluctance of capital to Guild
west of the Missouri to the Black Hills,
Nebraska feeds the mining sections OF
the state instead of the farmers within
our own borders. The work Of con-
structiDg railroad to the Black Hills
from Chamberlain would be child's play
compared to the gigantic task it has
been to overcome the mountains OF Col
orado and as remote as eastern and
western South Dakota.
Ward has five mining companies
called the "Bi0 Five" One Of the minas
extends 5000 feet, or over one half mile,
straight into the side Of the mountain.
fhe tunnel was lighted with something
like a thousand candles for the benefit
OF the visitors, many of whom, including
the writer, penetrated its inmost depths.
G. R. T.