The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-12
RICH COLORADO
AND ITS CAPITAL
Pen Pictures Of the Western State
and Its People.
RECORD OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Denver, With a Population Of Over Il
Kindred and Fifty Thousand, Built
I'm What Forty Years Ago Was
Trccless Wilderness.

mer is over and the harvest is ended.
After enjoying a portion Of il on the
plains, taking a little bit Of Colorado
ranch life, and another portion in the
Rocky Mountains. breathing in the
health-giylng odor OF pines,'I find my
self back again amid the jostlng crowd
Of the busy streets Of Denver-a city OF
wonderful growth and progress. Where
to-day stand lofty blocks and buildings
OF granite filed with hustling people,
and a residential locality extending from
four TO five mics IN either direction,
where 10000 people are comfortably
housed and homed. forty years ago was
q treeless Wilderness. What a marvellous
transformation even within the years
and life Of a comparatively young man.
Yet it IS not so wonderful when is
considered the marvellous resources OF
this inexhaustably productive state, pos
sessing as Il does a vast expanse OF
grazing country, where cattle upon a
thousand hills roam al will and fatten
upon the nutritious native grasses, where
the buffalO-nOw eXtlnct-Once held full
sway and was monarch Of all he survey
ed. waxing fat upon the gTamma and
buffalo grass indigsous to these arid
plains, but which has been invaded upon
and forever destroyed wherever the en-
terprlsing granger can utilize the water
from the river streams and by means OF
canals, bitches and iaterals convey the
water therefrom upon the land for pur-
pose OF irrigation
I am told that when the virgin soil IS
once disturbed by the plow the
native grasses never again appear, but
in their place a rank growth Of various
weeds and sunfloWer5 Of the small varie-
ty
But there are millions Of acres still left
that never can be reached by irrigation
and it is upon these elevated and undu-
latlng tracts OF public domain-useless for
anything in the world but grazing-that
thousands Of cattle fatten and thrive up
on free grass" In former years, before
railroads, wire fences, poverty-strcken
settlers and irrigation bitches invaded the
country the cattle had clear sweep from
the Platte to the Arkansas river without
molestation.
DAYS OF THE CATTLE BARONS.
II was then when the cattle business
was in the heyday Of its success and
cattle owners were kings. On this I'M
molested sweep Of country the steer grew
fat enough for beef. but in consequence
OF the contraction Of this vast range, from
causes above stated, the raising OF cat
tie In large herds has become thing OF
the past and the growing OF cattle forced
10 narrow limits, in fact to enclosures or
large pastures surrounded by wire fences
embracing. in some instances, 5000 70
10000 acres. 1t IS IN these enclosures or
pastures the western ranchman turns
his young steers to mature IN preparation
for growing fat and broad when he
comes into the corn states Tor winter
feeding before reaching his highest des-
tiny the butchers block. Formerly the
Mg-boned. broad-h0rned Texas steer pre-
dominated. but for the last decade the
short-horn and Hereford-more common
" called the white faces-are now the
choice and are claimed to have all the
"rustllng qualities" desired. I am in
formed the white face TO use stock
mems parlance) is figuring very much in
the stock yards now and getting more
attention every year.
Upon the valleys and low lands water
Is brought by means Of tapping the
streams at or near the mountains from
whence they flow. and dverging us course
in circuitous direction where Just sum
cient grade is obtainable 70 prevent I'M
der current, for many miles distant
from the parent stream; thus bringing
under cultivation through irrigation thou-
sands Of acres on which are raised the
finest crops that any land can produce
particularly Alfalfa, a species OF Clover
Of which three crops are cut annually.
so rapid IS its growth. This grass Is not
indigenous TO this country but IS OF 81
Gillian origin. first appearing III 'niS eouh-
try in California. Its successlul CROWN
requires constant moisture, and II Is SAID
the roots will run 10 a great depth In
search o. II. These irrigated lands nave
a deep. rich soil. requiring no lertillAlns
to produce crops. Small fruits are rdls-
cd in abundance. and many me oIcnalus
OF choice bearing are now iouhu III tnsSe
irrigated districts Wheat, oats oariey
and all other cereals. excepting corh' nave
a yield equal 10 any eastern states puI
the seasons are too short ana nights 100
cold for corn; the iateness OF the spring
and early frost OF autumn oiten cut
short many crops from reachiIs 'na'ui
ity. The facilities and producliNeHess vi
the non mountainous part o. lne s,a1e
are yearly increasing, ana ne" mus
tries sprlnging up In consequence 'neFe-
Of.
VAST MINERAL WEALTH.
The state possesses an Immense ree,on
OF mountain country. which aoounus WIN
the sns,als-goid, silver, copyor, 70
and iron sufficient, Y Thoroughly mms