The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1900-09-08
ST 4 YEAR,
Our Western Letter.
Glenwood, Colorado, Aug 20, 1900.
EDITOR OF lBIRIAN,
Dear Sir

tb1lllltI wa f'l'hi l''ii''' - ~
RADIO revolye, il Denver. 1t is the
capital, contains about one fourth
of the population Of the State anc
is by far the largest city between
Kansas and San Francisco, all OF
which combine to give it great
commercial importance. 1t Is
handsome city, clean aud well kept
with large ana elegant public build
ings. while many Of its business
blocks would DO credit to fan
more populous place. It Is 2
thrifty energetic town Its ladies
are strictly up to date-and so arc
their skirts, though the wearing
Of short dresses is too common III
the west TO be noticeable. In Colo
RADIO ladies are not only voters, but
are strong partizans as well. Our
landlady in Colorado Springs, for
instance, is a Democrat, who can
not understand how anyone can
vote Republican ticket, while a
lady barber of the same town is as
strong for Mckinley.
Crossing Colorado from Denver
to Grand Junction and Marshall
Pass and returning through Glen
wood Springs, via the Denver and
Rio Grandc, one passes some of the
finest scenery Of the west At times
one can gather snow as the tram
stops and ut others he Is at the
bottom Of beautiful canons. The
deepest and grandest of these is
the Royal Gorge whose rocky walls
rise perpendicularly above the
river to height of more than half
mile.
The western part Of the journey
to Grand junction is made through
what is naturally veritable desert.
From one mountain range to an
other save for the little green fringe
of river bottom are SUGGESTIONS Of
''mesas,' hills, and plans, all arid,
dry and absolutely devoid of any
green thing. They are mere eXpan-
SEES Of rock and sand extending for
miles in every direction upon which
not even sage brush will grow.
This is the natural, uncultiyated
state of these plains. But rrrigat.
ing canals extending for miles in
various directions have fortified
vast areas of this desert. Along
these bitches are now growing
crops of wheat, oats and hay, and
also orchards from which fruit is
shipped 70 the eastern markets.
Perhaps the inhabitants of this re
gion are more enthusiastic over the
productiveness of the soil than the
facts really warrant, for they in
sist that il is one of the best aeri-
cultural countries to be found.
They explain their assertion by
saying that while elsewhere crops
are usually injured and sometimes
totally loss by reason Of drouths
or of excessive rains, in their sec
ton the farmers are complete
masters of the seasons through
their irrigating canals, aud can
give their crops water just as need
ed; and further that they are sure
ofhaving good harvesting season.
These advantages certainly enable
them to produce good crops.
Water is the great consideration
with them. AS the supply is limit
Ell they buy and sell "water rights
as we do land. And, by the way,
the methods in which their "water
rights" are acquired and protected
are interesting.
Few OF the streams are large
enough to irrigate more than frac-
ion Of the lands bordering upon
them, and if all Corners were per.
nitted to take water from them at
will 10 one would have a sufficient :
quantity Hence when a first set :
Her enters land near stream, he
i permitted to enter with it Il !
wafer right That is a right to !,
AXE from the stream certain def ,
mite number of inches of water for n
he use OF his land. The next set i
'er and each succeeding one is al
!, allowed to enter swater rights ;,
atil all OF the estimated flow of u
ne stream is taken up. After 4
lis, one can enter all the land lie Il