Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-07-17
A TRIP ON THE SOUTHERN.

III one wants to get glimpse of
every variety of land scenery, he has
| only to take a trip over the Rio Grande
Southern. The smelter and coke ov-
ems are points of interest upon start
| ing out, especially the latter. whose
caverns, dark and smoking by day,
blaze up against the deep blue of the
| evening sky like a vast furnace with
| numberless CRATES. open to the night.
| Surrounding these places. clustering
| among the trees and wild brush in the
shadow of Smelter mountain are a
number of workmen's cottages within
their little enclosures Most of them
are made of unpainted boards, but
with their gardens and neat flower
beds, they present very cheerful and
homelike appearance.
Past these marks of city industry
are presented truly rural scenes. Dur
ing the first part Of the trip, one
might well imagine himself among
the pretty farms and meadows and
wild spots OF New England so queer
and diversified is the scene. There
are little fields where cattle Craze,
ripping brooks, hedges and fences,
rows of fruit trees and gardens. flow
er beds and pleasant little homes, all
of which we look down upon in their
delightful valley. as the train makes
its sweeps and curves arounG the
Colorado mountains sides. For New
England. though she Is beautiful. has
none of the sublime peaks. around
l l,..hi ha vx,tp Iu IN, rof fr1
circles as II runs back upon Itself in
its upward climb. among the Rockies.
Soon. however. the pretty farm land
+, is passed and we are in the mount
ains-steep. craggy peaks. their sides
| green with spruce and pines. their
| submits rugged and barren. Yet
there are interesting points all along
the road. One that attracts the most
attention is Bowman's' saw mill camp.
Here the stumps of many fallen tree,
once majestic among his fellow kings
of the forest and mountain side. tells
of the industry of men in this south
west section which. in few years,
has budded and bloomed out OF the
lunpeopled wilderness. Here the
sound of the axe is heard all day long
and the saw grinds its way through
the hearts OF the mountain monarchs.
Here the busy whir of the mill ma
chinery is re-echoed from mountain to
valley. as the tough logs yield their
sturdy growth. and, fashioned by the
hand OF man. come out in smooth tim
bers. ready to take their place in the
progressive world. The camp is a
busy place. with its work shops and
machinery, with the neat cottages and
its Industrious band of workers, and
may well be numbered among the
most pleasing scenes along the south
ern.
Here and there are ranches. with
rows OF green produce. fiourishinp
fruit trees. sleek cattle and the neces
sary buildings. The great barns. of
ten times several times larger thar
the house. and too frequently in faI
better condition, which one sees or
New England farms are unnecessary
in this country of perpetual sunshine
and the labor OF getting in the hay
to save 1t from a wetting, is unknown
in Colorado. II is a common scene
and a pretty one to the onlooker. tc
see the eastern farmer, in a steady
downpour OF rain, stacking up his
half-dried hay. and rustling 1t into the
racks which the patient oxen drag Il
the barns. where 1t is hastily stored Il
escape the rain which will mildew
and ruin II. The western farmer ma,
sometimes feel the lack OF water wheI
the SHOWS on the mountains have beeI
light during the previous winter an,
: his bitches run low. but he has not tn