The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-08-08
by William L. Curtis in Chicago
Record -Heald.)

Record Heald.l
Ration, \, NJ, Aug. There ha
been remarkable development --agri
cultural, industrial, commercial an,
every other sort-along the old SAINTS
Fe trail. Signs of progress, continued
prosperity and an increase of popula
tion are manifested in every direction
and where few years ago there wa:
only station, a water tank and cat.
tie corral, there are now thriving towns
The SAINT Fe trail, which was one OF
the greatest highways of commerce
known in the western hemisphere up ia
the construction of the trans-eontinental
railways, was as long and as well.tnvel.
ed as any of the caravan routes OF Asia,
except that which connects Mini Nov.
gorod with Pekin, and it was much more
dangerous than any other. Every few
miles battle with Indians was fought
at one time or another until Gen. Sheri.
dan, in 1876, tanned the Cheyennes, Kio.
was, Arapahoes, Comahehes and Paw.
nees and drove them to their reserva.
/ tions.
The Santa Fe railroad follows the trail
very closely, and many of its stations
are located on the habitual camping
grounds OF the caravans. Every mile Of
the route is historical; almost every
town is associated with some thrilling
incident or with the career of some iron.
tier hero.
Trinidad. which shows the greatest
growth and progress Of any place we
have seen, 364 years ago was the camp
ing place of Cardenas, one of the brav.
est OF the Spanish captains. IL is said
that he was the first white man to view
that most sublime OF all natural spec.
taeles-the Grand Canon of the Colo
rado. The railway company has erected
a picturesque hotel in the old mission
style Of architecture and mas given it
his name, 1t is a very attractive hotel, |
built of brick and stone, with wide por.
ticos and heavy arches all around, and |
II is a blessing to the travelling public.
Trinidad has become an important
town, the center of large coke, coal
iron and wool industries, and a popula.
ton somewhere between 10000 and Is. |
900. The biggest coal mines west of
Pittsburg-bigger than any single mines |
in Indiana, Ohio or Illinois, producing
from 5000 to 1000 tons a day-are To-
Gated here. All this had grown up
within the last six or seven years.
Another thrifty place is Ration, at the
northern entrance OF the famous Ration
pass, where the railway trains cross the
Great divide through half-mile tunnel
900 feet above sea level. Ration is a
'ailway division headquarters, where the
Santa Fe road has repair shops, employ
ng 800 or GOO men.
A few miles below the sign Of Dorsey
tation reminds the traveller of the form.
T senator from Arkansas and star route
contractor, who, in the height of his
prosperity, bought a ranch bigger than
dukedom here and drove 10000 or
5000 head of cattle over nearly 10000
cres Of range. Dorsey built a palace
nd furnished it with characteristic ex.
ravagance-Persian rugs, silver plate.
rand pianos, etc.-and, although he
pent little timehere, he lived like a
ing He gave Robert G. IngersOll a
alf interest in the ranch as a fee for
efending him in the star route trials,
1ortgaged the rest Of it to the Bosler ,
'ros. Of Carlisle, Pa, and finally lost it
u. DOrsey's mansion is now a sani. .
arium for consumptiyes and Sol Flors.
elm Of Las Vegas owns the ranch.
A similar palace was built few
liles below, near Springer station, by II
rank Shewin Of Chicago when he was {
lanager of the Maxwell grant. It was /
he finest residence between st. Louis [
nd San Francisco, with 80 or 40 rooms q