The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1907-03-06
"SEEING THE GREAT NORTH SIDE."
A Panorama Of Prosperity Viewed
From The Arkansas Valley
Railroad Train


The editor of the Register in com :
pany with others had the pleasure of
making the trip oyer The Arkansas
Valley Railroad ON last Friday
morning and it proved q thorough
treat. The distance covered was
about 35 miles, and it was done in
one hour and half including stop
of about Is minutes at Bent and a
short one at May Valley.
1t was intended to start promptly
at 10 O'Clock, but owing to the crowd
ed conditions on the Santa Fe it WAS
impossible to get the train ready un-
til 1925, but the interval was spent
in looking over the plant Of the
Lamar Brick and Stone Co., and
Dwe were amply repaid for the time
The brick machine was turning out
cement brick at rapid rate, and
the sight of the brick being nodded
pressed and rolled away to the dry
ing room in such quantities was quite
. novelty to the visitors. The
company is also manufacturing large
quantities Of cement blocks of all
descriptions and some tiling.
It was about 1890 when the train
finally started and it was soon pull
ing down past the big sugar factory,
which was the cause of the new
roads construction. The Arkansas
river looked very little of the terror
it sometimes becomes ON this occa-
sion, as it contained hardly as much
water as the big Lamar canal which
had been crossed few minutes be-
fore. It was when the train pulled
out into the open country north of
the river that the real sight seeing Of
the day began, however, and to some
who had not seen this country for
several years it was q revelation.
Where only few years ago was
nothing but barren prairies, now
are continuous vistas Of we'll kept,
prosperous farms, with large and
, comfortable dwelling houses. big
barns and gransries, and fine or
ohards. Everywhere were green
wheat fields showing, and the plow
was at work in many fields making
ready for spring crops. 1t was a
Transformation such as can only be
made when the industrious hand Of
man is assisted by the most bounti-
full gifts of nature. Where once
only the long winding narrow trail of
the range cattle could be seen. now
wide, we'll kept roads lined on both
sides with shade trees extended as
far as the eye could see, and where
once only the range COW and bron-
cbo held forth, now were pasturing
the Jersey and fine draft horses and
whole fields full of fat porkers.
Where men could then only be seen
at long intervals, now the whole
section is dotted with the homes of
thrifty farmers and the school build
ing where their children are being
educated.
The time allowed for the train
made it impossible to stop at the
various stations. The first was at
Markham where there is beet
dump and large stock yards. Just
beyond this station is the big bend
in the Amity, where the railroad
company has changed the route of
the canal in order to make the CROSS
ing more secure, and from here
we were able to get good view of
the work being done on the Holly
and Swink branch Of the Arkansas
Valley R. h. The grading and
tressle work ON this line will soon
be completed to the junction at Lays
which is the second station on the
road from Lamar. Here was seen
something quite new for this section
and that was men at work putting
crops in on the lands of the A. V. s.
B. & I. L. Co., which has meyer be-
fore attempted to develop it's lands
near Lamar.
The run from Lays to Bent was
made in time that would beat most
Santa Fe passenger trains. Sugar
dale, the third station, WIS in a
highly prosperous looking section,
and has q beet dump and stock yards.
Wiley, which comes next, is certain
ly one Of the best built towns of the