62

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

 

ronize the Southern route and take a run
into the

State of Colorado,

the youngest, the fairest, and the “Cen-
tennial State” of the United States; ad-
mitted to the Union, July Ist, 1876.
The State has an area of 86,029 square
miles, and a population of 150,000.

It is not our purpose to enter into a very
minute description of this remarkable
country. Volumes would not suffice to
do justice to her vast resources; her mines
of gold, silver, iron, coal, and copper; her
rich and fertile valleys; her broad plains,
on which roam thousands of cattle, sheep,
and horses; her vast agricultural resources ;
her dense forests and lofty mountains; her
genial climate and whole-souled people,
cannot be described in one small volume
with any degree of accuracy or justice; in
fact, they cannot be described at all, they
must be seen to be appreciated, and the
reader of any work treating on Colorado
must live among her hardy, hospitable
people before a correct understanding of

_ their real character can be obtained.

The climate is dry and very healthy, the
Territory being unsurpassed in this respect.
Diseases common to the older States are
unknown here. Pulmonary complaints
are either eradicated from the system of
invalid who resorts to this country, or the
disease becomes so modified that the suf-
ferer enjoys a marked improvement in his
condition. Within the past few years Col-
orado has become noted as @ resort for in-
valids; and we hear of some remarkable
cures, resulting wholly from a change of
climate.

The report of the Agricultural Society of
Colorado shows that stock-raising is carried
on to a very great extent, and with very
flattering results.

Oats, barley and corn give handsome
returns. Wheat is said to yield from 40 to
50 bushels to the acre.

No State in the Union, California ex-
cepted, can excel Colorado in the produc-
tion of vegetables. In some portions of
the Territory; owing to the dryness of the
black loam, irrigation is necessary to
secure good crops, for which purpose
canals and ditches have been dug from the
neighboring streams, which afford all the
water required, and also ample water.
power for mills of various kinds.

Colorado is rich in the precious metals,
gold and silver being found in different

parts of the Territory. ‘‘ Pike’s Peak” be-
came famous in 1858-9, though it is said that,
gold was discovered in the Territory in
1849. The placer mines were never very
extensive, at least those which have been
discovered were not lasting ones. It ap-
pears that the chief wealth of the mines
lies in the gold and silver-bearing quartz
lodes. In many of the mines, the ore is
very refractory, and large fortunes have
been expended to find some way to work
the ores in such a manner as will secure a
profit. Many plans of de-sulphurizing have
been tried without any marked success.
About the only works that have proved a
success are those of Professor Hills, at
Black Hawk; these works are the largest
and most successful in America.

Along the base of the mountains, for
many miles north and south of Denver, ex-
tensive coal mines have been discovered at
various points. Good authorities estimate
the extent of the coal fields at 5,000 square
miles. To the north of the city several
companies have opened mines, which are
yielding—besides enough to supply home
consumption and the various railroad com-
panies—immense quantities for shipment
to the North, East and South.

This coal is bituminous, and is harder,
brighter, less dirty and odorous, burns with
a purer flame, and leaves less residue than
the coal from Tlinois.

Large quantities of iron ore, of good
quality, are found in connection with the
coal deposits, and will eventually consti-
tute a great source of wealth to the coun-
try. Manufacturers of machinery and all
kinds of iron implements would find in
Colorado an almost unlimited market, and
would be able, while under selling Eastern
dealers, to reap a rich reward for their
outlay.

The following are among the minerals
and precious stones found in Colorado:
Moss agates, chiefly in Middle Park; am-
ethyst, at. Nevada, Mill City, and on Soda
Creek; chalcedony, in South Park; feld-
spar, near Idaho and on Elk Creek; gar-
net, in South Park and about Brecken-
ridge; jasper, in South and Middle Parks;
mica, near Georgetown and Genesee
Ranche; opal, near Idaho and in South
Park; onyx, near Willow Creek, in Mid-
dle Park; quartz crystals, at many points;
satin spar, near Mount Vernon; silicified
wood, in Middle and South Parks, on
Cherry Creek, the Platte, and Kiowa.

Many of the grandest mountains are