66

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

 

noted as being one of the best places in
the State for game, a place where deer,
elk, mountain sheep, bear, and moun-
tain lions can be found, as well as
the finest trout fishing in the whole
mountain range. Descending into the
valley we cross numerousirrigating ditches,
and then a long bridge over the Cache-a-la
Poudre River to the south bank, and
stop at

Fort Conirns—the first place of much
importance since leaving Cheyenne, 48
miles distant, and 80 miles from Denver.

Fort Collins is the county seat of Lara-
mie county, inthe midst of as fine agricul-
tural section as there is in the State. It
has several churches and schools, one
flouring mill, a dozen or more stores, two
good hotels—the Collins and the Blake—
several small manufactories, and is popu-
lated by an enterprising and thrifty people,
numbering about 500. The town is a short
distance to the left, east of the station.
Passing on to the southward, we cross
several large irrigating canals—one be-
longing to the “@reeley Colony,” of
which we shall speak hereafter—and up
over a rolling prairie 13 6-10 miles to

LovELAND-—righily named. This place
was cognomed after the president of the
road, than whom a more enterprising, ener-

etic, and persevering man never set foot in

olorado, and the people at Loveland Sta-
tion have become, to a great extent, in-
spired with the same spirit of progress that
animated him, as ismanifest in the improve-
ments surrounding this station, where, in
June last, 1877, there were but very few
buildings to be seen. Now, there are sev-
eral stores, a good station building, some
fine private residences, and an air of thrift
pervades the scene onevery hand. Wheat,
oats, barley and corn are the principal pro-
ductions—of the first two named the crops
are. very abundant.

Proceeding on, we soon come down into
the valley of Big Thompson Creek, upon
which are some fine farms, especially on
the upper portion near the mountains.
Crossing the creek, and up over another
stretch of high rolling prairie, we descend to
another small valley, through which runs
Little Thompson, which we cross and
stop at

BrerrHoup—a small side-track station,
9 4-10 milesfrom Loveland. Continuing
our journey, we again pass over a high
rolling prairie, used mostly for grazing,
4 3-10 miles to

Lone’s Prax—or “Highland,” as it is
sometimes called—but really we could not
see anything to call, unless it were the
sheep, and they were numerous; also, fur-
ther on, some farmers were engaged in
“tickling the soil,’’ which, when irrigated,
produces abundant crops.

Five miles further, and we are at

Lonemont—This is one of the most im-
portant towns on the road. It is situated
on the high prairie sloping to the south-
ward, about half-a-mile north of St. Vrain
River, the waters of which are taken out
about seven miles west of the town and
conducted in ditches over the highlands on
each side of the river, which produces
large crops of wheat, barley, oats, corn and
other crops annually. During the last.
year, over 300 car loads of wheat were
shipped from Longmont, besides what was
ground in three mills located near the
town. Wheat often yields 30 bushels to
the acre; oats 50.

Longmont has three church edifices, two
schools, two hotels—the St. Vrain and the
City—ten stores, and a great many kinds
of shops and small establishments. The
Longmont Post is a live weekly, published
here. Its population is about 800, and
rapidly increasing.

The streets are laid out at right angles,
and are ornamented with shade trees of
various kinds, as are many of the private
residences.

In the summer, a stage leaves here for

Estrs ParK—80 miles distant, to the
westward. This is a beautiful little valley,
about six miles long by 44g wide, sur-
rounded by mountain peaks, chief of which
is Long’s, about 10 miles to the northward.
Spruce and pine trees abound in the park,
sufficiently near each other to afford a
beautiful and cooling shade in the hottest
days in summer,

Crossing St. Vrain River, which, a few
miles above, forks, the southern branch of
which is called Left Hand, we again as-
cend the rolling prairie, and six miles from
Longmont reach

Nr Wot—a station named for a mine
and mill on the side of the mountain in
plain view. The country here is nearly all
under cultivation, that portion between the
road and the mountains being very pro-
ductive.

Eight miles further on we arrive at

BouLDER—This city is about one mile to
the westward, at the base of the mountain,
and mouth of Boulder Canyon. Itis the