WESTERN INCIDENTS. 21

the mines around us, as well as of the outfit in which we
were travelling.

CENTRAL CITY.

Central City seems to be situated at the confluence of
several gulches, which, united, form the north branch of
Clear Creek ; and the streets are made to follow the wind-
ings of the beds of the streams. The houses are gen-
erally built upon benches cut in the side hill for the dif-
ferent stories, with basements upon the streets; so that,
in order to reach the cellar or back-yard, you are
frequently compelled to ascend one or two pairs of
stairs from the office or dining-room of your hotel. I
mention this fact, not so much the result of my own
observation, as from information derived from my
esteemed friend and travellmg companion, Mr. Wil-
liams, who spent at least a half hour in an investi-
gation of the subject, immediately upon our arrival at the
hotel. Central City boasts of several thousand inhab-
itants, or, at least, as many as Denver. We noticed
several fine blocks of brick and granite buildings, two or
three large banking houses, and also the “ Big Barn,”
situated directly in the centre of the city, and which
seems to be the general corral for all the town and sur-
rounding country.

After partaking of a very good dinner, and giving such
attention to our surroundings as the gloomy state of the
weather would permit, we held a consultation as to our
future movements. It had been our intention, on leav-
ing Denver, to spend the present afternoon and night
here, which would give us an opportunity to examine
many of the mines, as well as quartz mills in the vicinity.
Mr. Chaffee, Senator-elect from this forthcoming State,
‘whom we had met in Denver, had very kindly promised