Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1881 — On The Wing. [ARTICLE]

On The Wing.

Canon Cn% Col., July 13,1551. Dear Republican: We have followed the Arkansas river mure than six hundred miles. The volume of water is nearly as great here as at Hutchinson Kansas. The melting snows of the mountains feed this blessed river, and after irrigating the desert on either side, causing it to bloom at the bidding of labor, it ripples away toward the Father of Waters. The country from Topeka to Hutchinson is good for grazing cattle and sheep. We met quite a number of stock men, and in their opinion the chief value of the land is manifest in its native grass. The farmers are fast cutting the prairie up into smaller tracts, and good crops cap be raised in some seasons. ' • When we passed Great Bend the began to dissappenr, and long before w§ reached the line of the silver state all green grass not the result of irrigation failed to striko the line of vision-. Some small Hustles—plenty of cacti —a few weeds, and now and then a very low bush broke the monotony of the bare ground. Along the banks of the river grow a limited number of cottonwood bushes. The stream is broad and shallow. In Kansas great herds of cattle and sheep with droves of horses crowded its banks. In western Kansas and this state there is a marked absence of animals, both of the bovine and equine species. Our intention was to learn something, if we could, in reference to this centennial state. We talked of stopping-nt West Las Animas and expected a rush of animals. Dobe houses made the town. The prospect was too forbidding, so we passed through Bent county. Saw Fort Lyons far off to our right where the national government is seeking to find an artesian well. \ , Pueblo is a hot place'ih summer, and wo there stepped aboard a narrow gauge car and followed the meander of the river at the rate of half a mile per minute, and made this our first base of observation. While we write, toward the southwest three-fourths of a mile is the spot where the path-finder unfurled the flag of his country. This feat was the burden of some stirringcampaign songs in 1856, and gave a name to this county. There is a stone column marking the place. The eminence is not the highest in the world, and in local parlance is called “The Hog Back.” Here we are*in this promising state. The state has promised more than it can ever fulfill. The answer to all questions of sustenance is the one word, “irrigation.”-. -Ditches are more carefully constructed here to keep the water than in Jasper to remove the surplus. We will explain the system of irrigation in this canon. Some folks have gardens, orchards and growing fields, and harvest afalfa, oats, corn and grass on a small scale. All surplus meets with a ready sale at prices as follows: Tomatoes, sto 15 cents per pound; apples, 5 to 15 cents; hay, 1 to 5 cents; potatoes, 3 to 10 cents; cabbage 5 to 10 cents. The Arkansas river never goes dry. The average fall per mile is twenty-five feet in this vicinity. The soil when mixed and dried is impervious to water. It is of the quality spoken of by the potter when he said, “beware, and it became ware.” The natural growth of vegetables here illustrates what David Crockett said of his meadow: “The grass is very sliort but thank God it’s thin on the ground.” When water is supplied a crop will grow.

The horticulturist begins a lateral ditch far enough up stream to allow an easy fall to the highest part of his little field. Tributaries are constructed so ns to flood meadows and fields of small grain. The smallest streams flow at night along the row's of corn and vegetables. It requires great care to adjust the quantity anti the raising of vegetables is one of the fine arts here. The question of rain never affects the prospect of a harvest. The ditches alone cause the desert to . bloom. Cottonwood shade trees line the streets and streams of water bathe their roots. Where man conveys no water the ground is as bare as a floor. We read in the books that a gentle cooling breeze fanned these desert plains from eariy morn till dewless eve, and that the summer nights were delicious for sleeping. There are no dews. The weather is very hot and we have Sought on the highest eminences for the cooling breeze and found it not. This is sultry summer w eather, day and night, in Canon City. Narrow gauge railroads are the only possible system of steam carriages here. Thfe wheels are very small in diameter. The engines have no large drive wheels but are supplied with four pairs of uniform hight. They climb up these canons at an inclination of 700 feet per mile. The little giants are making money. Passenger fares are 10 to 25 cents per mile. We have been out from the city in all directions. The soda springs are a place of resort, at southwest corner of city plat. The water tastes just like ordinary soda water made solid. The stream is about one and a half inches in diameter. The stuff is sold in town at five cents per bottle. Farther up the river are the Hot Springs, extensively advertised. The temperature is about 100 degrees Farinheit. We rode in a buggy up Grape

Creek Canon. To-day we drove lo the Royal Gorge or Grand Canon of the Arkansas. This is where the river passes through the mountain range, ami the banks are 3,000 feet high. We viewed it from the top. The chasm looked narrow, deep, gloomy and fearfully grand. Oar voices gave back -a clear echo/ The weather was and is too hot to essay a description. The narrow gauge railroad track looked to be all one rail. It was half a mile on a perpendicular line and we went as near the edge as our natural timidity would allow. We are ready to leave this place and have no desire to return. We killed a rattlesnake to-day and have saved the rattles as a trophy. We ate dinner on the mountain top. Were both in the penitentiary and found 216 criminals at work. Very glad to pay a quarter to* get "out. It is ssid dark skinned people prosper better here because God intended tliis mountain desert country for the Indians. Few white men can live outside of the mines. By remaining under ground they can retain, in a measure, their color. The dry air, intense sunshine and exposure has almost changed our better-half into a brunette. > We will go to Silver Cliff to see the mines and from thence to Colorado Springs. Parr. Mr. B. F. Porter, a.rich banker in U-tiea, N. Y. aays: “I have used Brown’s Iron Bitters the past year, much to the chagrin of our family physician, for neither myself, wife nor little girls have since suffered a single day’s Illness. It makes us all robust un4 strong.” - 1 The heated torm in Cincinnati was more disastrous than any railway accident that ever took place. During the week ending. July 16 there were two hundred and sixtyfour deaths from sunstroke and one hundred and fifty from excessive heat. A total of 414. Lost. —On July 18, 1881, a calfskin pocket-book, containing $6 in bills and some papers of no value to n«y one but myself. The finder will please return to me or The Republican office. Chas. H. Thompson. Wanted —At* 4he post-office, Rensselaer, Indiana, 10,000 persons to call for premium lists of the Jasper County Fair of 1881. Articles designed for exhibition in the divisions devoted to garden products, grains and seeds, fruits, flowers, artificial work,domestic skill, ladies’ work and school work, will be admitted free of charge. i . The Autophone is the cheapest, best, and most comprehensive automatic musical instrument ever brought forth. It has 22 notes (six more than any other musical instrument); plays, in 3 keys; is simple in construction ; it can be played by a child. It is absolutely Eerfect in its rendition of music, eating its own time, while all others require faster or slower motion. Does away with cranks and handles, being played by direct action of the bellows. It plays any kind of music. Both autoplions and music are cheaper by far than all others. Send for circular. Liberal discount to canvassers. Address, The Autophone Co., Ithaca, N. Y.