i9 2 Reminiscences of 



which towns we gave lectures to meet the general de- 

 sire of the people. Simonin's was on mining affairs 

 and the comparison of Colorado mines with those of 

 other countries. Heine's was upon the general world 

 in comparison with Colorado, and the necessity of in- 

 viting experienced miners from European countries, 

 especially from Germany. My lectures were upon the 

 Paris Exposition and the future of Colorado, and I will 

 here note that after the first delivery of my lecture in 

 Denver I remarked to Simonin and Heine that I felt a 

 consciousness that I had gone too far in my sanguine 

 illustrations of the future of that country, and in my 

 suggestions of the readiness they should be in to re- 

 ceive the benefits of the civilizing effects of railroads, 

 which would ramify, and the developments that would 

 occur from a rapidly increasing population. 



It appeared to me that perhaps I was drawing too 

 heavily upon the expectation for the nourishment of 

 a moderate population, suffering from the want of 

 many necessities of comfort, and largely isolated from 

 the general world. But as I reflect now after an inter- 

 val of forty years and consider the present popula- 

 tion of the State, which has more than doubled in 

 each decade, and the railroads which intersect its 

 limits, surpassing in extent and profitable business any 

 other similar area west of the Missouri River, and 

 its annual yield of precious ores, exceeding that of any 

 other State in the Union or of any European sover- 

 eignty, I am satisfied that my prophecies were more 

 below than above the realizations. 



