LADD.J MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. 663 



AloBg the valleys of the Williams, Blue, and Muddy Elvers, and also 

 to a smaller extent iu the valley of the Frazier and some of the smaller 

 streams, there are broad tracts of terraced prairie country, 400 square 

 miles altogether, covered mostly with the lake-beds, aud growing short 

 bunch-grass and often sage-brush, available for grazing only, at least 

 for some time to come. 



The river-bottoms of all the streams furnish fine farming-land, espe- 

 cially east of the Hot Springs, along the Upper Grand and its branches. 



Below the Hot Springs the Grand Eiver is bordered with broad bot- 

 tom-lands along its course to the caiion in the Park range. Large 

 tracts of land could easily be made cultivatable by irrigation. 



The total amount at present capable of cultivation I should estimate 

 at 175 square miles, a liberal estimate, ranging in elevation from 

 7,183 feet above sea-level, which is the height of the mouth of Blue 

 Eiver, up to 8,463 feet, the altitude of the Frazier Valley. Grain can 

 be raised at an elevation of 9,000 feet, but above 7,000 feet or 7.500, it 

 is liable to be injured by frosts. Potatoes and the common vegetables 

 can be cultivated up to 9,000 feet elevation. 



The eastern slope of the mountains and the portion of the plains bor- 

 dering the mountains are so well settled, and the means of communica- 

 tion between the many towns and settlements so numerous that it would 

 not be advisable to give a detailed description of tbem, and I will con- 

 fine myself to the main lines of travel and the ways of communication 

 open into the Middle Park. 



Denver now has railroad communication with all the large towns 

 scattered along the base of the mountains. The Denver Pacific, run- 

 ning north, connecting with the Union Pacific Eailroad at Cheyenne; 

 the Kansas Pacific, running east to Kansas City, and the Denver and 

 Eio Grande Eailroad soutja to Pueblo, and eventually, when completed, 

 to Santa Fe, N. M. The Colorado Central Eailroad connects Denver 

 with G' Iden City, Boulder City, Valinont, and Longmont. A narro^v- 

 gauge branch of the Colorado Central Eailroad passes up the famous 

 Clear Creek canon, follows the windings of the stream, branching at the 

 junction of North Clear Creek, one branch following up that fork to 

 Black Hawk and Central City, and the other up the main stream to 

 Floyd Hill, five miles below Idaho. 



Most of the main streams draining the eastern slope have roads follow- 

 ing up their valleys whenever it is practicable, and winding along the 

 ridges when the caiion s become impassable. 



Estes Park, near Long's Peak, is accessible by means of a road from 

 Longmont. Jamestown and Gold Hill are connected with the plains by 

 roads up Jim Creek, Left-Hand and Four-Mile Creeks. 



Caribou has atri-weekly stage to Black Hawk and Central City, pass- 

 ing through Middle Boulder and Eollinsville. All the towns are con- 

 nected with each other by good roads. 



Georgetown, Idaho, and the settlements on Clear Creek, have daily 

 connection with Floyd Hill, the present terminus of the railroad, thereby 

 giving daily connection with Denver. 



The Denver aud South Park road enters the mountains at Turkey 

 Creek canon and follows the general course of that stream to its source, 

 then across to the North Fork of the South Platte, then across the 

 divide into South Park, through Hamilton to Fair I'\n,y. 



At Hamilton, a road connects with Breckinridge, from which town 

 there is a tri- weekly stage connecting at Hamilton with the daily stage 

 from Fair Play to Denver. 



From Georgetown a road crosses the divide at the Argentine Pass, 



