42 
CHEYENNE. 
heavy with their treasured rain or snow, settle 
slowly down until all trace of mountains is lost, 
and the town seems but a point beneath a cloud- 
built arch upon a boundless plain. It is too near 
to watch the snowy peaks grow rosy with the 
hues of coming day, or blaze like brazen battle- 
ments at night against a sea of sunset glory ; 
but it is not too near to catch the first reflected 
flash of sunlight that falls on their grand founda- 
tion walls, and have the cool arms of their length- 
ening afternoon shadows enfold it every sunny 
summer’s day— not too near to have their swift 
streams, cool and sparkling from their parent 
snowdrifts, with their cascades and magnificent 
gorges, within easy walk or ride for all who love 
nature in her wildest moods. 
In 1868 it was a village of only about three 
hundred inhabitants — the centre for supplies of 
a gold, silver and coal mining region, since found 
to be very rich, but then only worked at a few 
points, and of an agricultural section but just be- 
ginning to be developed. 
Cheyenne was then the terminus of the Union 
Pacific Railroad, and it and the towns beyond it 
along the unfinished road afforded a fine market 
for lumber, and the like products of the timber- 
growing region, in which Mr. Maxwell had an 
interest. 
He often made journeys to these points, travel- 
