CHAPTER LII.
COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, AND TEXAS. CONCLUSION.
Denver. Pueblo. Trinidad. Stockton's Ranch e. A Headquarters for Desperadoes. Cattle Stealing. A private Graveyard. Maxwell's Ranche. Dry Cimmaron. Fort Union. Sante Fe. The oldest City in New Mexico. A wagon Journey down the Valley of the Rio Grande. Evidences of Ancient Civilization. Fort McRae and the Hot Spring. Mowry City. The Gold Mining region of New Mexico and Arizona. El Paso. A thriving Town. A stage Ride through Western Texas. Fort Bliss. Fort Quitman and Eagle Spring. The Leon Holes. Fort Stockton. The Rio Pecos. A fine Country. Approaching Civilization. The End of the Story.
JITH my little baby boy born during my sojourn in Salt Lake City in my arms, I started on a long journey through Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, hoping, perhaps, but scarcely expecting, to find the opportunities, which I had failed to find in Utah^ Nevada, and California, for advancing my pecuniary interests. Apart, however, from profits that might result from it, the journey would be worth making for its own sake, for, from what I had heard of this section of the Western country, great things were to be expected of it in the near future; and the satisfaction of seeing and judging of the nature and extent of its resources would amply repay me for the trouble of making a trip through it.
After leaving Salt Lake City, the first place of importance reached was Denver, Colorado, on the Platte River. This I found to be a well built and very thriving town, of about eight or ten thousand inhabitants. Among its public institutions were a branch of the United States Mint, and several hotels, churches, and banks. Denver was, until the completion of the Pacific Railroad, the chief trading centre in this region. Since the completion of the railroad, however, its importance in comparison with other places has, in some degree
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