Baled Hay: A Drier Book than Walt Whitman's "Leaves o' Grass"Nye, Bill
General
Baled Hay: A Drier Book than Walt Whitman's "Leaves o' Grass"
Nye, Bill
American wit and humor
Then Mr. Slack made the rash remark that he would remain there until the
next train. He acts readily in an emergency, and he saw at a glance that
the best thing that he could do would be to just stay there, and examine
the country until he could get the next train. He telegraphed us that
the fare was so high on our train that he would see if he couldn't
get better rates on the following day. In the meantime, he struck
Superintendent Egbert's special car, and rode around over the country
till morning, while our party took in Buena Vista. The city is but two
years old, but very thriving, and has 2,500 to 3,000 population. At
the depot we were met by Agent Smith, of the South Park road, who had
secured rooms for us at the Grand Park hotel. He had also arranged for
carriages to take us out to Cottonwood Hot Springs, about six miles
up Cottonwood creek, where we took supper. We found a first-class
sixty-four room hotel there, with hot baths, and everything comfortable
and neat. The proprietors are Messrs. Stafford and Hartenstein--the
latter having been a medical student under Dr. Agnew. After a
good-supper we returned to Buena Vista, where the home military company,
under Captain Johnson, led by the Buena Yista band, serenaded us. I
responded in a brief but telling speech, which I would give here if I
had not forgotten what it was. Some of the other members of the party
wanted to make the speech, but I said no, it would not be right. I was
representing the president, Mr. Slack, and wearing his overcoat, and
therefore it would devolve on me to make the grand opening remarks.
It was the greatest effort of my life, and town lots in Buena Vista
depreciated fifty per cent.
We found A. D. Butler, formerly of Cheyenne, now at Buena Vista, also
Tom Campbell, well known to Laramie people, doing well at the new city,
and a prospective member of the Colorado legislature. George Marion,
formerly of Laramie, is also at Buena Vista, engaged in the retail
bridge trade. We also met Messrs. Leonard, of the and Kennedy, of the
_Herald_, who treated us the whitest kind. Mr. Leonard and wife went
with us yesterday over to Gunnison City. Billy Butler, formerly of
Laramie, is now at Buena Vista, successfully engaged in mining.
Yesterday we put in the most happy day of the entire trip. Under the
very kind and thoughtful guidance of Superintendent E. Wilbur, of the
Gunnison division of the South Park road, we went over the mountain to
Gunnison and through the wonderful Alpine tunnel, the highest railroad
point in the United States, and with its approaches 2,600 feet long.
When you pass through the tunnel the brakeman makes you close your
window and take in your head. He does this for two reasons: first, you
can't see anything if you look out, and secondly, the company don't like
to hire an extra man to go through the tunnel twice a day and wipe the
remains of tourists off the walls.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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