There being so little rain here, there are no stagnant waters to poison the air; and the atmosphere being so dry substances do not _rot_, but simply wither, dry up, and blow away. Carcasses will sometimes lie for _several years_ before the hide is broken. There are, consequently, no noxious substances to impart their impurities, and the air is left perfectly wholesome. The buzzard and blow-fly have no putrefying masses to hover over, and are consequently not known here. Fresh meat can be hung up in the open air, without salt, and it will dry out sweet and beautiful; hence, the West for health. For pulmonary troubles, this pure, dry atmosphere is the balm of life; and there are numbers of healthy and happy persons in the West to-day, rejoicing and praising the western angel who snatched them from the brink of eastern graves. But to go back. I said we calculated to go into _business_ in the valley for the winter; and so we did. Charles turned cow-boy, and stayed at the home ranch during the winter; Dave and John were employed at the round-house; and, seeing a chance to make money yet _another_ way, I built a trading-house upon the prairie at the end of the railway-section at Granada, where stand a few little houses. I stocked with blankets, rough clothing, hats, boots, flour, corn, tobacco, cigars, etc. A small space was partitioned off at one end for a bar-room, and I hired a well-known and influential cow-boy to attend to this, not thinking the latter an _honorable_ part of my business, to _Ohio_ eyes, but aware that if a person wants to sell in any country he must keep what the people want to buy; for _otherwise_ he is not patronized. My customers were cow-boys, Mexicans, Indians, emigrants, and the few settlers in the valley. Of course, one would naturally expect lively times once in awhile, under such circumstances; but I could smell the money in the air. Myself and my hands were largely acquainted with the boys; and they came in from all directions, saying that they wanted to spend their money with us. The bar-keeper was _admired_ by all the boys; and having great influence over them, he seldom had much trouble. I bought furs from the Indians and hunters, and realized large profits. Taking strips of bright-colored calicoes, I tied them in bunches; and the Indian being great for dashing _colors_, a few cents’ worth of calico bought many an Indian fur. They are also slaves to _tobacco_ and _whisky_; and it was seldom they took _money_ away, no matter how many furs they brought in. They never _wanted_ to _sell_, but to _trade_.