About half-way between Denver and the " garden of the gods" is the divide which separates the waters of the Platte from those of the Arkansas. This elevation of a little over 1000 ft above Denver controls the flow of the tributaries of those streams until they reach the open plains to the n. and s. of this point, when they take the diree tion of the long gentle slope to the east, To the s. of this divide the peculiar, almost monumental uplifts of rock increase in number until the "garden of the gods" is reached, which owes its name to the grand display of these objects at that place. These monu ments seem to have been formed in several ways, principally, however, by erosion; these isolated parts have been left because they were either of harder material than that surronading them, or more able to resist meteoric shocks. They seem to be an aggregation of quartz and pebbles loosely held together in a nearly circular condition, which tapers front the thick base toward the top. This shaft is surmounted by a cap of rust-colored sandstone, which owes its greater size to the oxide of iron that forms a cement, binding the grains together. The smaller monuments here described vary in height from 10 to 20 tet. There are also the castellated forms of the larger table buttes or " mesas." These massive objects are from 100 to 2-10 ft.. in height. and are sometimes capped with a layer of purple porphyritic basalt. They rise from the beautiful green meadows, and their almost perpendicular sides give them an appearance which is particularly impressive at sunset.
The famous South Park covers an area of 1200 sq.m., with a general elevation of 8,000 ft., rising at times to 10,000 feet. It is surrounded by mountains, the bases of which bear marks of its having been the bed of a lake. The valley of the Arkansas, a hundred miles cut through the mountains to Poncho pass, with a width of 8 to 10 in., affords one of the finest fields for the study of glacial action in the west. At first the valley must have had a huge glacier running from n. to s. through its length, as there are still traces of such a glacier in the markings on the sides of the mountains and in the drift matter on its slopes. Then part of this valley formed the bed of a large lake, as is shown by the deposits in the bottoms where they are exposed. This lake occupied the lower half of the valley, and when it was drained off through tha opening now traversed by the Arkansas river the heavy and coarse material at the upper end and the finer drift matter at the lower end were exposed. The valley has many rounded oblong hills, which are covered by debris and range in height from 500 to 700 feet. After this first large glacier came others, which might be called secondary, and oecupied the beds of the present tributary streams of the Arkansas. Each one of these is marked by large moraines, and where exposed the glaciation is magnificent. The masses of rock which have been transported by these agencies are incredibly large, often reaching 100 ft. in diameter. This whole valley must have been occupied by a glacier of from 1000 to IWO ft in depth. The terminal moraines of this glacier are remarkable for their size. Every where the traveler is hindered in his journey by mounds, ridges, basins, and bowlders, the latter often from 20 to 50 ft. in diameter. Worn rocks are also exposed, showing
the effect of ice on their surfaces. San Luis is the largest of the parks, and is in the cen tral s. part of the state between the Wasatch and the Eastern ranges. This regions the lowest land iu the state, and is exceedingly fertile. It is watered by the tributaries of the Rio Grande, and has a delightful climate. Crossing the Rocky mountains to title n. we reach South Park (above described). Further on is Middle Park, segnewhat larger and higher, and still further is North Park, the last of the series—the whole four parks extending iu a line n. and s. through the middle of the state. All these parks are walled by high mountain ridges; are of varied surface, no considerable amount being level; are exceedingly 'fertile, and have dense pine.lomts where elk, bear, and deer are still in abundance. Here and there arc found mineral springs, and in Middle Park there are hot sulphur springs which are medicinally valuable.
C. has a remarkably regular and salubrious climate. The days are sometimes hot, but the nights are cool and without dews. The cold, except on the heights, is seldom severe, and it is rare to find the mercury down to zero. Snows are heavy and lasting on the mountains, but in the lower levels it is seldom deep, and very soon melts away. The dry atmosphere is so pure, that fresh meats are preserved by the simple process of drying. The late summer is almost rainless. The climate and air of C. are considered to be of great benefit to asthmatic and pulmonary sufferers, and the charming parks arc likely to become the great natural sanitaria of North America. The various min eral springs are also adjuncts to the remedial nature of the climate. There are chaly beate, soda, and sulphur springs; and 3Ianitou, where they are of soda, is already a con siderable watering-place.
C. is very rich in minerals, gold and silver most important. Iron is also widely diffused. and zinc and copper arc found. 1. here is coal in abundance. The value of gold sent to the mints front C. up to Dec., 1878, was $30,000,000, and of sil ver, $16,000,000. The product of both in 1878 was about $8,800,000.
Agriculture is growing rapidly. About half the land, except the mountains, is available, and the best grains are corn, wheat, rye, oats, and buckwheat. Boot vege tables thrive remarkably, an acre of potatoes producino. 500 bushels. Small fruits are raised, and grapes are abundant and of superior quality. Natural grasses thrive luxu riantly, and in most parts pasturage lasts all winter, so that C. will doubtless rank high for raising cattle and wool. There does not seem to be a great variety of trees, the pines, cedars, cottonwoods, firs, and kindred growth, forming most of the forests. Of flowers, the state has immense profusion. "The color of the landscape," says one traveler, is green and flowers in summer. and yellow and flowers in winter—but always flowers." Among the pests of agriculturists are poisonous weeds, which in a few dis tricts render the land useless for cattle; but a greater torment is the grasshopper, the ravages of which are in some seasons almost ruinous. To this pest must be added the Colorado beetle, or potato bug, which has not only devastated this and neighboring states. but carried its war upon the potato to and beyond the shores of the Atlantic.