Of the many letters which have appeared in the press of this city about the Roaring Fork country, very few have been entirely free from self interest. To supply its readers with the truth, as it did in regard to the Gunnison district, the Chronicle has been to the expense of sending a reporter to explore the entire section.

The Twin Lakes route is probably the shortest, something like seventy-two miles, distanced as follows: Twin Lakes 16 miles, Selden’s ranch 28 miles, Independence 38 miles, fork of the Roaring Fork and Difficult 50 miles, the lakes 56 miles, Cotton’s ranch 60 miles, Aspen or Ute City 64 miles, and Highland 75 miles.

As far as Selden’s ranch a wagon road has been constructed, that portion from Twin Lakes being a toll road with the following rates: Saddle Horses 25 cents, two horses and vehicle 50 cents. At Selden’s the road ends in a trail which is well marked but very rough and marshy to the foot of the range, where a zig zag ascent reaching far above timberline is commenced. The rapidity of the rise and the uncertainty of the trail is evidenced by the score or more of dead animals which have missed their footing and rolled back into the valley.

The Mountain Boy trail is longer and less steep. Almost any settler will point it out. The descent into Independence gulch surpasses anything the wildest imagination can conjure, the narrow path seems almost perpendicular, if indeed it does not lean a little backward. Many a burrow has ceased from troubling before he reached the bottom. At Independence accommodations can be obtained, meals 75 cents, oats ten cents per pound. The grass naturally luxuriant is fed down by the stock.

Leaving Independence for twenty miles the trail leads across more rocks and swamps than any other hundred miles in the world. It is plain enough, there is no danger of getting lost, as where the biggest rocks and the deepest sloughs are, there is the trail. A prominent feature is the toll bridges, wide enough only for man and horse. These occur every three or four miles and cost the traveler 25 cents each. Riding that twenty-five miles is out of the question. It must be walked and the horse led with great care, or some legs will be damaged.

It is stated that the difficulties to be encountered in crossing in the spring are much greater and the sensation experienced while sitting upon the beautiful snow with your feet dangling through the ice water is something not to be forgotten. Cotton’s ranch is under the bluffs which separate Hunter Creek from the Roaring Fork. Good prospects are found, some of which are being worked vigorously. The four miles to Aspen are over a good path and more toll bridges.

Of Aspen a description is necessary. Any and all of the people who bought lots last winter and paid their hard cash need not fear jumpers at present. Main and Center Streets are occupied as a pasture for the more aristocratic horses and mules, while the suburbs are given over to the meek and lowly jackass. Upon the Aspen townsite there are three or four cabins, but in Ute City and Deane’s Addition more enterprise has centered. The Lee House is the only hotel and board costs $10.50 per week. It will be useless to ask to have your meals sent to your room as the hotel has but one. The kitchen is in the street in front.

A second hand store and three or four saloons comprise the business of the city. The Smuggler and Monarch mines are located on the opposite sides of the Roaring Fork. William A. Farish of Black Hills fame is superintendent. Various stories are told about these to claims and the truth is known only to the managers, who take pains to show the people certain portions of the mines. Castle Creek joins the Roaring Fork from the south side and its source is the Taylor range. At the point of confluence a bar of a thousand acres has been formed. Aspen occupies the eastern half while the municipality of Roaring Fork City is located upon the western. One tent and a log house in course of construction is all that is in evidence.

The only wagon in the Roaring Fork country is employed upon that log house. This pioneer wagon is worthy of a little historic mention. It arrived at its destination on June 3rd, after a stormy passage of one month or more over Independence Pass. It was taken to pieces and packed upon mules, hauled upon handsleds, and in fact every means of transportation know to man was employed. As oats and hay are not obtainable it is evident that twenty dollars a day is a very fair remuneration.

Regarding the Roaring Fork country, there is no boom in any of the towns, and writer to the contrary, not withstanding. There are no smelters or sawmills as yet, although the timbers for a mill have been whipsawed in Aspen. The first mail accommodations were inaugrated [sic] on July 1st, three times a week from Buena Vista. Wheeler, so far as the writer could learn, has not charged stumpage for trees cut on the Aspen townsite. Certain it is that no signs of trade can be seen on the ground. Time, without reasonable doubt, will make good camps of Aspen and Highland. The ore is somewhat low grade on the surface, and only croppings are thus far prospected, but every evidence exists that richer ore will be found. From Aspen down the Roaring Fork to the Grand River the distance is forty-five miles over a hard trail.