Teddy Roosevelt and the Cowboys of Hugo

The small town of Hugo, Colorado, clings to life on the parched plains of Eastern Colorado.  It is a ranching town, built by the railroad.  The 10 gallon hat and boots are pretty much standard dress apparel.  The pick up has replaced the horse although the pick up often has a horse trailer in tow.  Up on the ridge, the grassland stretches to the eyes end.  Rolling prairie to the horizon, dotted with cattle marked by fences. 
Here the land is pretty much the same as it was in past centuries, only now broken by fences.  In 1902 the little cow town was a buzz, the president was passing through.  It was also round up time and the ranch hands had gathered in town to begin their round up. 

News must of spread across the prairie of the president’s trip for there were also more then a couple of photographers in town.  These shutter bugs were snapping pictures of the event and the cowboys were proudly posing. 
Hugo was a stop on the railroad where steam engines were serviced.  So it was with anticipation that they would get to see President Roosevelt.  When the train arrived, it was chow time for the cowboys and the aroma of cooking food was drifting in the air.

 
When Roosevelt stepped onto the platform of his car the aroma of the food engulfed him.  The cowboys gathered around to get a glimpse of the US President.  Banter went back and forth and soon the cowboys had the president off the train and to have some chow with him.
Cameras were flashing and smiles were growing.

It was time to gather around and break bread with the President of the United States. 
Many a picture was taken and many years later these pictures were gathered up into books.  One of the photographers traveling with the president became so enamored with the cowboys of Hugo, he returned the following day.  Arriving in Denver, He caught the next train east to Hugo and set out to capture more pictures of these boys of the West.
His pictures were gathered into a small booklet and very few copies were made.  One resides in the tomes of the Colorado State History Museum and a few can be found here and there. 
The photographs by the other photographers have become parts of cowboy book from the early 1900’s.
These books and their photographs give a glimpse into and era that was on the wane.  There was no Hollywood yet to glitter up the real thing.  Unvarnished, these were the cowpokes that roamed the range, tending to the cattle. 

In downtown Hugo, is a small memorial park to this moment when the President of the US stopped in the little ranching town and ate with the cowboys. 

Mother Nature’s Breath

 

With all the rain we’ve had and the flooding, one would think it would be green and lush on the plains.  Well Mother nature has a way of reminding man that she is in charge.  We have had some heavy winds off and on over the past week and it has dried out the surface of the dirt.  Last week this drying showed up.

Fields were blowing and clouds of dust were reaching skyward.  There were flocks of tumbleweeds chasing each other across the land.  So much work goes into the land and then there it goes, up in dust. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUm4AUExeOw

Made a short video the storm blowing things around.  It was amazing the watch the tumbleweeds scurry over the roadways.  Just want to meet the bigger ones.  They can scratch real easy an or plug up radiators.

Had to use headlights, for visibility, not mine but so others seen me.  It was twilight at 3:00 pm.

The wind has settled down and there was rain later that eve.  So the dust is pretty light.  Yet when the storm front kicks through, it roars through.  Rearranging lots of things.  Then is part of the changing seasons.  There are glorious fall days and knifing winds cutting into the soul. 

Soon the goblins and spooks will be prowling the byways.

Have a great week.

Saturday Matinee

 

One of my passions and hobby is photography, in particular train photography. I go out of my way at times to follow along railroad tracks, hoping to catch a passing train.  This something I am not alone in.  There is a good sized cadre of train photographers around the world.  And like me, they like to get up close and personal with trains.

 

Often, this means traveling, walking on private property, usually the railroad right of way.  Shortly after 9/11, trains became a watched target of opportunity by various agencies.   What had once been a no hassle past time became a look over the shoulder.

Some railfans/photographers were hassled by police and security people, including me.  Even a few were arrested and had their cameras confiscated, including phones.  In some parts of the country it became gruesome.  Yet an uproar was made by various raifans and things kind of eased up. 

But as Homeland Security and TSA grew, the hassling grew again.  Cameras confiscated, fans jailed and others chased off and told not to take pictures.  Some rail photographers were labeled as a terrorist threat.  A justification for the government bureaucrats to hassle people.

Then that is not to say that some people use the guise of railfan/photographer to check things out for stealing.  Ther other thing is how many photographers use railroad tracks as a back drop for their pictures.  I have seen pictures of a couples having their wedding pictures taken while standing in the middle of the railroad tracks.  And various other poses on the railroad ROW.

No matter though, armed with my cameras, I sally forth to capture pixels.

The other part of railfanning is taking a train ride.  Sit in the car, few munchies and beverage, watch the scenery pass by, listen to the clatter of the car and wheels, a nice easy ride.

Trains in Miniature

 

One of my passions in life is model railroading.  I have been building small trains and their accessories for a number of years.  More then I can count on my fingers and toes.  I post most of my dabbling in this world on railroad sites.  So I decided to do a small post on here.

This past week I went to a model train show and made a couple of videos and took some pictures of a few of my models.

The old time trains, not many model them any more.  These are from the 1850’s to the end of the 19th century.  These were the first little engines to roll cross country and over the mountains.  Only a couple of places in the country that have been able to preserve these little puffers.

On a cold dark night I clunk away, putting parts and pieces together.  Then I watch them circle the miniature empire.

Bit of an ego trip involved.  But the rewards are great when one sees the smiles on the faces.

Sacrifice

 

What is it to sacrifice?  To give something up.  During the recession so many have lost their jobs, many of no fault of their own.  Layoffs were a common occurrence, companies closing.  Onto the government dole went many people,

 

So how many government workers did you hear of getting laid off?  In our area it was teachers who got the pink slips.  Other government employees, none got  laid off that I know of.  One of the more critical jobs we pay taxes for took the brunt of the economy.

 

Look at what the politicians are saying about the economy.  Are any talking about cut backs in pay for government employees and or layoffs?  What kind of sacrifice is forthcoming from the bureaucrats and politicians to help the taxpayer?

 

When there is a downturn in the economy it is the everyday worker that takes it in the drawers.  The government workers just keep on drawing their check.  Who do the politicians say should help?  The people on the dole, welfare, food stamps… etc.  Government layoffs are not even mentioned.

Why is it the work a day Joe has to sacrifice the job and the taxes do not stop being paid to the bureaucrats.

 

The average government worker makes 20-25% more then their counterpart in the private sector.  So the public employee could take a pay cut and still make a nice wage, better then average. 

 

The public sector has become bloated but do the politicians talk about the wages they pay?  Government sacrifice is not in their lexicon. 

 

Bet that if there was an across the board pay cut of 10% that the national debt could be reduced by 50% or better.  Low level government administrators make 6 figure incomes into the 200-300,000.00 dollar range.  What government job is so critical and pressurized to warrant that kind of pay?  Most government jobs are cookie cutter work.  I don’t even want to talk about incompetence.

 

One of the things one can do is to bug their congressman and ask them what kind of sacrifice their agencies are going to make to help the country?  In this day and age of electronics it is easy to send your Representative an e-mail, they all have one.

 

Why should the private sector take the brunt of the bad times. 

Politicians gripe about welfare, but what really is welfare?  Look at all of the people that get government checks.  When we send tax dollars to DC….. what do you want in return?  Let the politico's know.

 

We’ve had some rain but it won’t last long.  We could use some more buckets of wet stuff.  Cost of living is going to climb, not only at the food store, also the gas pumps and other places.  The government wants to throw more money out to those dealing with the drought, farmers.  This will push prices up even higher for it will be more taxes floating across the desks of bureaucrats.

Some Steam

 

Summer is rolling to a close but it is no  longer the signal to start school.  Lots of things around Labor Day have been lost because of the early school starts.  Oh well, hope you had a great summer and Labor Day was kind of anti-climaniatic.

Union Pacific has a pair of big steam engines they run for various public relations.  Recently it was in Iowa for the state fair.  On its return trip to Cheyenne,Wy it came through here.  I drove out to Kansas and followed most of the way back to Denver.  It was a kick.  I am posting a few pics on here from my adventure.

The sun sets into the smoky haze near the Smoky Hill River.

The next morning it returned amid the haze of the smoke.

Sa the sun rose so did the steam off the engine.  early morning preparations have begun to get the big brute ready for the trip.

Up out of the Smoky Valley she climbs, spewing black smoke.  The sun has a glorious shimmer on the black beauty.

Side rods churn, pistons pop, steam propels, there is a magic.

When the engine stops for servicing, the spectators get up close and personal with the engine.

These old giants of railroading past are amazing to watch.  I also understand why they were replaced.  They take lots of feeding and work to keep em going.

 

Have a great one getting ready for Fall and the changes of the season…… Giddy up Ironhorse.

Winter….. It has Returned

 

Way back in Sep we had some snow and in Oct a bunch, enough to open the ski areas.  Then the snow god closed the window.  We got little spurts of snow but mostly nice days and decent winter temps. 

The past couple of weeks it has changed.  A storm has been rumbling through about ever 3-5 days.  Not real bad but enough to make travel a hazard and close roads for a few hours at night.

Today is another small blizzard cackling outside.  The snow rolls, sun peeks then hides and wind puffs again.  Couple inches of snow, not much, just enough to make things uncomfortable with the wind.

Standing in the window watching the snow swirl in the headlights on the far highway would reflect off the flakes.  Beyond them was a larger glow.  The horizon was aglow, lights reflecting off the snow. spinning into the gloom of dark.  Patterns twisting over the approaching light.  Turns out the headlights of the train were shining on the snow just right to create a kaleidoscope effect. 

 

Even small blizzards are no fun.  The wind whips around, tossing the snow, making drifts.  A pattern that is ever changing and is a delight to  look at after it over.  During though, the warmth of inside is so inviting.

Like all things it to shall pass and another weather pattern will replace this one.  In the meantime, another cup of hot tea n lemon-honey. 

Have a good week.