File:Marvels of the new West - a vivid portrayal of the stupendous marvels in the vast wonderland west of the Missouri River - comprising marvels of nature, marvels of race, marvels of enterprise, marvels (14762583594).jpg

Identifier: marvelsofnewwest1889thay (find matches)
Title: Marvels of the new West : a vivid portrayal of the stupendous marvels in the vast wonderland west of the Missouri River : comprising marvels of nature, marvels of race, marvels of enterprise, marvels of mining, marvels of stock-raising, and marvels of agriculture, graphically and truthfully described
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors: Thayer, William Makepeace, 1820-1898
Subjects:
Publisher: Norwich, Conn. : Henry Bill Pub. Co.
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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MARVELS OF ENTERPRISE. 309 rado we came upon the famous town, — a locality that swarmed withthese lively and somewhat eccentric inhabitants. The full-grown prairie-dog is about the size of a gray squirrel,though a multitude of smaller ones inhabit the town, which resemblesa potato-field — the hills minus the potato-tops. He is a timid, wildlittle creature, and scampers to his home on the approach of humans,with a shrill, sharp bark, resembling that of a small dog. Dogtownis interesting because it is novel. It speaks well for this race ofdiminutive dogs that they dwell together in cities like men. Nor is
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DOGTOWN. it at all discreditable to them that they run for dear life on the approachof a locomotive; so that, as another well says, the town appearsalive with projecting noses and disappearing tails. Here and theresome, more experienced and bolder than the rest,—perhaps the offi-cials of the city, — sit upon their holes, elevated like potato-hills, andbark defiantly, Dogtown is certainly one of the marvels of the West.A beaver town is, in some respects, more interesting than a prairie-dog town. Beavers colonize arid establish homes with singular inge-nuity and perseverance. Forty years ago, when trapping in theRocky Mountains was in its prime, the beaver population was im-mense. They were able to dam large rivers, and even to turn the 3IO MARVELS OF THE NEW WEST. course of rivers. Groves of trees they gnaw down and cut up intologs of suitable length for building dams. They work like beavers is a phrase suggested by the industry and persistent labors of thislittle animal. Trappers

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