Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-10-05
WHICH GO
Letter from Colorado TERRITORY.

the Hills. We find it differing from Rome in
one respect, the former being built on seven
hills while the latter is being built on seventy
Kansas City is the key to the great western
country Of which we have heard so much ro-
nance and mystery. IL is faverably situated
for the development of transcendeut CONNER
cial power, and is destined to be ore of the
great cities Of the West At9A NJ stepped
on board the Through Express Train Of the
Kansas Pacific Railroad bound for Denver,
Colorado. From Granville through Topeka
to Junction City the country is beautiful and
enchanting. We pass through pretty railway
towns, beautiful landscapes, dotted with set
tiers cottages. Immense herds of cattle are
seen on the praTies, while dark green fields Of
corn succeed each other, denotDg the mex
haustible fertility of the soil Passing the
Smoky Hill River, illimitabc plains are passed
through, we reach Fort Hays Passing on
through Fort Wallace, the prdries are grand
aud extensive, and here one of my hopes was
realized. Buiialos here are seen, first in herds
Of twenty, and as we proceed great masses are
seen suddenly watching us from beneath their
shaggy brows AS the train approaches they
move off at an unwieldy galop Further on
we see herds of graceful antelepes, and pass
through prarie-dog towns, where you will see
hundreds of citizens, sitting upon their hind
legs. near by their dwellings yelping defiance
at the train as it thunderS through their an
cent town. With lightning speed we pass
over those illimitable plains, no monetary to
mar tho ever-changing scenes, and at s a. NJ.
we safely land in Denver, which is situated at
the foot 81 the Rocky Mountains Ishall never
forget the grandeur Of the sight as looked for
the first time on the Everlasting hills" The
clearness Of the atmosphere is wonderful in
deed, and you may be able to form some idea
of it when tell you that from the Roof Of our
hotel | am looking upon over two hundred
miles of mountains, and that men. on first ar
irving here, have actually started 10 walk to
the mountains before breakfast, thinking them
to be only two miles when they are fifteen
The scenery here is so grand that any attempt
TO describe it would be a work of Supereroga-
ton in me After we had taken supper, par
ty was organized to pay a visit to Colorado
Springs, Grey's Peake, Pixies Peake, Longs
PeAke Colorado City. Golden CITY, Central
City, &c, and at 6 A. NJ next morning we are
of on the Little Gauge, along the base of the
Rocky Mountains. The scenery along this
road is grand beyond my powers of descrip-
ton. On we roll along Plum Creek to the di-
vide between the Platte and Arkansas rivers,
thence down the other side to our destination.
through grassy slopes. between high noun
tains past caStelated rocks Of white sandstone
half hidden by immense groves Of gigantic
pines, reminding one Of :he ruins of ancient
castles along the Rhine; we passed monuments
of white and red sandstone. over deep creeks.
and under snow sheds, until we halted at Col
orado Springs, which are situated at the base
Of Pixies Peake whose summit is $4,000 feet
above the level Of tho sea. The most noted are
tho Galen Springs, Chalybeate Springs, and
the Navajo Springs Here are beautiful sum
mer houses, artisticaly built bridges, and the
graudest natural scenory imaginable From
the Springs we drove to the Garden of the
| Gods" As we approach two gigantic masses
Of red sandstone, over 800 feet high, form
gate or cauSewav through which is seen the
dark green foliage Of trees far down in the ba-
sin below, which forms the Garden In the
background is Pixies Peaks, with its eternal
Snow-clad summit, making a scene so grand
and sublime as to battle all description We
/ then drove to the little Garden Of the Gods"
/ 1t is here that Gen. Palmer has built Glen Ey-
RE; the architectural style Of the house har-
monies with the romantic surroundings. It
seems more like fairy land than reality. We
next paid hurried visit to Monument Park.
/ whose curious sandstone pillars look like a O.
ant cemetery. We then visited Grey's Peake,
( the highest point in Colorado. being 1850 #.
above the level of the sea, :, 500 feet higher
/ than Mt. st. Gothard in the Alps, aud only
1900 feet lower than MI. Blank the highest
mountain in Switzerland AZ or reaching the
summit, tno easy work the eye gazes on one
of the graudest panorama's in the w0rld A
morning scene is the best,-the tourist should
be On the summit just as Nights candles have
burnt out, and iOCund day stands tp-toe on the
I misty mountain top, and drink in the inSpira-
ton Of the glorious vision at one drausht and
be filled with awe, wonder and admiration
Nature in her widest moods has never eXcelled
her handiwork in the panoramic view which
lies before you, and no other scene can be full
Ter of beauty. subljmity and inspiration. No
Alpine scenery can surpaSS GreyS Peakc, and
Europeans say tLatit is uncquacd in Europe
The eye fails to reach the extremity of even one
portion of our great country the far distant
horizon only closes in the scene by dropping
an airy curtain, whose flcecy lringes rest on
mountain peaks and vast plains, looking like
some great ocean whose breast is undisturbed
by passing breeze or rippled by n single PROV
From the summit You see nesting in hollows
miniature prarios; patches Of green are se;nin
vast plains beyond 1t is here that the ripe
scholar can draw on his descriptive powers,
and he will find how inadequate are all his
powers to describe the scenes We next visit
ed Golden City, Mining City, Central City,
which are points Of interest here Mining is
carried on upon a gigantic scale. Gold, Sill
yer aud Bituminous Coal are The chief cerlmo-
dities. ! fo-bea7 any description Of the mines,
suffice to say that few Americans have a cor
rect idea of the magnitude Of the works or the
immense capital employed. Casting one last
lingering look on the to-be- forgotten en-
chanting mountain scenery, we retTace our
steps toward the Station, and take the train |
for Denver. Here the streets are wide and
well paved, shaded by many trees 1t is said
that 100 600 were planted last year The city |
is lighted with gas, and has many splendid !
business houses, fine hotels, good market, race
course, fair ground, many manufactures, and |
Is the most ronantically located of any city in |
the L. $ | can truly say, that if you ever vi |
SIT it, You will never regret it, but-be sure to
have your great coat along; it is very cold !
here to-day, and good fire is needed to make /
enc comfortable. Yours truly,
J. s. HoLLINGER.
TIE S. Y. r. R.-Maj. 4. w. Mcdonald, |
one Of the directors OF the Shenandoah Valley |