The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-09-10

Gsonnxrowx Col. Aug. l4th.

GsonaErowx COL Aug. 14th.
Nh. EDrron.
In my hst letter I described my journey
70 Denver Leaving Denver on the Col
orado Central Rail Road, We passed
through fertile little valley, dotted with
farms, and which is said to be the mast
attractive in the territory. Seventeen
miles west Of Denver we stopped ct Col
den, city of 5000 inhabitants, beauti-
fully situated in the foot hills at the base
Of the mountains. Here there is a trans
fer from the broad large cars, to the cosy
little car Of the three feet gauge. On the
rear of the train there was An excursion
car which was open at the sides and front,
from which one can obtain better view Of
the scenery than from the other cars. TAX
ing our seats in this we soon commence
the ascent of the mountains. We have
entered Clear Creek Canon, and now 60
turning and twisting and rushing into
seemingly impossible openings, steadily
Ginning the mountains Mt an average
grade of one hundred and seventy feet
to the mile. Following the course of
Clear Creek. at times the road bed has
been cut into the side of the mountains,
and the over hanging rocks would seem
to threaten destruction to objects beneath
Again it is built out into the Creek Now
it winds around the edge of steep preci-
pice, and again the mountain walls sink
back as if to welcome it, and give it more
room. Lofty mountains rise on either
hand, shutting out the river; and to look
up or down the road. it would seem that
it run into the heart of the rocky pile.
The track is more crooked than :the path
of snake, and the little engine that
draws US up this steep and Winding
course, pants and groans. aYdd.@ Re -
follow creaking and twis,l7-. taancier. :,
as II it wereea painful journey for thehs,
As we proceed up the canon the noun
tains rise to great height, the rocks be-
come grander and more massive, the
turnings and twistings more intricate the
whole scene growing more terribly sub
lime. till from the narrow Gehle it stra n
the eye to scale the mountain tops. Clear
Greek is beautiful little stream ever
rushing roaring bounding ONWARD down its
foamy path on its way to join the Platte
river, far off on the plains. The whole
creek is but as series of falls, and rapids
II has nothing but rocks of all sizes for
its bed, while huge boulders, torn from
the mountain side in building the road,
dam it up in numerous places. 1t would
seem TO one riding over this narrow road
that II was exceedingly dangerous How
ever, it is not only safe, but the only road
that is perfectly adapted to mountain
travel where there are abrupt curves and
heavy grades. Having enjoyed the grand
eur of the scenery for more than twenty
miles, We arrived at Floyd Hill, the ter
minus of this branch of the road. Here
we took a carriage that was waiting for
US, and proceeded on our way to George
town, which is ninteen miles further up
the canon. Instead of being jolted along
at break-neck speed around the sides of
the mountains swinging dangerously near
precipices, which is the delight of the
Jehus driving the big hacks with six hor-
ses, we had pleasant quiet ride, having
time to enjoy the magnificent scenery.
We arrived here at six o'clock on the 2lst
ult
Georgetown is a city of about 8, 900 in
habitants. and is situated in the very Gen.
ter of one of the richest silver mining
districts of Colorado 1t is S.452 feet
above the level of the sea. Clear Creek
Canon at this point is spread out into a
beautiful little valley one and half miles
long, and about one half mile broad There
are mountains on three sides of the city.
On the n w. is Republican mountain
which presents 4 bold, frowning and al
most perpendicular front of 1000 feet
above the city TO the first level-then an
other range back of it rises 2.400 fee
more. On this mountain there is {. deep
and romantic ravine or gorge down which
a little stream flows in beautiful cascades
and just before reaching the base it leaps
down over shelving rocks. a distance of
so feet. This is very beautiful fall.
and is called The Bridal Veil" At the
S. w. end Clear Greek comes tumbling,
rushing and roaring down through what
is called the Devils Gate at a fearful rate.
This is one of the widest and most rug
ged scenes in Colorado. On the s. E. we
have Griffith mountain and on the South
Leavenworth. neither of which is quite so
high as Republican. From the top of
any of these mountains there is magnifi-
cent panorama spread out before one, the
grandeur and sublimity of which nothing
can exceed. All the surroundings of
Georgetown are on a grand scale, and
must be seen to be appreciated for no
language can do justice to the scenes
This is mile and a half higher than
Toledo and the air is quite rare and very
pure and dry. 1t is a splendid place for
spending the summer. The nights are
cool, and how well one can rest The
temperature during the day is very pleas
ant. Here is synopsis of the weather
report for the last two weeks: Average at |
a IN. 56; AT p. m, IS; at Z p. m. So
mean temperature 63. Highest at a. m. /
s.; Lowest so. Highest at p. m 81; |
Lowest 50. Highest at ! p. m. Is; Low |
est 50. One would think that the change /
In the atmosphere between day and night |
would be the cause of giving numerous I
Gods" but this is not the case. as the air i
IS dry and there is no dew. The water is all /
soft and is mostly obtained from springs
Il is pure and as cold as ice water The
climate is especially adapted for the cure
If asthma. have met persons here who
.ame with consumption or something
hat was leading to that, whose cough
stopped entirely in few days, and never
'eturned, and who are apparently perfect
y well. There is no doubt but any one
Effected with any of the above diseases,
Except it were the last stages of con-
would be greatly helped if not
cured, even by short OF
ourn in almost any part of Colorado.
Board costs from IS to $40 per week
Dry Goods are only little higher than in
he east, but Produce, Vegetables, etc,
re much higher for every such thing