Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-12-09
semi-circles-and almost taking the

spectacle on the lire. The hundred
OF other features of interest cn the lin
of the road must be seen to be srprt
ciated. Midway in the canyon is Ii
Cathedral Rock, mighty Nountai
crag of red sandstone which contendin
elements have wrought into strang
resem mblance to vast cathedral. L
great walls seem to have bee
laid by the hand Of man. 1t
lofty towers and vast dome, fro,
, which the graceful minarets ascend, ar
so perfectly constructed that our sui
prise would hardly be increased were
train of worshipers 10 emerge from i,
great portals. We dash beneath a
overhanging rock, and for nomen
the mighty bulk of seemingly chisele
stone is hidden from view. But eco
We sse it from the upper side, and b
a pleasing illusion it seems to kee
pace with our motion, apparently fol
lowing. drawing nearer and NOR
deeply impressiDg its majestic propo,
tion upon us.
After We have gone few miles n
the canyon We leave the South Platt
and continue in westerly direction u
Buffalo Creek. Before We reach th
summit the hills are at places les
rocky and recede somewhat from til
valley. bat there are few places whicl
Can be called anything but mountain
ous. In places the mouniain peaks ar
covered with dark pine forests to thei
highest points. but in most cases th
reddish gray rocks. bare and solemn
extend far above the timber.
Before We reach Kenosha Station
the summit, which is over ten thousan,
feet above the level of the sea, tn
mountain tops recede some " hat an,
the slopes are long and gradual. A
Kenosha it is hard to realize that w
are nearly two miles above the oceal
waves. South Park, surrounded b,
mountains, stretches away in the south
II is far more suggestive Of some plsil
nearer the sea level. The view hei Q j
varied and beautiful, and when ih'
train starts down the grade to wi II,
along for thirty or forty miles throua.
the western half of South Park, wo al,
treated to IN ever shifting view of th'
surrounding plain and mountains
Before We leave this park, which il
sometimes level plaiu and then, again
somewhat rolling, We CROSS two fora
OF the South Platte. At this point tn
view toward the west is picturesqu,
and imposing. The distance over tn,
plaiu to the base of the mountain
must be five or six miles; then th,
bases of the various peaks are covere.
with the dark forests, while their gra,
SUBMITS, II. 600 or IA 600 feet in heigh ght
are entirely destitute Of life.
Here We soon enter the mountain
again, and after passing by a windin,
course through some twelve or tiftse,
miles Of ragged and broken country
We suddenly burst through this noun
tain range and beautiful valley lie
before us. and far away to the south an,
west another mountain range tower
above the plain. The entire scene il
! unlike anything We have seen. Tn,
mountains are Of q grayish color, a
though covered with an autumn frost
while here and there patches OF SNOW
can be seen near their SUBMITS. w,
soon reach Baena VIsts. where we trrl
sharp to the north and pass up VALLEY
toward Leadville. This valley hsl
nj untsins to the right and left, anl
after further trip of thirty sever
miles we reach Leadville. Through
this valley flows the Arkansas River
which has its source some thirty o.
forty miles north OF Leadville
This far-famed city is situated on th,
western slope of the same range o
mountains which We had to our righ
as We passed down through Soutl
Park. Leadville is over 10000 fee
above sea-level. The slope on which i
is built is not steep in most places, ye
the grade is such that the railroad il
obliged to make wide detour to ge
into the place. The main business
street has many brick buildings Rnt
presents Q general appearance Of civil
isation, but back of this street log hut,
or rough board houses are the rule anG
neatly painted houses are scarce. Th'
rough houses and slump lanes fol
streets. show plainly how rapidly th'
forest became city. In the evening
the streets are generally quiet. Th'
roughs are plenty enough ia Leadvill'
now, but tie day of their glory has gone
Yet general business is growing in i'm
portance.
We have no time to give q genera
review of the mines and surrounding
country. but will close by saying tba
any one from the Pacific Coast, goinl
E4st vho can sDare fhvee dava nr mort
will be able to behold e greater variety
of scenery by trip to Leadville aut
back to Denver than can bs witnessed
elsewhere in the same length OF time
Sons of the scenery is grand. some o.
it beautiful, and nearly all of it is move
and interesting. ALBus.
Thoughtless charity is the nursery
of beggars. A very tender. hearted