Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-21
Tht 6ree Qress.
FROM LEADvILLE TO DENVER.
The Country and the People.
the Editor Of the Free Press and Times

The Country and the People.
TO the Editor Of the Free Press and Times
To Denver from Leadvile via Pueblo i.
21S miles The route to Buena Vista is the
same over which we came, but from Buens
Vista we follow the Denver and Rio Grandt
which claims to he the pioneer three feet
narrow guage passenger and freight railroad
in the world. Following the valley on the
gorge of the Arkansas River we take an OBJ
servation car at Park Dale and soon the
Royal Gorge or Grand Canon of the Arkan
sas is at hand The scene in its grandeur
can not he pictured by words or pen. How.
ever imagine if you choose lofty range
three thousand feet above the plains and
which has been rent by some prehistoric
convusion, thus leaving a narrow deep and
ragged chasm through which the mighty wa.
tiers have flowed for centuries; then the
rocky domes, towers and pnnaclcs with'sharp
corners and hollow reCesses, and rocky per
pendcular walls more than two thousand
feet in height with frequently overhanging
spurs.
Imagine all this and YOU will have an
idea of the Royal Gorge. So narrow is this
canon in one place that the track is sus-
pended over the river by braces from the
opposite side against the overhangng wall of
stone and the track hangs over the water
like a swing.
The first town of any importance after we
leave the Gorge is Canon City, III miles
from Leadvile A ride of 40 miles further
brings us TO Pueblo, which is destined to be
the largest town in Southern Colorado.
Pueblo claims population of 5000, and is
100 miles south from Denver Colorado
Springs the next station of any Importance,
is the county seat of III Paso county. with n
population of 1000, and is IS miles south of
Denver aud 45 miles north of Pueblo This
town was so organized that parties purchas-
ing lots forfeit their purchase if they sell
liquor on the premises. This and Greeley
are the only towns in Colorado which rest
the title TO their real estate on n water foun-
dalton.
The Manitou Springs are only five miles
away and the water is brought fresh from
them daily. To the west Pixies Peak is in
full view, the altitude of which is IA, 1886 or
G30S above the town. A trail of ten miles
leads to the summit of Pixies Peak. The
Garden of the Gods is 81 miles distant
From Colorado Springs north to Denver
there is little to interest tourist.
From to IL we step from Denver to
Georgetown SO miles. % miles up Clear
Creek canon brings us TO Beaver Brook and
the scenery at this station is romantic and
wild. The mountains on either side are
dotted here and there with pine and spruce.
AS we leave the station the road runs under
an ovcrhanging spur of rock 1900 feet above
and We are turning 80 degree curve to the
right on an up grade of 272 feet to the mile.
Forks Creek, six miles on our way is at the
junction of the north and south Clear Creek
and at this point the road for Black Hawk
and Central keeps to the right while that
for Georgetown turns to the left. Soon
after leaving the station we reach a close
gorge on sharp curve and a bold rock pro-
jects to within 200 feet of its tall companion
opposite and as the train passes this wild
cliff we come into grand mountain scene
where the narrow creek and cars have
scarcely room enough and in many places a
bed was blasted from the rocky hillside for
the narrow gauge road, and from each side
of this narrow guch rises the mountains
two thousand feet from the dashiDg, splash
lnr and Witty running waters Of Cedar
Greek Idaho Springs, lG miles from
Gcorgltowu, is celebrated for its hot and
cold mineral springs and is quite Summer
resort with population of 1000. This
1--WE ~ T|tNitSh III pam tNO lilitS CltSl anu
west and onc-fourth of mile north aud
south, ID 4, claimed that the waters of Idaho
Springs are nearly identical in chemical
analysis with the celebrated Carlsbad waters
IF Genwluy. There are swimming and pri-
Rutc ha'lhs here We ride 1G miles more and
-'tach GEORGETOWN one day in advance of
circus.
Georgetown.
We enter from the north end find quiet,
well-behayod village of $500 inhabitants,
about onc-lhrd of a mile in width and two
miles in length, with well-conducted schools
and four churches, with an elevation of
nearly $500 feet. On the east the rocky and
almost perpendicular mountain wall rises
$500 feet, and on the west it is fully 5000
feet in height and so nearly straight up and
down that it is impossible for man or beast |
to ascend or descend. To the south are
abrupt and steep hills with the look of
mountains but on the left of which or to |
the southeast of the town climbs very |
good road with strong grade which leads |
to Green Lake, and beside which wildly |
PUSHES the clear and cool mountain water of |
South Clear Creek. Our first initiation into
the scenery of this section is with our modest
and genial class-mate, Porter p. Wheaton, in
the saddle OF a pleasant afternoon.
We found Green Lake after short trip
and fraternal VISIT located as it seemed on
the tops of the mountains, and it is actually
TO- 900 feet above sea level.
Green Lake is no prctter than many small
ponds of water in Vermont, but it is sur
prise TO find it at such an elevation, and
some claim that on stil day an appear
ance of petrlficd forest may be found by
looking deep down into its waters, We
took boat and rowed to the south end and
after short but rough climb we were on
The Battle Ground of the Gods" and
roughcr place was never seen. Rocks piled
upon rocks at all angles and of all
sizes from 800 pounds to 80 or 100 tons
in weight. Beyond is Clear Lake. at which
we had glimpse, and then returned for the
evening. AT 5;30 the next morning the
same party might have been seen in the sad.
die following up the Middle Fork or West
Branch OF Clear Creek, with intentions on
Gray's Peak, - miles distant Seven and one
half miles to the west and we were at Ba-
kersville, and after that we followed Baker
and Quail Greeks in south easterly course
and arrived at the top of Gray's Peak at II
A. m, and having been compelled to walk
The two last hours OF our journey, we were
satisfied that it needs more wind to climb
of IA 900 feet altitude than 1t does
TO practice law ordinarily.
AS we ascend Quail Creek we soon get
above the timber line, which is II 500 feet,
and pass Mcclellan Mountain on our left,
which is u bold, perpendicular mass of stone.
We remain on the top one hour and with
glass, view the surrounding peaks and
1.-THE hills-the everlasting hills
How peerlessy they rise!
Like earih's gigantic seniinels,
Dsconrslng IN the Skies"
To the southeast and south we saw Mount |
Evans, Pixies Peak and Mount Badly To
he southwest Mount Lincoln and Home
stake Peak. To the west Mount of the Holy |
Cross. To the northwest and north Mount
Powell, Park View Mountain which is at the