Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-11-25
A PANORAMIC
Pen Picture of Summit and Lake
Counties, Col.
BY Our Special Artist.
BY Our Special Artist.
DENVER, Nov. IA, 1882.


EplroR CUSTER CHRoNICLr:-Ordin
", promises made in the correspondence
line are thinner than some of the air
furnished tourists above timber-line in
Colorado, but as | am Cus-ter-ite Of
YOU think any Of your readers don't see
the point. you can explain in an editori-
al note | herewith furnish letter No. ,
to those of your subscribers who sur
vved the first have been on the wing
for the past week ani have had parrot
and monkey time in the mountains
BUSINESS AND PLEASURE.
In company with c. J. Lighthall for
mcrly Of the Rockcrville fume and we'll
known to mining men. in Dakota and
Nevada as a conscientious and compe
tent superintendent and expert in min
ing matters. | took flying trip over the
Continental Divide, through Summit
and Lake counties While my trip was
one of curiosity and pleasure, at The in
yitation Of Judge Silvcrihorne, one of
Summit county's commissioners at the
late mining exposition, that of my
friend, G. +. Lighthall, was purely one
Of buoiness--a clear case of business and
pleasure. 1t was business for me 10
make the trip, and--a pleasure for him
TO pay the bills He needed me IN his
business, aud needed him in my pleas
ure, SO | might add two souls with
single thought--of crossing the range
and one pocket book. Mr. Lighthall
has charge o; the Vanderbilt mining
properties near Leadvilc and am tenn
porarily in his employ. In order to
CRAFTY my curiosity and iii my lungs
with the ozone only TO be obtained on
the bald-headed peaks of the Rockies,
where the ever lasting beautiful c.othcs
the primitive outcropping Of old Mother
| Earth. and partly conccals her rugged
bones beyond the reach Of Natures g.irb
oc verdurc, he proposed the south Park
road as the one atfording the greatest
amount and most beautiful anil magniti-
cent scenery to the linear mile to be
| al
1t also has the pratical merit Of being
the shortest route TO Lcadyiile from
Denver.
"TnEoyGH By DAYLIGHT
VAS the train we s.ccted. and after q
ma'utinal appendagc 10 Il rooster ard Il
venisun steak at the 81. JameS. We we're
Off a scat ia an observation car gave
us fine view of the plains that slope
eastward from the foot hills, with the
mountains towering cioudwards to the
west The day was Il gloroHs one for
the trip and the electric light Of the
Universe did its level best for the occa-
sion Prom Denver to the mouth or
terminus uf Platte Canon Il distance Of
about twenty mics in a southern ulrcc-
farming country, IN the highest state of
cultivation. Irrigation i the system.
and, Judging by tic vast stacks Of hay
and straw. the well filled barns and
grainarics. and the comfortable farm
houses, should remark that the Colora-
do people know the value Of water, be
yond any point Of the compass indicated
for navigation but, entire nous, further
than that they are like unto the Buck
eve in the late eicction-they want
theirs straight, with the suspicion of a
lemon peel ON the side. digrcss.
PLATTE CANON.
From the plains TO the canon is n
transition Of scenery SO sudden, that al
though ! was previously notified of it by
my travelling companion, my surprise
and awe, on beholding he rugged gran
deur on each side of the rent in the
dark brown granite through which the
train was putting and snorting, was SO
great that | soon realized | was on the
threshold of one of Natures Master
pieces-in that gateway where the
strongest and most skeptiral pauses, and
invollntarily acknowledges an all
powerful Supreme Being. Twisting
putting and snoring, the engine slowly
and safely pulled its load up the canon
the base of Kenosha range was reached
At regular intervals along this ronte the
train tarried at stations, which Offered
special inducements to the tourist
hunter and fisherman, while The sacks
of ore and piles of base tulion indicated
mines and smelters in the background
KENOSIiA RANGE
The town Of Webster is at the i'm
mediate base of this range, which is ;
mining supply and shipping point fo
Snake river district and does IA thriving
. business, being the outlet for half 6
dozen mountain trails. Leaving Web
stcr the mountain climb commences il
p earnest, the heavy grade already travel
ed being water level in comparison ny
the mountain side, in zig gag road
with the valley hundreds Of feet below
the little hamlet appearing like n fair,
!. structure skiriuc the Platte, vhicl