Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-18
On the Way to California.
The CITY OF DENVER SOME OF TIL
SIGHTS RESTAURANTS AND HoTELs.-
RISKY oADs.-COLoRADo

Pueblo, COLORADO, Tuesday, July %.
Yesterday afternoon we again went to walk,
taking a circle around the outskirts of Den
yer. There are no hills anywhere ABOUT, but
there are fine electric light towers making a
circle about the city, and part way up there
are platforms which exactly answered our
purpose. We climbed to one of these, and
from there had as good birds eve view of
the city as could be obtained. We also saw
several different kinds of beautiful flowers
which were unknown to US. As we crossed
a little stream by the side of which ran a
railroad track, we noticed that the road was
ballasted with what looked like coal. but
proved to be broken lava. We were inter-
ested in the cuttings which showed the rock
to be a conglomerate, mostly red sandstone
in a matrlX of lime
Sandstone seems to be in the ascendency in
this part of the country; nearly all the build
ings here are of that material. On re-enter-
ing the city every other building was either a
Chinese laundry or sample room In fact,
these last with saloons seem to constitute a
most important part OF Western cities and
towns.
During the day we had taken our meals at
restaurants and were agreeably surprised both
as to the quality and price. A dinner, con-
sisting of sOup, beef steak lamb chops, green
peas, mashed potatoes, green corn, two kinds
of pie and as much iced tea or milk as YOU
wanted, cost % cents. In the evening we
went to one of the large hotels and were again
agreeably surprised by obtaining rooms. that
seemed luxurious to US after our journey,
with good beds for the nominal sum of so
VI, laI h rtt,,s IL
though we could sleep on car-cushons it
was not quite so comfortable as sleeping in a
bed
The weather when we left Denver was as it
has been during our whole trip, perfect, and
until noon our road lay parallel to the
mountains which were distant about 80 miles
Soon after leaving Denver we began to notice
cactus plants 10 great variety and abundance.
in some places making carpet for miles. At
one of the small stations | got out and tried
to capture small cactus, but was glad enough
to let go and get in the train again where
was busy the next five minutes picking the
spines out of my fingers. Along here, too,
several large herds of cattle were grazing
and we noticed numerous little caves looking
| like large ant hills, which proved to be
the mounds of prairie dogs. The little fell
lows were verg amusing, standing up on their
illpuuus lot QUE iuuk, lueH GIVING INTO tnelr
holes, only to stick their inquisitive little
noses out again in a moment. Soon Castle
Rock appeared on our left, huge block of
sand stone bearing some resemblance to a
castle, balanced on a steep hill close beside
the track. But this did not so much impress
us as another mass we passed soon after,
which was several miles from this and we'll de-
served the title given to its more conspicuous
| brother.
Pslmer's Lake a few miles farther on is a
lovely place which the railroad company has
built up. On. one side the track is the nina.
ture lake about IA of mile long, partly nat.
ural and partly walled in by the railroad COM
! pany In the centre is a beautiful let of wa
ter which rises IS or 80 feet into the air, fall.
/ ing in fine spray. There is a neat pavilion.
boats on the lake, mineral springs and swings.
making the place Jewel in its way. On the
lake side of the track grassy bank rises
gradually to a considerable hill. while on the
west snow-capped Pixies Peak. l5 900 feet
! high rises majestically against the sky. From