Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-26

a Trip - the Top or Pixies Peak-The
Grand Canon Of the Arb aasas-Desve
and Bueaa Vista.


A Trip - the Top OF Pike. Pe.I-rhe
Grand Canon Of the Arb
and Bueas Vista.
Correspondence Of TIE Evrxrx. Sra,
bukNA VISTA, COL. Sept.
Denver was my nrst stopping place In Colora-
do, and IL Its history were not well known AZ
would be prolific theme from which 20 an
larger space In your columns than could pre-
sumo 20 occupy. IL was the Immediate out.
growth OF the Pixies Peak excitement OF 1873
and In the short period which has interviewed
since then has reached population OF $4,000.
and rom the beauty Of Its situation. the ele-
gance OF its buildings, and its business adyan-
tages ana enterprise Il now bears the proud
title OF the "Qoeen City OF the Plains" II Is at
the junction OF Cherry creek and the Platte
river, on o gradually rising plain, which
stretches eastward 10 the Missouri and onty
some nfteen miles from the foothills OF tha
Rocky mountains. many OF whose prominent
peaks, as well ss the cleaning line OF the Snowy
s range, can be plainly seen through the clear
and rarified atmosphere, which causes distances
TO seem much less than they really are.
The Tabor Grand Opera house, erected at q
country, and the county court house certainly
surpasses any building / have ever seen de-
voted TO such purpose, not excepting the one
IN Chicago.. took IL for the capitol until
learned what IL was, and that the state has not
yet erected capitol. IL the money reputed 10
have been paid for votes by csnd idates Tor seats
under the broad dome on your Capitol hill and
by rich corporations. had been devoted TO the
building Of state house IL might rival that OF
any state In the Union.
MANrTou AND PIXIES PEAK
A ride OF eighty miles, nearly due south,
most OF the way over an arid plain, nt only tor
grazing, except where rendered cultivable by
artificial irrigation through bitches nlled from
mountain streams, brought US 70 Manitou,
Pikes Peak. and called the Saratoga OF the
west, rom the variety of mineral springs which
the town on the main line OF the railroad. but
as tnere are no springs there Manitou, six
miles up among the mountains. is supervising
resort.
We made the ascent Of Pixies Peak from Man.
tire day and covering a distance OF tmenis-six
ana repaying us well for the fatigue and
choose IL as frequent source OF amusement
There is signal station at the summit. about
l4,3oo feet above sea-level large banks of snow
struck us august 14th) when near the ton
The sensations caused by the rarefaction OF the
sa6ded when 9os SS,
three miles below the top, in our descent From
Manftou ride Of two hours over the Denver q
more arid and desolate, but with the noun
tains In view and clarifying the landscape TO
the west, brought us 70 Pueblo. where are To-
Gated extensive Bessemer steel works and
smelling works for the reduction of ore that
comes In from the neighboring mining region,
occupied by the Mexicans before this part OF
Colorado was acquired by the United States are
obJects OF interest TO the passing tourist
THE GRAND CANON
Canon city is reached In two hours from Pue-
bio, and soon after passing that lively business
town, where is situated the state penitentiary,
our train enters the grand canon OF the Arkan-
sas, the most notable part OF which Is called the
Royal Gorge. Along the bottom OF this narrow
pass, which the river has made for itself In
some places contracting to less than twenty
ieet, while butting crags OF granite rise almost
over q thousand feet. The road bed has been
lalo oy blasting away Jutting rocks in order To
get room for the narrow.guage track. and again
stream suspended by iron braces from wall 10
wall, instead OF blasting a way out OF the verti-
cal sides Of rock, where they come 50 close %
Very little sur. penetrates this deep abyss,
even at noon day, and no wilder haunt of ma
main line ofthe ID. &. @. r. r. keeps on. after
passing this canon. almost due west, across the
some thirty miles beyond salt Lake CITY. but nj
Salida branch strikes of northward up the
valley OF the Arkansas and extends to Lead
this letter is indited. This town is 5000 feet
above sea-level, and Is beautifully situated on a
broad mesa, or opening in the valley of the Ar
kansas, rising gradually until IL reaches the
loot bills OF the main range OF the Rocky noun
tains, SIX or seven miles away to the west,
feet above the level of the sea, being only sec
ond to Mount Blanca in height In the STATE
stands in full view as l write, his head and
shoulders wrapped I'm snow, while Mounts Yale
and Princeton stand next In order to the SOUTH
ward, each rising over Ia, 900 feet, their sum
Their away than does the WashinSton monn.
ment from, say Iowa circle.
BUENA VISTA
Five years ago Buena Vista was the terminus
of the railroad extending from Salida towards
Leadville, and freight and passengers had TO be-
from har tn Lot ostx,
the height OF its prosperity, over the wagon
road. This and the mining prospects In the fm-
mark this place as q second IeadvYIIe n no ~
another Denver, gave Buena Vista within two
or three years population Of $500, or more.
For year or two past IL has not increased in
numbers, but many neat, and some quite ele-
CANT, residences have been erected, and a class
of people, merchants, bankers, stock raisers,
&c, has come in and made the place, in refine,
ment, comfort and intelligence, among the
most desirable places of residence In the state,
while the equable, dry and invigorating climate
give II the character of q sanitarium, especially
for those afflicted or threatened with asthmatic
miles are mineral springs which gush forth
from the ground, some at the bottom OF the
valley and some on the mountain side, at q
temperature OF from 1900 to 1S5o. This is the
county seat OF Chaffee county, and while mining
Is the first interest in Importance and stock
raising the second, when pending plans OF irri-
CATION shall be carried out without which no
crops Will grow anywhere in the state, so lar as
have seen, agriculture will assume an import
ant place. A ditch OF clear water, conducted
from mountain stream, runs through the
town, from which irrigating bitches can be ex-
tended into the garden patches, and the water
is also conducted in pipes from the same source,
and thus every house is supplied through q
hydrant. Mines are being "prospected" and
developed" all through the mountains and
large quantities OF ore are being freighted this
place from Aspen, across the mountains, ON
.burros' or donkeys, and supplies taken back
by the same mode Of conveyance. 1 could
write columns about these Mines and "pros-
pects," and s'strikes." and the varying expert
ences related to me by miners, but, as was
remarked by another, "must draw TO my close"
S.R.B.