Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1886-10-02
A MIssIOURIAN'S VIEW OF THE COL
DEN WEST" AND THE ROUTE HE
TOOK TO REACH IT, WITH A
FEW SKETCHES OF WHAT BE
SAW AND FELT WHILE EN-
JOYING A TWO MONTHS
STAY WITH FRIENDS
ON THE SHORES OF
THE PACIFIC.

EDITOR INTELLIGENCER:-l resume
nv travel. where lett off week ago,
in the beautiful city of Denver, situat-
ed as she is at all altitude Of 5000 feet
above the level of the sea. The houses
have all unusual new appearance, they
do not grow old and weather stained like
the houses of Missouri. 1t was bright
morning in June, that we reached that
city, and after very short stop of 70
minutes we changed cars from the
"Union Pacific" to the "Denver and
Rio Grande," narrow guage railroad,
and pursued our voyage across the con-
tinent. For the most part Of this day
we were going in Outh-westerly di-
rection, until we passed Pueblo, " hen
we turn westward, and up the Arkan-
sas river. Nearly all the morning OF
this day we were III sight of Pixies
Peak, that grand old mountain whose
summit is clothed with perpetual snow.
1t seemed to Inc impossible to keep
my eyes off of this snow-capped noun
tain. The railroad seemed to be run
| ming south and southwest i'll ordor to
get around Ginning over this mountain.
The scenery along the route was fine.
| We passed beautiful lake called Pal
mer's lake, supplied by waters from
the mountains conducted by an artiti-
cial channel. Here we saw evidences
OF a summer resort. Nice carriages
were waiting at the depot, situated on
the border of this lake. The lake was
we'll provided with row boats and
everything looked inviting. But the
pleasures sought and found by others
|
passed this beautiful lake near the
roadside. We soon passed Colorado
Springs, which looked to be delightful
place, as we reviewed 1t from the cars
and here for the first time my travelling
companion expressed the wish Il
stop and breathe the pure air tor while
1t was tempting, but our heart wa
set ON California, and we fastened ol
as fast as the wheels of the little marrow
guage could carry us. About the mid
die of the afternoon of this day, W
started up the gorge and along the Ar
kansas river. 1t is known as tn
"Royal Gorge" and right well it
named, too. shall not attempt I
describe the grandeur of this mountai
scenery along and up this wonderful
gorge. The waters of the "Arkansas
are clear and beautiful and rush owe
\ the rocks with maddening fury. Th
railroad runs along the banks of tn
, river for miles, between high iedges {
=. rock, that rise in many place almos
, perpendicularly for hundreds of fee
= The engineering skill displayed in con
structing this railroad is indeed maj
=. velous. AT places it would seem thu
4 there was no way OF escape save by g
y ing directly through the mountain, br
suddenly the road would turn and "
would find ourselves winding aroun
the sharp curves of the mountain, whel
the rocks were piled high above us, Q
:, either side of the river, in magniticel
> grandeur. AT one place the gorge is
- narrow that the builders of the railroa
:. had to span the river with their ire
, tressell work, anu in order to get rot
:, bed around Il sudden curve of the rive
- 1t was marvellous. All the while Il
: waters of the river were dashing dow
at their channel, seeking their level in t
" gulf below. About O'Clock p. m. '
|, reached tbe City OF Salida, on the sou
,. side of The river Here we stopped to la
q breath and get ready for our final asce
- ub the eastern side of the rocky mOu
q | thllls. ~ WAS ucCcosdiy lol uo hSIC
~ double our motive power, and TO alta
J. two engines to our train. We kne
.. by this that the time for "climbing
the hill" in earnest had come. We a
ad noticed another precaution taken
re- those managing our train. that was
ar extra engine with tender and a ba
n gage car which is known as "pilo
n was sent ahead of the train to see Il
p no obstacles were in our way. AT
stopping a few minutes and getting
things ready, the bell sound'
and we commenced our journ
towards the clouds. Crossi
the river at Salida on an iron bridi
of we followed Our pilot nearly due sol
St. up gorge for some five or six mil
to getting higher and higher all the tin
he when we suddenly wound around
of head OF this gorge and began to
Ii trace our steps up the mountain,
ut on the opposite side of the gorge, a
III here indeed began our torluous ro
of along and around and up the sides
hi the mountains, until we reached an
lty shall Pass" at an altitude of 800 t
it above the sea- Here we found
ses snow all around, in and about
M Hitherto we had looked upon Its viii
The ness at distance, now 1t was near
1t was midsummer, and yet we wa