Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-06-19
RD-M MEANWHILE, TENNESSEE SATURDAY. JUNE TO- 1886
a the Language of Ethiopian phlIoso.


The telegraph wire, attached to
iron rods fixed in the solid rock,
jumps from one side of the canon to
the other, wherever it finds the most
convenient resting place. Look
straight ahead and the little engine
appeared to be on a QuiXotic GRAND
of dashirg through the solid rock, so
close and so high were the walls.
These walls are on an average of 1000
feet high; in some places 1000 feet or
more. One giant peak, standing out
solitary and alone, towering monu-
ment of solid stone, called the Cure
can't Needle, is the highest point.
To give you an idea of its dizzy alti-
tude, 1 need not adopt the classical
smile and say it was like Ossa piled
on Pelion, but your own fellow-towns-
man, John Christmas Ross, piled
about three times on top of the Cum
berland church spire. Under such
circumstances he would doubtless APP
preciate the dizziness if no one else
could. Cataracts of crystal water at
frequent intervals greet the eye, and
their roar was easily heard above the
putting of the engine and the rumble
of the train. Occasionally the train
changes sides with the river, and
again darts by the mouth of another
gorge leading off from the main
canon. Here no plants or flowers
grow, and the "birds care not to pene.
trate the solitudes." The river, SOM
bre and swift, breaks the awful still.
ness with its roar. Having in this
way penetrated the very bowels o.
the earth for fourteen miles we re.
luctantly pass out into the valley and
end our companionship with the lit
tie river.
Want of time forbids me dwelling
on the lesser glories of the journey be
fore we began climbing the mountain
at Marshall Pass. The road here is {
very marvel of engineering skill-in
deed, the whole road seemed to m,
to be an attempt on the part of tn,
builders to produce an eighth wonde
of the world. Expensive as the roa(
must have been from the breaking O
ground until the driving of the silve
spike, it is said to be paying road
On a grade of about 217 feet to tn,
mile, the road winds around thi
mountoin on marvelously quicl
curves, and on a shelf cut right on
of the side of the mountain, passin
frequently through snow sheds, an,
getting higher and higher into TIL
region of cloud and snow until it halt
at the summit of the pass, II, 900 fee
above sea level. Before the train bt
gan the ascent it was divided int
two sections, and each section wa
pulled by two powerful engines. Bt
ing on the front section, / could loo
down the mountain side and see tn
other train toiling along two or thre
hundred feet below, just where W
had been, the passengers of the tw
sections waving and eXchangin
greetings, the one saying "don't 70
wish you were up here 2" the othe
"don't you envy us down here ?" A
the summit | got off and boarded tt
second section, and at one point G
, the road as we descended, / could 81
in front of us freight train, the fir
I section and the two extra engine
: that had helped to pull us up, all g
y, ing down the mountain on the san
track, at a good rate of speed, an
; within fifty yards of each other. "
= reached Salida, at the foot, just
: nightfall. The two sections were +
e united, and we were off for Denve
The highest peak in this neighbo
Il hood, called affectionately by the RAJ
y readers and natives cold Ouray,"
ii 14,043 feet above sea level; the hig
est in the range is Mount Blanc
/ l4,464 feet. Ouray holds the pas
u standing sentinel to the fertile Gunr
h son. From the summit at Marsha
$ Pass, can be seen four lines of roa
- on terrace overlooking terrace, to Il
e place where the putting and blown
= engines begin to climb the mountai
II have often heard that an engine
IL becomes attached to his engine as
IL a dear friend, and after seeing t
= work they did, should consider o
II cold and callous if he did not ft
d grateful to friend that had pull
him so often over that pass witho
y hurting hair of his head.
= Mr.. Editor, if you are of a reflect