Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-05-26
among the EOcEies.
DENVER, Col, May 3. 1

pEAVER COL, May 3. 1886.
| EDITOR REPUBLfCAN:-ln our last communi
cation we left you at MaDitou, which lies at the
| base of Pixies Peak, or rather at the base OF
Cameron's cone which, properly speaking is a
part of the mountain which bears the name of
| Pixies Peak.
| From a casual glance at the immediate vicin-
ty of this little village, we are convinced that it
well deserves the name of Manitou. This village
has population OF some 65 inhabitants is built
in beautiful little valley which terminates in
two canyons, viz: Williams canyon and Ute
Pass We give its population as taken last win
ter, when few, or none other than bona fde
residents are here. The inhabitants live solely
off the spendings of the excursionists anu pleas
uTe-seekers during the summer months, and Ge
were told, that from the first of June until the
first of October, the average of this class is from
$50 to 400 daily. The train which took us from
Colorado SPRINGS to Manitou, brought an excur-
sion party of 160 from Boston, Mass Manitou
can boast of more hotels to the square acre than
any other town we have ever seen, having no
fewer than eight hotels, four of which are firstc
class in every respect, and her hotel capacity
can amply accommodate ], 800 guests at one and
the same time.
The soda and lion springs are the principal
attraction to health-seekers, whilst the "Grand
Caverns" and the scenery around Manitou form
no inconsiderable attraction to pleasure-seekers.
The entrance to the '.Garden of the Gods" is
about one mile east of the Mansion House, the
largest hotel in the town, and when we enter
the lovely play grounds of the Gods" through
what is called the Gate way" we at once con-
clude that the name of this Garden" is very
appropriate.
III the midst of this solitude, nature has per-
petrated many strange freaks of sculpture and
architecture, as If she divertlng herselfafter
the strain of that mighty mood in which the
gigantic mountain of Pixies Peak was brought
forth. Here, solitude is unbroken by the resi-
dence of man, but mimetic forms of stone sup
ply, quaint and grotesque suggestions of life.
After the form of these strange looking rocks,
their most striking feature is their color. which
glows with an intensity of red. unequaled by
any other sandstone we have ever seen. Enferg-
ing from the Garden we enter "Glen Eyre"
delightful little. valley, at the head of which,
General w. j. Palmer, of railroad notoriety has
built a very neat aud unique residence, which
he occupies through the year. AS regards seen
cry here, it is only necessary to say that the en-
tire mass of Pixies Peak is in full view and that
a gorge-cleft country of great and rugged grand
eur lies between, bounded on the southwest by
Ute Pass, and on the northwest by Queens can
yon. The character of the wierd monoliths in
this lovely valley is even more remarkable than
those in the "Garden of the Gods"
The "Major Domo" is the most wonderful of
all these columnar structures, and is of the same
brilliant, friable red sandstone as that which
forms the uplifts in the Garden of the Gods"
1t rises entirely unsupported to the height of
over 300 feet, with curious swell at the top,
which much exceeds the lower portion of the
shaft, and gives the whole structure look of
self poised and strong insecurity in the face o.
natural laws.
Behind this immense obelsk to the west the
canyon enters the mountains between heights of
an unrivaled savage beauty; its last glimpse
being a lofty gap with serrated edges, like
giants staircase, formed by the great mass of
sandstone broken into square blocks
We linger around this delightful scenery I'M
i'll ..Old Sor' is hidden from our view by Pixies
Peak, then retrace our steps to Manitou, per-
tectly satisfied with the result of our days
work.