Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-06-19
OVER THE ROCKIES.
Pen Pictures of a Trip Over "The
Scenic Route of the World.

OOlOrduO anu over Tile IOCky MOun-
tains by rail, and who attempts,
through the medium of a pen-picture,
to show others the sights just as they
appeared to his eyes, the English Ian
guage proves wholly inadequate, and
he finds all the parts of speech, ex-
cept the adjective, have become emas-
culated and meaningless, and this he
uses in most reckless and unauthor-
lied manner. remember one unfor-
tunate who, in an evil hour, sat down
and wrote to his people from Califor-
MIA, and who was afterward charged
with calling the wheat ambitious,
and although at first disposed to at
tribute it to the readers righteousness
or bad pen, had at last to conclude
that, in his transport, a Rocky Noun
tain adjective had been used instead
of a California qualifier. After this
explanation, Mr.. Editor, l need not
ask your forbearance while tell you
of my trip over the most remarkable
road on the continent, the Denver &
Rio Grande from Ogden, Utah, to
Denver-a line boastfully advertised
as "the scenic route of the world"
and so acknowledged by every tourist
and wayfarer who has had the oppor-
tunity of judging. This is a narrow
gauge road, built So probably for two
reasons because it is much cheaper,
and because it is more easily and
safely operated in its winding course
over high mountains and through
narrow and tortuous canons. From
Ogden, the western terminus of this
division, the road runs in sight of
the great Salt Lake for long dis
lance, and through some of the pref
test prairie country to be found. 1t
is principally grazing land, and is
sown in grass and alfalfa, species of
rank growing clover, fruit orchard
being occasionally seen, and now and
then truck farm.
The Great Salt Lake basin is said
to be fine land for growing almost
anything, and its verdant slopes
were refreshing after coming off of
the hot, dry, barren plains of Nevada,
but it must be admitted that / have
yet to see a prairie country that has
any allurements for me, Kansas, fat
and fruitful, not excepted. Give me
hill and dale, woods and stream, OF
give me death.
We reached Salt Lake City about
Z O'Clock p. m. A combination OF
unfavorable circumstances, a pouring
rain, train six hours behind and 8
limited ticket, prevented me from
stopping over in this Mormon me
tropolis-the object of all Senator Ed
mund's shafts-which fact regretted
exceedingly.
In Colorado the scenery changed
and became more rugged and more
beautiful as we neared the backbone
of the "Rockies." We skirted alons
the banks of the Gunnison river fo
fifty miles. Out on the plains it is /;
muddy, shallow and ugly stream
and one would hardly recognize it a
the stream that has its source highe
up in the mountains, and goes dash
ing merrily down the Black Canon
being reinforced at every turn by tn
wonderful cascades as they fall on it
bosom from a thousand feet above
The same might be said of the Ar
kansas river that flows. Through tn
Grand Canon. | don't remembe
ever to have seen an uglier stream
than this as it creeps sluggishly acros
the hot, rainless region of Western
Kansas.
Following the course of the Gunni
son river, we were ushered withou
ceremony or warning into the Blac
Canon of the Gunnison. Its impos
ing beauty, sublimity and awfulnes
has been often described. If tn
reader hungers for extravagant rhe
oric, | would refer him to a little boo
written by lady traveller whom tn
ID. & r. G. Co. rewarded amply fC
her services. AS this commune;
ton is not likely to fall into the
hands, | shall describe the canon in
matter-of-fact way.
The road bed has been made b
piling up huge boulders and stealth
away part of the bed of the Gum
son river, or by blasting from out ii
side of the solid rock wall, leaving
narrow shelf just wide enough for IL
train to run on. AS | looked up
the huge piles of rocks overhangir
the train a thousand feet above, an
then down at the mad little riv,