The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-08-25
MANIroU SPRINGS AND PIXIES PEAK.


city are made beautiful by trees on either
side, ripping brooks along the curbstone and
well kept lawns, surInounted by stately,
handsome mansions This little city of 700
is famed for its wealthy people, there being
no less than score Of millionaircs resident
there. The place also boasts of many learned
divines and wealthy retired members Of the
medical profession. As Colorado Springs is
but five miles from that now famous summer
resort, Mnnitou, she has the benefit Of many
of the myriad natural attractions about that
place The tourist, however, leaves his hotel
and by a train is carried up little valley,
and then along the side Of hill toward the
base of Pixies Peak, and when the cars stop,
one looks up broad street, lined with large
hotels, pretty cottages, elegant bath houses,
and sees rustic pavilions over sparkling
springs, with great host of gay and cheer
full people walking, riding, driving here,
there and everywhere. This Is Manitou, 5000
feet above the level of the sea The first
thing that is done is to climb Pixies Peak,
and mounting little mule, commonly known
as a "burro,n and described by some as the
"Rocky mountain elevator" the tourist
wends his way along the trail After several
hours of alternating rest and riding the sum
init is reached, and If it he clear day, what
panorama is presented Standing almost
three miles above the level Of the ocean, ono
looks away into illmitable space. The great
plains are spread before him, stretching far
away to the east He picks out Colorado
Springs at his feet, Denver, seventy five
miles to the north, and Pueblo, fifty miles to
the south. The course Of the Arkansas river
is traced. Looking southwest the observer,
IL he is fortunate enough when train
crosses Marshall pas, may see quite re-
markablc sight, for on the pass, at an alti
tude of 1882 feet, and ninety miles away,
may be seen the smoke Of the locomotive Of
railroad train climbing the mountains.
The natural beauties and wonders In and
around Manitou seem unlimited. There are
nine natural mineral springs in the heart Of
the town, and these are surrounded from
morn TO night by crowds who delight to
drink the pleasant waters as they come bub-
bling up from natures laboratory.
Two or three miles Dorth of Manitou, and
also close under the foot hills, lies the
mass Of uplifted red sandstone strata,
weathered into curious forms that has long
been known by The grandiloquent title Of the
Garden of the Gods" At the head OF
"Buena Vista Drive" Is BALANCED Rock"
huge cubcal bowlder OF sandstone rest ny
upon an exceedingly slight apex. There is n
con slant succession Of singular forms until
the grandest feature Of all is reached in the
Gateway" As seen from the north sde
this is a rectangular opening some 200 feet In
width, in all immense wall of sandstone $50
feet in height and half mile in length
Pixies Peak is seen in the distance, set in the
massive framework of the Gateway, and
thus completes picture possessing every ele
ment Of sublimity and grandeur. Just in
side is the group of needle like rocks known
as the Cathedral Spires" A short distance
further on, at the mouth Of "Glen Eyrie," is
another group composed of red and white
sandstone. At the Pass, mile and half
west of Manitou, are the Rainbow Falls, and
a little way beyond is the entrance to tho
Grand Caverns This is a grand cave in tho
solid rocks Of the very center of the noun
tain, consisting of subterranean hallways