Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-23

dry, pure and invigorating and the sur
rounding scenery charming. We only
stopped moment-just long enough
for Mayor Dickinson, Of Minneapolis,
to pick up a common sandstone, which
he carefully stored away in his valise
As very valuable specimen OF Rocky
Mountain ore.
Fifteen miles beyond Idaho Springs,
enclosed in a perfect amphitheater of
hills and mountains and cliffs, at a
height of S,476 feet above the sea is the
city of Georgetown. In appearance it
is an active, busy, enterprisiDg city OF
probably $500 inhabitants. Towering
away above it are the lofty mountains,
against whose sides we could see the
blasting of mines, the quartz mills and
the mouths of tunnels out of which
millions of tons of mineral are being
taken by the eager devotees Of Mann
mon. The railroad winds around
above the city, and when we stopped
for diDner we were above the house
tops and had magnificent view OF the
city below. During the 20 minutes
the train stopped many of our party
climbed up the mountain sides to en-
JOY the bright sunshine, the pure at
mOsphere and to search for ''speci-
mems" Some found the air too thin
for support and were compelled to sit
down and recuperate, and one lady
had to be carried to the train. Just
above the city, the road passes Devils
Gate. a profound chasm through which
Clear creek foams and leaps; and just
beyond Is that most wonderful piece of
civil engineering, the 'Bow-Knot
LOOP in the railroad. 1t is only
about one and one-half miles from
Georgetown to Silver Plum, yet the
railroad train must travel six miles to
get there and at no point does it devi-
ate farther than 1000 feet from a
straight line between the cities. The
road runs under the great viaduct and
rises and rises until you have left the
city hundreds of feet below and to the
north. out, with sudden turn, it is
again seen, with the train this time
rushing toward the city and still climb
ing: again a turn to the east; now
down ninety feet below is the track
lust passed; away again on the further
side of the mountain; again crossing to
the west side; suddenly turning to the
east until the big Fill,' seventy-six
feet high-too sharp a curve for a
bridge-has given another circle to the
track: then, with a turn to the west.
around the slope of the mountain; still
another view of Georgetown, with all
the tracks in view. each seeming to
have no relation to its neighbor, until
another valley in the mountains dis
closes the pretty village of Silver
Plume, 5000 feet above the sea. We
only had minute to stay at this place,
and all the specimens that could be OBJ
tanned here were purchased from the
| innumerable boys and girls who had
gathered about the train with their
little cigar boxes filled with collections
of various sorts and which they had
picked up about the streets and gulches
to sell to gullible Jayhawers. Piles of
snow were visible along the streets,
vet there was not the least discomfort
from cold, neither wraps nor overcoats
being needed.
After three minutes delay we started
upon our return trip down the
mountain. The cars run down
themselves and the only use of the en-
CINE is to keep the train from aequir-
ing too great velocity. Below George
town we stopped and all got off the
train; there, more than mile nearer