Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-03-19
NATURAL SCULPTURES.
Scenic Beauties of the Peach Spring Canyon
of the Colorado River.

Scenic Beauties of the Peach Spring Canyon
of the Colorado River.
We know so little of the scenic beau
ties OF our country that every year sur
prises us with new revelation. The
rock sculptures of the Peach Spring cam
yon Of the Colorado river are marvels
which very few Americans have seen.
The length Of the canyon is 1926 miles,
and the highest cliffs rise to $500 feet.
Some of the principal ruins-this word
seems to be the only word to apply to
them-have been named from time to
time, and for the most part with fitness.
One is Solomon's Temple, another
The Pyramid, another Sunset Peak, and
still others The Sphinx, Westminster
Abbey and The Beehive.
Solomon's Temple is considerably over
a mile high and the denudation and
wearing of the rock by water has been
such that it represents an enormous pile
of architecture, with sculptured bas-
tions, harmonious in it's proportions,
with great terraces at it's base, and grow
ing smaller toward the top. At the very
top, in the center, is a pyramidal peak
in exact proportions. This sculptured
pile is from two to four miles across the
facade, and torsee these things standing
up and against the clear, cloudless blue
of the Arizona sky, produces an indie
scribable effect.
Sunset Peak goes up like a dome 6, 900
feet, and when the sun sets clear and
has entirely disappeared behind the
mountains, it's reflected light rests on
nd trar Of int r
a minaret of gold-a heavenly light, in
deed.
Another architectural piece goes by
the name of Dabel's Tower, and is 5000
feet high, and this has beautiful sculpt-
ured buttresses. The Castle on the
Rhine is the same height.
The Pyramid is 1920 feet above the
river, and the river is 1,130 feet above
the sea.
Some of these cliffs of even terraces
and strata rise almost perpendicularly
to height of $500 feet, and IS high up
as the eye can detect a variety of plants,
including cacti, perch and thrive in the
crevices. Some varieties of flowers
bloom the year round in the canyon, so
mild is the temperature, even in mid
winter.
Of course it is impossible for any Wis
itor to appreciate the magnitude of this
scene of ruin and desola ton. The Chin
ney on the top of a perfect pyramid, that
was sixty feet by actual measurement,
looks TO be the size of an ordinary chin
ney.
The full beauty of Westminster Abb
hey, and it's likeness to it's venerable,
tvy-grown namesake, is very striking,
only it is far more wonderful structure.
Just before reaching it. and on the
same side of the canyon, is the Temple
of Jupiter, and it is unquestionably one
of, if not the finest parts of the canyon.
1t is a mighty pile of stupendous har-
mony and sculpturing, the central facade
bearing a multitude of. sphinxes and
classical images.
On the opposite side is ''Moses Striking
the Rock. the outline of the great statue
at one point being very life-like.
On the top of one cliff is The Prophet
at Prayer-a kneeling figure with out
stretched hands; and there are many
features not yet named awaiting christ
aning from the clever and acute visitors
yet to cone.-Golden Days.