Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-24

pect Of the foot hills merges into that of the
sheep industry of the true plains, and a
sort of hybridism of rural life pervades.
The Fountain, as it is usually; styled, while
the water from the melting SHOWS of Pixies
Peak are constantly poured into its we'll
marked channel, is one of those streams
that has the peculiar trick of disappearing
for miles at a stretch-leaving a dry bed,
and then coming up again. So agriculture
is rather uncertain on its borders.
From Pueblo, the ride is up the val
ley of the Arkansas, where the cereals, in
cluding maize, rival those of the East, es-
peciaIly this year. Apple orchards of fair
growth and proportions checker the broad
bottoms, while small fruit bushes are seen
in abundance. The train whistles, the
brakeman mumbles Florence, and what is
this? Tank and side track, steam pump and
refinery everywhere aboundl Why this is
like Pennsylvania We are in the oil re-
gions of Colorado, and the plaw, the pick
and the corral have given place to
DERRICK AND DRILL
A few minutes farther on and we are in
Canyon City-famous for its rich gardens,
its dusty streets, its hard coal, its mineral
springs and its penitentiary. 1t enjoys the
reputation also of being fine winter resort
ior invalids. Judging from its temperature
the day we passed through, should think
1t might meet expectations. Now our train
plunges into the canyon of the Arkansas,
and in few miles we are in the midst Of
what is considered the finest piece of rail-
road scenery in the world.
The Royal Gorge, OF which 80 much is
q frOu hof If ba H1lo
river, the deepest gorge in the world. Its
sheer ruggedness is its greatest attraction.
There is no great element of beauty. aside
from grandeur, that enters into ii. The eve
from below fails to appreciate its great
height. do not know what its height is at
present. Colorado is a growing State.
There is no reason why its canyons should
not grow with it. Ten years ago the depth
was paced at a little over 9, 800 feet. At
Pueblo as we passed they had it 1900 and
the brakeman said as we were going through
that it was 2, 800. At that rate it will stand
second to none socn.
AN AWFUL SIGHT.
The railroad people, it is said, talk of
putting in an elevator at the Icons Leap.
the deepest place, so that patrons can 90
above and look down into the awful chasm.
Years ago drove around to the point lust
above the iron bridge and took this fearful
peep-the most awful sight, unassisted BY
any kind of motion or force that ever be-
held. 1 have seen lady take peep, catch
a glimpse of the silver thread OF water be-
low, place her hands over her eyes, and run
away never to be induced to look again. 1
remember that felt better as looked, be-
cause the rope held on to was tied securely
to a strong pine tree some distance back.
Conceive that you could take the blocks out
between two of your parallel streets for half
mile, if Pittsburg has them, that you
could stand the notch up on end and look
down into it, and you may get some idea of
this depth. No photographs either from
above or below can do it justice. Your cor
respondent attempted 1t above the heads of
the wild throng on the observation car, but
it was failure-a few wondering taces-a
wall OF rugged rocks, but no grasp of its
grandeur.
Soon the canyon flares and anon expands
into valley, dotted, with ranch and wood
camp, and the little town of Salida-busy
and interesting-the creature of the railroad
and the mines-claims your interest Here
the present route to Utah leads over the
famous Marshall pass, but our route still
leads up the Arkansas to Leadville. The
Marshall and his brass buttons was at the
depot when we arrived, but he must have
gone over bis pass, for drunken brawl be-
meath my window went unquelled that
night Perhaps he was at home candi-
date for reelection.
WHERE HAY COSTS MONEY.
The remainder OF the ride is uninterestiug.
save the peculiar boldness of Mounts Primo
ton, Yale and Harvard, the passage through
Buena Vista-iamous for its mines and
mixed population, and some famous hay
just below Leadville, which in the