The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-07-02

great fortresses, with here the solid
rock walls as red as though dipped
in blood, and there sombre gray,
or he rests them ON the wide sand
swept prairies in which the watered
ranches show the vivid green alfalfa,
the rows of fruit trees, the hundreds
OF cattle in luxnriant pasture, for
water makes the land blossom like
the rose. Whether he finds his in
terest in the coal, the oil, the gas, the
gold, the silver, the lead whether he
loves to linger on the mountains or
in the valleys, by the wild torrents
above the snow line which are Just
breaking the icy letters, or the rip
ping, babbling music of the gentler
flow through the lowlands, whether
he cares for one of these, or all, or
many things different by far, this
wonderful country can offer them all
Probably to an eastern mind the
most prominent feature in Colorado
scenery is Pixies Peak, named in
honor Of Major Pike, who nearly a
century ago saw it hanging like a
''smal blue cloud on the western
horizon, when he was more than a
hundred miles eastward. With his
little band Of explorers, he no sooner
satisfied himself that it was a noun
tain, than he took up his line of
march toward it, After sixty miles
of marching through this rare at.
mosphere, he could not see that he
was nearer than when he began.
Leaving behind him all but three
of his companions. after ten days
marching he came to the foot of the
Cheyenne mountain, and thought
by climbing it to reach the Great
Snow Mountain" beyond. But al
most perpendicular rocks barred their
way, and they reached the summit
to find four feet of snow, and had
neither blankets, fire nor food, and
still the great peak lowered beyond
them as inaccessible seemingly as
ever. Major Pike was discouraged
and abandoned the effort, recording
as his opinion that mo human being
could ascend to its summit. SO the
great discoverer for which the Peak
was named not only never reached
its summit, but never set foot at its
base. 1t is a surprising change, to
say the least, that to-day there are
parties continually ascending it-by
coach, on burros, some adventurous
spirits walking, but the greater mum
Der by rail The road is standard
guage, cog wheel, has steel rails, and
two heavy serratcd rails in the cen
ter upon which run six cog wheels
underneath the locomotive The
road is eight and three fourths miles
long and averages an ascent of SAG
feet to the mile The steepest grades
rise one foot in four, and in such
places the track is solidlt anchored
every two hundred feet The engine
pushes going up and precedes YOU
going down. so that the trip is as
safe as it can be made
One passes through growth of
stunted pines, through groves of
fragile looking aspen, with granite
boulders hanging over him and aw
full gorges opening beneath him, to
the summit, where are only the
rocks and the snow, and the human
voice breads TO break the solemn
silence.
There is beautiful panorama spread
out before him. Maniton Grad ed in
the foot hills, the Garden Of the Gods
kissed by the soft-falling sunlight,
a broad green valley with tiny sill
yer lake on its bosom, the long reach
ing range of sun capped mountains
stretching away behind him, and the
grandeur, the strength, the wildness
of the rugged scene about him. In
our party were two men from Aus
tralia, two ladies from Canada, and
the rest of us were conglomerate
from America. ] was impressed with
the fact that the Australian father
had sent his son here to be educated,
he had finished his course of study,
and they were now travelling through
this country to complete his educa
tion before going home | had sup
posed all the Colonists sent their
boys back to the Mother Country.
One steps naturally from Pixies
Peak to Manitou, young in years as
we count them, but two centuries ago
the French missionaries were here,
and the sparkling, waving stream
that tumbles down through Ute Pass,
dashing into fine spray in which
rainbow fingers in the morning sun
light, when it falls sixty feet in its
mad hurry, was named by them,
Fontaine-qui Bowille-and it wears
the quaint title still
But before the French missionaries
came Manitou was the haunt Of the /
Indians, it's springs were famous
among them, they brought here their
sick to drink of the waters, and in
honor of the Great Spirit they called I
the place Manitou. 1t is favored
spot, and the world is becoming &C