Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-06-24
ON THE. WING.
Former Haileyites Swinging
Around the Circle.
A Railway Conc to Eeed-Cost
Of Seeing tho Worlds Fair
Tho Routes There AMI
Back.

BURLINGTON, Ia, June IA. 1898.
To the Editor Of The T1xEs:
Believing q few lines to the many
friends At HALEY would not be amiss,
I am glad to say we are both we'll and
enjoying our trip. The ride from
Shoshone to Denver was hard aud
tiresome. Towards tho latter end Of
the journey the car was kept hot
enough to cook folks used to noun.
tain air.
The ride over the Colorado Central
Railway, up Clear Creek canyon, is a
wonderfully fascinating trip for the
tourist. Thousands visit its many
points OF interest every summer.
Georgetown. Fifty miles west OF
Denver, has 5000 population aud an
altitude of 8,400 feet. Little less
than two miles west lies Silver Plume,
9,l00 feet altitude. Imagine 700
feet Of climb in this distance for .
railroad to overcome. Engineering
skill seems to be equal to any task set
before it IN these days OF the wonder
full and marvellous.
Georgetown had been the terminus
for many years. In continuing the
track to Silver Plume over four miles
of track was laid, the famous loop
constructed, high dumps built. and
many other difficulties successfully cn>
countered. Our ride to Silver Plume
over this piece of track was delights
full. Returned via the wagon road,
being amply repaid for tho walk by
tho ever>changing outlines of the
mountain walls, two to three thousand
feet high.
The railroad is so crooked that it
forms . constant succession of curves,
and in places the mountain side is
blasted awav to make room for the
track.
From Golden to Georgetown-a
distance OF about IS miles--there Is
less than five miles of straight track
altogether. The ride 10 trying to
passengers. Many become strain"
sick from the motion of the cars. al
though the running time is only
twelve miles per hour.
Spent three days in Denver, riding
over the city, up and down elevators,
eto. Denver is growing rapidly.
They claim 1855 900 inhabitants. The
poisonous gases and fumes from the
smelters settle over . good part of the
city. The Grant smelter has . stack
$50 feet high to carry away these
gases.
Milan, Mo-, was the next landing
place. Tho Hannibal g. St. Joe
Railway. from Kansas City, has hand
some cars. Tho passenger equipmen,
of roads east OF the Missouri river il
in advance OF western roads. mus,
mako ono exception to this state.
ment.
wish I could describe the little
railroad running west from Milan
which We take to Humpl .y's, GU,
Missouri destination. It's . wonder
the State Commissioners do not con
denim it IS unsafe and unfit for travel
l counted "a many a. FIVE ties upor
the inside of the rail without spike
only tho fourth to fifth tie being
spiked; saw bridges six inches, Of
even more. higher than the grade
joints Is many inches lower; rails with
t,e ball worn through; switches tina,
l could misplace with my foot. u
course trains could not exceed twelve
to fifteen miles per hour. Depots and
other parsphernalia are in about The
same condition. The road is in Ii.
hands Of Q receiver.
| We left Milan in . caboose on The
freight train to 60 distance of 6fteey
miles. Tho car was so dirty, the foo
and walls were 90 stained with to,
bacco juice, and 90 crowded that j
took . stout heart to brave the trip
As it was q "ground hog" case, ",
pst'ently endured. and thought of tn
Haley branch accommodations, tina
our good people have occasion all
sneered at.
Ono of Milan's denizens crossed tn
nlatfopm and oa.ad IN kh> oU., 49,.