The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-11-24
WELLS e
.r,ta
3Sl, 1886 and 33S River Street,
pol i13, 15, II and 10 Fourth Street,

| Wndb llK0 clover. several crops OF lt are
cut each year. A number of thriving
towns were passed, but the cloud of dust
raised by every passing vehicle, is very
trying, and the rainfall is so small the
dust is very seldom laid, but vexes mems
souls most of the time. Before the great
wall of the Rockies was reached, the
barrier all routes between the east and
west have to surmount, we had grand
view of the great peaks across the valley,
here many miles wide; the range at this
point has a Jagged and savage appear
ance that ought to delight the heart of
all lovers of such stern scenery; this is
the famous Gunnison country, where
such great discoveries of the precious
metals have been made, and the railway
followed the Gunnison river many miles,
finally turning away and climbing about
1900 feet to the top of the range of what
in Vermont would be called mountains,
comparison with the mighty peaks be-
yond them. The summit was reached
by series of loops twisting and turning
in all directions; clinging to the rocky
sides, passing number of snow sheds,
a steady upward climb and then the train
glided swiftly and smoothly down the
the forward locomotive detached, going
on before as pilot We were afforded
very fine outlook from the top of the
passed through before reaching 1t. At
the foot of the grade we were down
again to the river, which might have
been followed in its slightly more circuit
GUS course and the steep grades avoided:
we could not imagine why the engineers
did not so build the road. At this point
the river issues from the frowhing walls
of the BLACK Canon" and a village
lies nestled in the little level plot of
ground spared by the giant cliffs all
about. An observation car was attached
to the rear of the train, q platform car
with sides as high as the seas, but with
out roof. and seated in this we had an
uninterrupted view of all the wonderful
rock formations and the tremendous
cliffs which almost met overhead: it
was hard to realize that the temples,
castles, cathedrals and many other OBJ
jects were not real, but only cut by the
forces of nature: the tops of some of the
peaks resembled towers which were en-
circled by great stone walls: it was hard
to believe they were not the work of hu-
man idhuos HC bidlu lubO bu6
gloomy gorge, and during the twelve
mile ride we were filed with amazement
at the wonderful pictures unfolded be-
fore us. This canon affords a compare
lively easy route for the railway to get
through the mountains, compared with
the labor of going over them; without
this already opened route, the expense
would be enormous: it was a curious ex-
~ kho A.n I, IL.
roofless tunnel far down in the depths.
At one place in the gorge a branch road
came out of side canon and met the
main line at a junction in the heart of
the mountains. After the canon was
passed the road still followed the river
through more open country where nu-
mcrous fishermen were coaxing the willy
trout from the rushing stream. FIRE.
quently would be seen one of the natural
towers with rocky walls occupying the
top of hill, bearing a close resemblance
to the ruined feudal castles seen perched
on the hills and mountain tops in Europe.
Presently the road turned into a narrow
valley and the train halted at the foot of
the long steep grade over Marshall
Pass, while second engine was at
tached and then the climb began. Slow
AJs Sloduily, VIII many LWlSIS anu JuIuSi
now around great loop, then along the
edge of a sheer descent of hundreds of
feet, through numerous snow sheds, some
badly burned, now hanging to the side of
raVine, then to the other after a long
detour: presently looking at the track
far above us, seemingly that of another
road, and shortly looking down from
that place onto the rails our train had
just passed over: at one spot the track at
four different levels could be plainly
seen, while a train ahead of us seemed to
be hanging from the clouds, so high was
it above our heads. To overcome this
great mountain blrrier by an ordinary
railway without cogs is wonderful
achievement: all spoke admirlngly Of
the great feats of engineering which en-
abled two not very large locomotives to
draw a train of five cars on ordinary