People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-08-22
In the Heart of the Rockies.

EDITOR MAIL. leII Wellington
July %, and had very pleasant time
until | reached NickersOn, where the
train was held on account of wash
out between that point and Garden
City, which caused us to be delayed
twelve hours. As for myself, was
glad to get the rain and could pass
away the time better than those from
farther east. After a long and tire
some journey the iron horse landed
US safely in Colorado Springs, where
| got sight of the wonderful Rocky
mountains for the first time.
Colorado Springs has a population
of $4,000; is 5000 feet above the level of
the sea; it is situated near the center
of the state iD the western edge of the
great plains, which twelve miles from
the city terminates abruptly in the
towering Rockies. Among the points
of interest that | visited while here,
was the ChildS-Drexel home for the
union printers; Prospect lake, natur-
al lake covering twenty acres, just
east of the city: BrOadmOOr Casino,
located at the foot of Cheyenne
mountains. Here also starts in Chey-
enne canon. l walked up this beati-
full canon looking at Natures wonder
full works, and saw the water gush
down those huge rocks five hundred
feet, where it formed into a ripping
stream flowing down the canon to
water the many small villages and
cities for miles around. l had to
turn my head back so far and look so
straight up, it seemed as though a
person would have to look twice be-
fore he could see the top of those huge
rocks.
The next point of interest was the
Garden of the Gods. This name is
given to a tract of several hundred
acres of table land broken by uplifted
bodies of sandstone, as l would call
it, of many and varied heights and
forms. The elements have carved
these into shapes which are attract
i've to look upon. Magnificent rock
forms of every shade from lighteSt
pink to darkest green abound there;
but going through this place l had to
draw to some extent on my magma
ton in order to get the full benefit
and appreciate them.
After visiting the Garden of the
Gods. we were driven to ManitOu, Il
say we because there were several per-
sons in the wagCnette) a distance of
half a mile. NanitOu is beautiful
summer resort, often called by the
COloradOans the Saratoga of the west
1t is situated in the midst of the
grandest part of the Rocky mountain
scenery and Immediately surrounded
by more points of attactiveneSs than
any other one locality in the range.
From Manitou | had very tiresOme
but interesting walk to the Grand
Cavern aud Cave of the Winds. |
assembled and descended some critical
precipices before reaching there. | was
well paid for my visit as my trip west
wouldn't have been complete without
seeing them. Here person can see
the wonderful creation of nature
Astounding in bewildering prOfuSian
around this enchanting section of the
Rockies which prevail in those sub
terranean chambers. To see those
wonderful creyices in huge rock, is
of itself worth what it cost to make
the trip, especially to any one who
admireS the beauties of nature. |
will not try to describe this place any
further, as it would take too much
space and time to write it. But TAX
ing it all in all, visit to those under
ground wonders cannot but inspire
the most skeptical, creating a love for
nature and a lasting belief in the
power of an All-wiSe and generous
Providence. The next point of inter
est to me was to asvend to the summit
of Pixies Peak. l passed up that high
mountain, three miles high and about
fifteen thousand feet is getting pref
ty well up in the air. Here | could
see apparently across the gulf.
could look south and see the Ration
mountains of New Mexico, and the
famous Spanish Peaks, also the plains
just east dotted with villages and cit
les, which is most beautiful sight to