The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1895-10-19
EDITORIAL OUTING.
A TRIP IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

The great Salt Lake covers an erea OF
$500 square miles. The main depth Of
this interesting inland sea is about 20
feet. while the deepest places do not ex
coed so feet. There are several Islands
in the lake Oh which ere spring. Of fresh
water. The shores OF the lake are CO.
vered with salt that shines in the sun
like millions Of diamonds.
The most curious thing about this
lake. aside from its sadness. is the fact
that it has no known outlet. A great
number of fresh water streams pour in
TO the lake from all sides. yet the water
remains as salty and the lake never
'OverflOws.
The saline or solid matter held in 30
luton by the water varies as the lake
rises and subsidies. The water contains
nearly II per cent Of solid matter most.
.ly salt.
Salt Lake is fashionable bathing re-
sort; in the summer months the water
becomes warmer than the ocean waters
and the waters Of the LAKE are SO dense
that q person floats upOc its surface
without effort. 1t is most interesting
'shee: Of water.
Returning from Salt Lake City we
came over the same route as far as
Grand junction at which place Wa took
the narrow gauge branch OF the Denver
and Rio Grande Railroad. better known
,as the Scenic route To be brief. we
will simply give a shcrt description of
Marshall Pass, which is q station Oh the
summit of the pass. Right at the sum-
nit the track is covered by large
snow shed, to protect the pass from the
heavy snews that fall there almost the
the year round.
The train stopped at the pass long
enough to allow the passengers to go up
the observatory from which high point Il
fine view of the Surrounding country
was obtained. On the observatory We
stood ut an elevation of l0.S55 feet. AT.
ter crossing the pass the descent began
the road winds around projecting head
lands, on the verge of vast precipIces
threads dark recesSes whore patches OF
light fall through Ieafy canopies upon
the green slopes, follows the winding OF
the T0michi.
1t was the good fortune OF the party
to be on top of Marshall pass just al
dark. to enjoy the beauties of til
Rocky Mountains by the light .oi a bright
shining moon.
Arriving at Colorado Spring, we made
a stop of two days to visit Nanit0u, th'
Garden of tina Gods and to make th'
ascent Of Pixies Peak.
Before Colorado had acquired name
Pixies Peak was the landmark Of tn
Indians. The mountain is one OF grea
beauty, and never entirely discrownpt
with SNOW. The Cog Wheel Railroad
that goes up the mountain top, is tn
most noyel railway of the world. WheI
1t reaches its objective points above tn
clouds, at a height Of l4,li7 feet. abov
sea level, the visitor is left in wonder
ment at tho strange and interesting
sight.
From its station in Maniton jus
above the Iron Springs, to the station
on the summit of Pixies Peak, the rail
road is Just eight and three-quarte
miles in length. The cost Of the con
structi0n of this road Is said to hav
been over half million dollars.
The railroad closely follows RuxtO
Creek, generally at an elevation OF tw
or three hundred feet above it; the side
of the Glen are clothed with beautift
pines and sprUces. Some very prett
falls are passed on the way. stipend
GUS granite bOulders are in places pile
up in chaotic cofusion over the STREAM
frequently hiding it from view. One
the most charming features during IL
ascent is the opportunity afforded IL
exquise views of the World below. o
hooking back through the pine tre'
with the far-stretching plains glowing o
the sun and forming golden horizon
1t goes without saying that the vie
from the summit is grand beyond d
scription.