Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-08-10
LETTER FROM MAYOR NORTON.

EDITORS NEws:-As per my pro-
mise before leaving home ] now
proceed to give you pen picture of
some of the scenes and places pass
ed and observed on my route and
since I arrived here; and in doing
so brevity must be observed and
only typical scenes can be mention
ed. The mid.continent region ira
versed by the d. & r. 6. railroad
passes without doubt through the
most magnificent scenery in the
world, hence, the difficulty is not
what to mention, but what to omit.
As il is, this must be considered as
only a hint of what exists in the
wonderland of the Rocky noun
tains, hence my object will be at
tanned should this feeble picture
excite an intelligent interest in the
most picturesque portion of the
world, either old or new.
Leaving Denver the first point OF
interest was IT. Logan soon to be-
come the most important post in
this country. Twenty miles fur
Their on we passed Castle Rock, 80
named on account of the peculiar
formation of an immense rock
which towers above the village and
can be seen many miles. Lark
Spur the next station--here there is
stage connection with Perry Park
five miles distant. This is n most
beautiful place abundantly sup
piled with water, pleasant walks,
picturesque canons and pine
groves. Nearing Greenland my
eye was attracted by huge rock,
Casa Blanca" Palmer Lake, a
beautiful sheet of water located on
the crest of the divide sparkling
like a thousand diamonds, and sur
rounded with most beautiful seen
cry. Near by is Glen Park, "The
Chatuqua of the West" Next came
Monument Park, remarkable for the
fantastic forms of time worn sand
stone rocks designated by such
names as the Dutch Wedding"
Quaker Meeting" lone Sentinel"
dutch Parliament" 'Vulcan's An
vii and Workshop" Romeo and
Juliet" etc. Theu came Colorado
Springs, the most delightful resort
city in North America. The dry
air, pure water and continuous sun
shine. justly entities il to the name
of the paradise of the Rocky
Mountains" Manitou, five miles
away, the Saratoga of the West,
renowned for its mineral waters,
magnificent hotels and beautiful
walks and drives, is the recognized
Gem of the Rockies and affords
more scenic interest than any other
place in the old or new world.
Within radius OF few miles l
saw Cheyenne Canon, Seven Falls,
Crystal Park. Ute Pass, Rainbow
Falls, Red Canon, Williams Canon
Cave of the Winds. Grand Caverns.
Glen lyric and the Garden of the
Gods, famous for its stately walls.
gateways, portals, cathedral spires
and monumental figures; here Ma
ture has cut and carved the mas
sive blocks of rocks representing
imposing temples.cnormous giants,
elephants, lions, frogs. reptiles and
many other animals--in short |
wonder il | am not in the ark OF
Noah. The most prominent feature
near Manitou is Pixies Peak dis
covered in 1904 by Major Pike and
named for him. This place became
famous by the discovery of gold in
1880. There are three ways To reach
the summit; the old trail, the car
riage road and the cog-wheel rail
road; the last named being the
climax of mans skill. When you
reach the top of the peak you
breathe the rariiicd atmosphere of
heaven and the eye bcholds a view
never to be forgotten. Next OF in
terest comes Pueblo, the secoud
city ofthe state in population--"The
Pittsburg of the West'-herc /
found mammoth iron and steel
works giving employment to thou
sands of people, also four large
smelling and refining works where
gold and silver are treated. Leav-
ing Pueblo 1 came west up the val
ley of the Arkansas. The view from
the car window was ever changing;
the bcautifur-ts passed only to be
succeeded by something more SUBJ
lime. Here are the vast coal fields
and great oil deposits of Co 'orado.
Cripple Creek, the greatest gold
mining camp in the west is passed.
Canon City, handsome little town
has several mineral springs of
great value. Leaving here the train
headed toward the mountains which
rise abruptly from the plains. I
wondered how we would get over
them, but the train passes around
a ledge of rock and in the twinkle
of an eye we entered the Grand
Canon. This is the greatest chasm
ever penetrated by railroad. One
more turn in the road aud we enter
the Royal Gorge. Here l found my
self speechless; my senses all
seemed TO have concentrated into
one sense of sight as / viewed this