Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1896-02-21
Il SUMMER OUTING.
Tho Pleasures and benefits to He De-


rived in the Mountains of Colorado.
The days are here. when one begins
to make plans for his summer outing.
and studies railway maps and questions
friends to learn Of the best fpots, and
where the most varied amusements
may be had for the least outlay. 10
Kansas people the Rocky mountains
are the most convenient and AFFORD OPP
portunity for the enjoyment OF tastes
Of all shades. Twenty-four hours places
the most eastern dweller OF the state
right In the heart of the great divide
and he has enjoyed such scenes en-
route, as wealthy tourists go across the
ocean to find. The Denver &c RIO
Grande road, the Great Scenic Route Oh
the world, takes you at Pueblo or Dem
I yer, and whirls you through canons
where there must have been an en-
chantment and where giant arms nave
dashed the boulders into their present
resting places. The ride through the
Royal Gorge displays the great IN
genuity of It's engineers, and the op-
gtinate determination of Its builders.
The rails are placed in almost inaccesi-
BILE places, along the edge of the stream
or torrent, which with wonderful skill
has been forced out of the way to make
room for the rock road bed and the iron
rails. At certain points the torrent
maintains Its supremacy, but the difh-
Guilty Is met and surmounted. set
Of hangers being made into the cliffs
overhead, to support the bridge work
and track. The stream is still 5ubilant
Of its power over man, and laughs,
booms and dashes by as the tram
passes, not caring for the queer shad-
ows that fall into 1t, If it can only
be supreme at this critical point. The
canon is one Of the grandest IN the
world, barely wide enough, in certain
parts, to admit of the stream and the
tracks, the granite walls OF giant noun
tains towering above and over all, and
giving still more impressive object
lesson of the great force of Nature
which has caused it all. The climb is
a long one, and after leaving Salida
you think 1t is over and that as you
enter upon slight down grade, or
smiling valley, that you are now going
to slide down into the great San Luis
Valley Never were you more mis-
taken; and If you looksyou will see two
putting little giants pulling the train
for several hours yet. At length, how
ever, when you have begun to wish for
breakfast, the summit is reached, and
there is rapid stride down the west
ern slope, and into the beautiful val
ley. For more than fifty miles the
track is as straight as an arrow, and the
train speeds along bringing you into
Alamosa for breakfast, right under the
shadow Of Blanco, the highest noun
tain in this country. All around are
smiling fields as far as the eye can
reach, until vision is interrupted by
the mountains which encircle the val
ley. Some one has said the West Noun
tain and the Sangre de Cristo range
on the east are ring and that Blanco
is the setting. These mountains afford
every variety Of amusement and enter
tainment. There is fine trout fishing;
in season there are plenty Of ducks and
Sand Hill Cranes, Brants, Geese and
Curlew. These are in the valley II
big game is desired you must go back
into the mountains. where Elk, Bear,
Mountain Sheep and Lions, GIouse, ETC.,
are still to be found. Outfit at one of
the pleasant little hamlets and spend
a month In these mountains and In this
valley, il you want an outing. If you
wish to meet the gay social parties,
that make the mountains their home In
summer, 60 to Colorado Springs, Man
itou, or some other of the delightful re-
sorts on the line OF the Denver G. Rio
Grande road.
We know OF no greater advantage to
heath, than may be gained by sojourn
away from the cares of business and
daily duties of the routine of living.
Here there is no routine but con-
tinued change, OF pleasure resulting
more profitable to a tired body or over
taxed mind than any other OPPORTUNITY
within reach. The Denver & Rio Grande
Company looks after the comfort of its
patrons with scrupulous care, and pro-
vides the best facilities for observation
and enjoyment Of the ride. II you have
never yet visited these precincts, de-
eide now to do SO this year, and get the
rest and health you have been looking
tor. F. p. BAKER.