Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1899-10-05
FROM WHEAT FIELD TO
CORN FIELD AND COLO
RADIO GOLD FIELD.

with their hoary peaks and crystal fountains.
On Tuesday morning the editorial
party were given most delightful
side trip to Georgetown and over the
World-famed "Loop" to Silver Plume,
the terminus of the road, through the
courtesy of the Colorado Southern
hallway Company. In the most ex-
uberant spirits we started out on this
days sightseeing, knowing that this
day some of the grandest mountain
scenery on the continent was to be
unfolded to our wondering eyes, be-
sides other strange and interesting
scenes. Leaving Denver, our train
trst winds along the foothills and
narrow valleys, dotted with numerous
tlne farms and gardens, watered most
ly by irrigation. One must not sup
pose that mining is the only industry
In Colorado. We were told that the
agricultural interests of the state ex-
ceeded in value the combined output
OF all the gold and silver mines.
Golden, the old capital of the state,
l5 miles west of Denver, is situated
right at the entrance to the mountains,
and is walled in by them. Here is
located the largest School of Mines in
the country. From here the railway
winds up the romantic Clear Creek
canyon, now on one side and present.
~ on the other side of the rushing,
dashing stream by that name, which
evidently is misnomer at the pres
ent time, as the numerous ore reduc-
ton mills, and dams, at which the
water must do service in it's flight
down the canyon, changes it to very
turbid mass. Every little while we
pass mining town, with it's piles of
ore and its concentrating mills. The
mountains on either side are literally
honey-combed with tunnels and
shafts, made by the industrious miner
in quest of the hidden treasures of the
interior. Many millions of dollars of
gold and silver are taken out every
year from the mines of Clear Creek
canyon.
The entire distance from Denver to
Silver Plume, the terminus of the
road, is a continual climb up the
mountains. At Georgetown is the
famous "Loop," a most remarkable
engineering feat, by which the rail
way, in order to gain an elevation of
about hundred feet, curves around
and crosses itself on high bridge IS.
feet from the tracks below, and then
winds about crossing from one side of
the canyon to the other many times
until Silver Plume is reached, making
an ascent of 700 feet in four miles,
the distance from Georgetown to Sill
yer Plume. This trip over the Loop
was the most interesting and exciting
on our journey. Silver Plume has an
elevation of 9, ,176 feet, hence climb
of 1000 feet had been made in going
from Denver, a distance of only 81
miles.
At Silver Plume we inspected the
famous Mendoza mine from which
millions of dollars of gold and silver
ore is taken out annually. We en-
tered tunnel that led us 800 feet in
to the interior, and we don't know how
much farther it extended, saw the
vein of ore imbedded between other
rocks, the shafts that were sunk hun
dreds, perhaps thousands, of feet be-
low us, mining machinery operated
by compressed air, and lastly we filled
our pockets with nuggets after we
got out-by purchase from children
who were eager to supply all our
wants. After partaking of splendid
dinner at the Silver Plume Pavilion,
the return journey was begun. Grand
indeed was the mountain scenery on
which we were permitted to feast our
eyes this day. We will ever remem-
ber with pleasure the trip up and
down Clear Creek canyon. Denver
was reached at sun down. Through
the courtesy of the Denver Theater
Co., many editors attended this pop
ular place of amusement during the
evening.
During the night the editorial par
ty was to be conveyed in their special
train over the Colorado Midland Ry.
to Cripple Creek, said to be the great
est gold mining camp in the world.
When we awoke the following morn
ing, we learned that owing to the
wreck of two freight trains up in the
mountains, the track had been OBJ
structed, and that our train had stop
ped at Colorado Springs. But it was
in no desolate place that we had been
side tracked. It was right among the
beauties and sublimities of the famous
Pixies Peak region, the wonderland
of the world, and we had intended to
halt here on our return from Cripple
Greek. After breakfast at the Alta
Vista, the editorial party were taken
on carriage drive through the fam
GUS Garden of the Gods, four miles
distant, and to Manitou, right at the
foot of Pixies Peak, from where an
inclined railway, st miles long, ex-
tends to the summit, IA, ,147 feet
above the sea. A visit to the Garden
of the Gods is worth trip to Colora-
do. The marvellous and curious rock
formations, mostly red sandstone
towering from Is to $50 feet in height,
and assuming all kinds of grotesque
and fantastic shapes resembling man,