Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-10-09
ANNAPOLIS. Md. MONDAY. OCTOBER O. 1899
SIDE TRACKS,.
THE SIGHTS AND SCENES
On The Denver And Rio Grande
Railroad-The Famous
Loop On a Bender.
GRAND JUNCTION ANDITs FRUIT

GkAND JUNCTION ANDlIS FRUIl !
Special Correspondent to the Evening Capital.
What a beautiful sunrise The air
was keen and crisp. We sat on the
rear platform. and took in the scenery.
And such scenery! Variety is the stiik-
ing feature Of Colorado scenery. Canons.
peaks and passes awe the beholder with
their grandeur. Lakes abound. whose
mirrors reflect the peaceful arching skies
above, hundreds Of them unhonored and
unsung. but others enshrined in the hearts
OF the lovers of the beautiful,
On this trip one sees the vast plains
extending to the far horizons rim. the
grand old mountains climbing in splnt-
cred pinnacles to the very zenith; canons.
which awe one with their abysmal depths;
valleys OF Archadean loveliness; rivers,
whose waters sweep on with tumultuous
force; brooks oil crystal cleanness; dane
| ing waterfalls. whose filmy veil is fes-
tooned with fringes of dewdrops. spark
| ling like diamonds in the sunlight; flow
| ers blooming amidst eternal SHOWS; fol-
| ase tinted with the touch of frost-all
this symphony of grandeur awes the soul
with haunting beauty that once seen
can never be forgotten.
We were told that breakfast would
not be until we reached Sargent, at
Q. 40, so we drank in the mountain air,
(which was not very filling. to say the
least, to an empty stomach). and we were
not in condition calculated to profit the
hotel at which we were preparing to do
ample justice TO breakfast when the time
came. Our first morning stop was made
at Salida, at 6.Io. Salida is 2I7 miles
from Denver and is the centre of four
divisions OF the Denver & Rio Grande
Railroad. From here the lines radiate
in all directions. Passing a number of
unimportant stations we reached the fa-
nous Marshall Pass at 7.55 a. m. The
Pass has an altitude OF 10. $50 feet. From
this point magnificent view can be had
of the Sangre de Cristo, Blood OF CHRISTI
range extending to the southeast.
The Pass is scenic and scientific
wonder. Grades of zI7 feet to a mile
are frequent. and the ascent and descent
are made by series OF most remarkable
curves. The streams from the summit
| flow eastward into the Atlantic ocean.
and westward into the Pacific ocean.
| We climbed the tower and had an unob-
structed view Of miles OF cone. shaped sum
mits, the timberless tops Of whose tower
ing ranges, showed US that we we're
among the heights, and in a region Ca
milar iih the clouds. Stretching away
to the left are the Sierras. The sunlght
falls with white. transhguring radiance
upon the snow-capped spires Of the San
gre de Cristo range. until clouds and say
and snow peaks co-mingle. foiming .
vague bewildering region. We wonder
at the iriumphs Of engineering sktl that
has given the travelcr the benefit 81 gar.
log with mingled ave and admHaiion o.
the siupsndous grandeur Of such . scrne.
Sargent is rcached az 9. 30. where ve
had twenty minutes Cor bfeakfasl. ncf
enough time to satisfy our appcttes.
VII. tied by mosnisin arr. Gannison. On
the GunBison river. 7oi mics from Den-
ver, L. next reached. TINS IS a mining
town of great importance. and q splendid
location ior fishing. The nest place oi
importance IS Lake City. 8 miles from
SapalicTo. To reach tins interesting
point, the Traveller traserscs the entire
length Of the Lake Fork Canon. one Of
the most magnificent OF the Rocky
Mountain canons. Within three miles
of Lake City is the beautiful Lake san
Cristoval, formed By an immense mount
ain slide ages ago. and nov probably the
most beautiful body OF water in the Rocky
Mountains. We now approach the Black
Canon, and here the observation car is
put on. The Black Canon is IS miles
this grand gorge. the railroad hangs upon
a shelf. hewn out Of living rock, which
rises frequently to an altitude OF 1000
feet.
The Black Canon is I6 miles in length
and abounds in innumerable striking fea-
tures. Great walls OF rock rise on either
side. One looks up between them at the
blue dome Of heaven above with feel
| ing of awe. The mountain stream, pure
and limpid, iushes and gurgles TO the
right. The rocks jut out here and there
and immense boulders rest on the merest
ledge. as though ready to crush down
with gigantic force into the absymal
chasm beneath. About midway the Ca
non, Chippeta Falls pitches down per-
pendicular height OF hundreds Of feet,
from the top Of dizzy cliffs, the stream OF
liquid crystal to the bosom OF the spark
ling river which dashes on beside the
road. Further on spacious amphithea-
| tire is passed, in the centre OF which. soli-
tary and alone, stands Currecauli Nee
die, towering monument of solid stone.
which reaches to where il haunts the
clouds like some great cathedral spire.
Truly there is no place so beautiful, SO
awful, so sublime in all the world as the
Black Canon. whose scenery is kaleido-
scopic, ever changing, whose walls are
so close together that for most OF the dis
tance through the canon only streak Of
sky. sometimes in broad daylight spang-
led with stars. can be seen above.
Our feeling when beholding all this
sublime grandeur was that we loved the
whole world. and wished that part of the
people most dear TO US could see with us
all this stupendous magniicence. II
there be any egotism in one land there is
in most Of us). these grand and glorious
mountains, this scenery Of Colorado, Is
the place to take il all out of you. We
shall never feel our importance again.
Since beholding the Black Canon we are
conscious that we are the least Of God :
creation. a mere pigmy. an ant. grass
hopper. a p otoplasm so great. so grand
80 sublime are these huge mountains. the
wonderful handiwork of the Creator o.
III sh,~~s mhn eansuvs@e ard oome aur